This novel is about a small seaside village in England of the late fifties. A kindhearted widow decides to have a new start in her life and offer the local community an access to books. Yet, the undertaking is a path strewn with obstacles. Florence Green remains optimistic and determined that kindness will eventually bring the good to the town’s life, but that is without counting on Mrs. Gamart’s tenacity to disrupt her plans. Unimpressed Florence Green goes on to let her small business thrive, but how long will it take until she realises that she has seldom support?
While it seems to be a simple and straightforward story, there are a lot of things unsaid and a lot of implications that are merely hinted to. The underlying complexity of Florence Green’s undertaking goes beyond the success of a bookshop. It is a struggle for independence and freedom for both her and the community.
I seldom enjoy a movie more than a novel, but I can warmly recommend the movie “The Bookshop” which digs deeper into the unsaid and gives more character to some people that can merely be perceived as bystanders.
