The Saturday Book Shop
Many years ago (pre-Amazon days!) and for a very short time, I had a little bookshop that popped up on Saturdays in a picturesque Italian gelato cafe on Grand Bahama Island. My love of books was on full display within the shelves I would set up every week amidst the scent of cappuccino and waffle cones awaiting scoops of fresh-made gelato. The wide range of titles—everything from children’s book classics to National Geographic coffee table books—were very well received. I adored getting to introduce cafe visitors to new stories—and getting to learn about their favorites. It was a joy, pure and simple.
I still love all sorts of books and I thought it would be fun to host a sort of online essence of the shop here … sharing a few books each week as if we were sipping an espresso or indulging in a tropical treat together. There are so many great reading resources online these days, it’s hard to know where to start, and yet the thing about any creative process is it’s often best to do just that — start — and enjoy the process of figuring it out!
So, here we go … and I’ll begin by noting books that are top of mind for me right now. I love these new coffee table books about the Exumas because of the gorgeous photography and vignette stories inside, and also because I was delighted to get to create the cover art for them!
A glimpse inside and more details about these new coffee table books by photographer Alessandro Sarno is here. The images, gathered over eleven years of visits to the Exumas, showcase some of the incredibly beautiful places and faces within the rare natural beauty of these islands of The Bahamas.
FROM THE STACK OF BOOKS NEAR THE BEDSIDE TABLE
How To Fly in 10,000 Easy Lessons by Barbara Kingsolver
The Life of Plants—A Metaphysics of Mixture by Emanuele Coccia
TRUST by Pete Buttigieg
Pieces of A Song by Diane di Prima
Threads of Life: A History of The World through the Eye of A Needle by Clare Hunter
Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz
AND A COUPLE OF CREATIVE TOUCHSTONES
I love to reread parts of these often … full of inspiration and timeless wise and witty reminders … especially important anchors in this unusual-to-say-the-least time …
click books for link
AND MORE PLACES TO FIND WONDERFUL BOOKS & TERRIFIC WRITINGS ABOUT BOOKS …
I am especially fond of the marvelously thoughtful Brain Pickings by Maria Popova, Austin Kleon’s brilliant and eclectic weekly newsletter and blog, and Elizabeth Gilbert’s new Onward book club as sources of sharing a wide wealth of writings and books. Well worth being on their mailing lists.
That’s it for now, other than a plea to support local independent booksellers whenever you can—these intrepid entrepreneurs have made the publishing world go round for a long long time and are essential nooks of civilization and creative caffeine everywhere!
What are you reading now? Would love to hear what’s on your nightstand table or in your book bag or e-reader if you want to share in the comments. See you next Saturday … 📚
“A book is a present you can open again and again.”
Explore posts in the same categories: Books, cool stuff, favorite things, Grand Bahama Island, inspiration, intriguing images, photography, The Bahamas, writing
Tags: Alessandro Sarno, Bahamas, book shops, Books, coffee table books, creativity, exuma cays land and sea park, exumas, independent book shops, island books, photography, poetry, reading
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Paula's Paradise 
December 5, 2020 at 10:51 pm
Dear Paula, Congratulations! I always thought that your idea of a little Saturday bookshop at Silvano’s Ice cream and cappuccino cafe on Grand Bahama was a great one. Perhaps, it will be something to revisit in the future. A great way to share the books on line. Love Chantal Chantal E.Y. Bethel Atelier Chantaley Studio Grand Bahama Island www.chantalbethel.com
December 6, 2020 at 12:39 pm
Dear Chantal—thank you so much for this lovely note! So glad you remember the shop and like the idea. One of the books I have in mind to post about next week is one you are very familiar with (smiles) … glad to be back in this blog space again & looking forward to sharing more. Thanks again SO much❣️
December 8, 2020 at 11:51 am
What a bright spot in my morning! Your pop up bookshop sounds like it was dreamy. This is fun, too. Looking forward to following! Also, big hugs to you!
December 8, 2020 at 2:00 pm
Thanks so much for your note, Janet! And yes, fun enjoying the blog again … e-hugs!!
December 8, 2020 at 6:52 pm
Hi Paula, I would have loved to see your pop-up bookshop, but visiting your blog will have to do! Glad to see you’re back online again. 🙂
Thanks for the “stack of books” recommendations. I have been meaning to read Mayor Pete’s books, but haven’t gotten to them yet. I’m currently reading the medieval mystery Crouchback by Sarah Woodbury. She is a very prolific author who writes several enjoyable series of mysteries and time-travel novels set in medieval Wales.
December 8, 2020 at 9:17 pm
Hi Meg – thanks so much! Appreciate you mentioning the Sarah Woodbury medieval mystery series – sounds fascinating, both the time period & the place. Great to see you here and glad we’re both fans of Mayor Pete … his books are a pleasure to read. Many thanks for stopping by the cyber Saturday Bookshop!! 🙌 📚 ☕️
December 9, 2020 at 7:59 am
Dear Paula, what a delight to see your blog and have a glimpse of what you are enjoying these days. I so wish I could have experienced your pop up book shop at Silvano’s. Such a brilliant idea! This is a wonderful idea too though and well suited to our “socially distanced” reality these days.
I have ordered the Exuma books and can hardly wait to see them! I am in the midst of The Henna Artist for book club and have been enjoying it. I loved seeing Barbara Kingsolver in your “stack of books”. She is one of my favorite authors. I haven’t read “How to Fly” and must order it immediately!
Look forward to more posts. In the meantime, big hugs to you!!
xxoo Penny
December 9, 2020 at 11:09 am
dear Penny — thanks so much for this wonderful note and for ordering the Exuma books … excited for you to see them and hold them in your hands … like a little cyber trip to the islands!! 🐟 And I’m so glad to know we both share a fondness for Barbara Kingsolver … she’s one of my all time favorites too and her poetry is as marvelous as her novels! Thanks for mentioning The Henna Artist … must look for that and glad to know you’re enjoying it! Thank you, thank you & look forward to seeing you here … hugs & hugs ❣️
December 9, 2020 at 2:57 pm
Hi Paula, I enjoyed this blog so much. Well done you! I am also thrilled that there is a new Barbara Kingsolver book, and I also want your books! I am hopeful that you will consider re-establishing your pop-up-shop post Covid. FYI there have been some good NPR stories recently about independent booksellers, including Shakespeare’s in Paris.
December 10, 2020 at 9:30 am
Thank you, thank you for this wonderful and encouraging note! So glad we are both devoted fans of Barbara Kingsolver books! Good to know about the NPR stories … I’ve seen the Shakespeare’s shop you mentioned, but only on Instagram—a visit there would definitely be on the post-pandemic travel wish list! 🙌 And I’ll take your thought of an actual pop-up shop to heart … thanks so much for connecting here❣️
December 12, 2020 at 11:30 pm
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January 9, 2021 at 5:25 pm
[…] All for now. See you next week here at The Saturday Book Shop … […]
March 6, 2021 at 11:25 am
So cool to received this every Saturday!! I look forward to it. Your book recommendations are always so special and the art is amazing!! Thank you dear Paula for sharing your light and your zest for life with such grace and generosity of spirit. xoxo
March 6, 2021 at 12:07 pm
Claudette—thank you so much❣️ I’m glad you’re enjoying it & I’m enjoying sharing book fun here and how it’s pulling me back to this blog. Such a beautiful note. Thank you, thank you!! ❤️