The Bookseller at the End of the World

The Bookseller at the End of the World cover
Good Books rating 4.0

Technical:
  • ID: 2020
  • Added: 2025-10-11
  • Updated: 2025-10-11
  • ISBN: 9781761064029
  • Publisher: Allen & Unwin
  • Published: 2022-04-01
  • Reviews: 3

Ruth Shaw's memoir is a rich tapestry of stories from her unique life, blending humor, heartbreak, and adventure. She shares tales of her time sailing the Pacific, working in Sydney's Kings Cross, and campaigning on environmental issues, all while running three charming bookshops in the remote village of Manapouri, New Zealand. Her writing is pragmatic and restrained, yet deeply moving, offering a glimpse into her resilience and optimism./n/nUnderlying Shaw's wanderings and adventures are deep losses and long-held pain, balanced by her beautiful love story with Lance and her delightful sense of humor. This memoir will make you laugh, cry, and want to visit her Wee Bookshops, all while reflecting on the remarkable life of a dauntless woman who has found her place in the world.

Reviews
Beans Book Blog · 2025-07-11
immersive 4.50

The bookshop chapters are particularly enjoyable, highlighting beautiful encounters between Ruth and her customers. These moments provide a break from life's challenges and offer a sense of connection.

The reviewer liked the bookshop chapters the best because they told of beautiful encounters between Ruth and her customers. These chapters are seen as a highlight, offering a break from life's challenges and providing a sense of connection. The reviewer appreciates the heart-warming and immersive nature of the memoir, which is both funny and heartbreaking. The narrative is rich and engaging, taking the reader on a journey through Ruth's life and her experiences as a bookseller in a remote village.


Quick quotes

    I liked the bookshop chapters the best because they told of beautiful encounters between Ruth and her customers–some needed a break from life ...

    This book took me back to the seventies with so many memories both good and no-so-much.

    This will make you weep and make you laugh and make you want to read more books - and make you want to visit Ruth and her two wee bookshops.

Musicman6724's Blog · 2023-12-14
mixed 3.50

The memoir starts strong but struggles to maintain consistency. The reviewer appreciates the unique experiences shared but finds the narrative uneven.

The reviewer struggled with how to rate this book, starting with a strong, five-star impression but ending up with a more moderate rating. They appreciate the unique experiences and stories shared by Ruth, particularly her life in a remote village and her work as a bookseller. However, the narrative is seen as uneven, with moments of brilliance followed by sections that feel less engaging. The reviewer acknowledges the heart-warming and heartbreaking aspects of the memoir but finds the overall reading experience inconsistent.


Quick quotes

    I really struggled with how to review this book. It started out a strong, five-star read.

    Book number 111 for 2023; 3.5/5 stars.

    This memoir tells Ruth's story, interspersed with lovely tales of life around her bookshops.

The Guardian · 2022-04-22
heart-warming 4.00

The memoir highlights Shaw's resilience and determination, shaped by her extraordinary life experiences. The narrative is both candid and engaging, offering a unique perspective on life in a remote village.

The reviewer appreciates Shaw's pragmatic and restrained writing style, which makes her voice strong and assured. They highlight how Shaw's life experiences have shaped her into a determined and focused individual. The memoir is interspersed with tales of life around her bookshops, providing a rich and immersive experience. The reviewer finds the narrative both heart-warming and heartbreaking, with moments of grief that intrude unexpectedly. Overall, the memoir is seen as a beautiful and heart-warming true story that takes the reader back to the seventies, evoking both good and not-so-good memories.


Quick quotes

    Now truly anchored, Shaw believes the events of her life have shaped who she is as a septuagenarian bookseller: determined, focused, hard to ...

    Shaw's writing is pragmatic and restrained; her voice is so strong and assured that when grief appears you gasp at its intrusion and your heart stops a second.

    This memoir tells Ruth's story, interspersed with lovely tales of life around her bookshops.