Our Little Village Library/Book Exchange

Old telephone box converted to a village book exchange

I posted about this on twitter a little while ago, but then it occurred to me that I don't think I mentioned it on my blog. So I thought I'd rectify that now. 

I'd noticed a village nearby where the residents had turned their old unused red telephone box into a little book exchange, and I thought it was really wonderfully done. Then I realised we had the self same thing standing unused in our village and how wonderful it would be if we could convert ours too! Several enquiries to various authorities and a bit of lovely signage and shelf-building later, and we now have our very own little village library! I help keep it neat and tidy and it's a lovely thing to be involved with. As you can see from the picture above, Daisy pup was intrigued by it too and was having a good look at the book selection! The idea is to bring along a book you've finished with, leave that one, and then take a book that you fancy reading. There's no obligation to then return that book, though I've noticed some readers do indeed do that. 

There's a couple of photos below of some of our early stock, it's changed around several times since then. But it gives a flavour of the variety we've got, from Wodehouse and Kafka and Homer, to Anita Shreve and Ian Rankin, from Anne Fine to Jo Nesbo, from Cecelia Ahern to Stieg Larsson and from Hilary Mantel to Nick Hornby - there's a really nice variety being donated and swapped. There's romance, historical, adventure, biographies and children's books too. 

A selection of the reading material on offer

It's interesting to see the variety of books that people read and donate. It seems a popular way of sharing the books you've bought and enjoyed and want to pass on, plus a chance to discover something that you may never have thought about trying before. And in places where there may be people who can't get to the nearest actual library building,  or can't get there very often, it gives another option for borrowing books. 

We also have a little noticeboard inside, where I've placed a pen and some notepaper, and people can write requests and ask if there's anything in particular they are looking for which someone else might have and be happy to pass on. 

More of the books that have been donated/swapped

Do you think this is a good idea? Have you seen one of these, or a similar type of scheme near you? Would you like one?

The Library of Unrequited Love - Sophie Divry

Translated from the French by Sian Reynolds

'To know your way round a library is to master the whole of culture, i.e. the whole world.'

I think this is a beautiful book inside and out. A lovely little hardback with a very attractively designed dust jacket, and inside a wonderful novella filled with remarkable, striking observations about books, libraries, love and life.

Sophie Divry's debut is written in the form of a monologue delivered by a librarian in the provinces who one morning discovers a reader in the library who has been locked in there all night. This reader is on the receiving end of the librarian's thoughts; subjected to hearing all about the things she loves, the things that anger and irritate her, and the person who has caught her eye. 

I read this book in just a couple of sittings, and many readers would probably finish it in just one. It's a charming and insightful little story featuring a passionate but anxious, troubled and lonely lady. The librarian feels invisible and is unhappy with the Geography section that she has been allocated, longing for her preferred section, History; indeed she divulges some of her views about this topic too. She shares her disapproval of the hierarchy of staff within the library, and her disgruntlement at readers who come to the library and simply make a mess. Whilst she complains about many things to her captive listener, she nevertheless has a strong affection for libraries and books and this shines through.

She has been hurt in love and tells us she avoids it now, with her job helping her cope with all that bothers her: 'the library works like an anaesthetic for my hang-ups.' She reveals that she has noticed a man, Martin, who has been coming to the library, and he is evidently in her thoughts a good deal - she movingly discloses how beautiful she finds him, but her past hurt holds her back, and she seeks safety and solace in books:

'So men, no, that's all over. Love, for me, is something I find in books. I read a lot, it's comforting. You're never alone if you live surrounded by books. They lift my spirit. The main thing is to be uplifted.'

The author has captured the magic and joy of books and reading and the pleasure found in a library and conveyed this so well through the librarian. Her voice held my attention throughout. I think most bookworms will find elements here that they agree with, or that make them smile or chuckle, or ponder - I certainly did. All in all this is a lovely little book with much that will resonate with keen readers.

I marked and noted so many little passages as I read this book that I must share a couple more of my favourites here at the end of this review - there are so many perceptive gems to be discovered in Sophie Divry's writing.

'You know, in my job, there's nothing more exciting, to make you feel more wanted, than to be able to size up the person in front of you, guess what they're after, find the book they need on the shelves and bring the two together. Book and reader, if they meet up at the right moment in a person's life, it can make sparks fly, set you alight, change your life.'

'I prefer the company of books. When I'm reading, I'm never alone, I have a conversation with the book. It can be very intimate. Perhaps you know this feeling yourself? The sense that you're having an intellectual exchange with the author, following his or her train of thought and you can accompany each other for weeks on end.'

Published by Maclehose Press

Thanks very much to the publisher for kindly sending me a copy of this book to read and review. 

This book is another read for me in the 2013 Translation Challenge

S. J. Watson & Rachel Joyce - Hertfordshire Libraries LitFest 2012

I attended an event this week, 'The Road to Publication', as part of Hertfordshire Litfest 2012, a programme of events in conjunction with Transworld and Cornerstone publishers.

This was a great evening, with two superb guest debut authors, S. J. Watson, author of Before I Go To Sleep, and Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, and hosted by Alison Barrow from Transworld publishers.

It was fascinating listening to both of them being interviewed, talking about the writing process, their experiences as debut authors, and it was lovely to hear them reading extracts from their novels. They both signed books and chatted at the end of the evening too. 

What a great event, a wonderful opportunity for readers and aspiring writers, and a chance to get out and support our libraries too.


There are events still to come (click here for the listings) with some great authors including Ben Kane, S. J. Bolton and Robert Goddard, so if you are nearby do have a look!


I have read and enjoyed both of these novels. You can read my review of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry here. 

Before I Go To Sleep is the bestselling book in the UK so far this year. 
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry has been chosen as one of the Waterstones 11 debut novels of 2012, and I understand it will be their book of the month for April 2012. 


Congratulations to both authors on their success. 


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Some brief notes on some of the things discussed:


Rachel Joyce - Wanted to celebrate the ordinary with her story. You take a little bit of people you meet with you as you go through life. Locations broad and wide in this book. Handing over her finished first draft like jumping into the unknown, needing to know if her book read like an actual book. Harold seemed very real, her children started 'spotting' Harold as they were out and about! Rachel is enjoying spreading the word about her novel now it is completed. She writes in her shed, alongside the garlic and apples in there! She spoke about stories on the radio, where every secen has to move the reader on, have a plot point. 


S. J. Watson -  The original idea for his novel grew from reading an obituary of a man who couldn't keep new memories beyond several minutes, and had no firm memories beyond when he was in his twenties, but he had lived until his eighties. He discussed the fact that sometimes we think we remember things that never actually happened, the notion of truth can be nebulous for all of us, let alone someone in Christine's condition (Christine is the main character in his novel). You being to think as your character, Christine felt very real whilst writing the story, and she still does. He has discovered he is a morning writer, although he isn't a morning person! 


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