Kevin Manley
January 2026
I have a newfound interest in reading. I'm almost 40 years old and am starting with time tested classics. It was very eye opening for me to visit this small shop while on vacation. I had maybe 30 classic books on my "want to read" list and was able to locate very few of them. I was shocked. There was only a tiny, waist-high shelf with classic literature and poetry that I crouched to browse. Meanwhile there were large sections for modern fantasy, teen books, politics, and self help. I realized this small shop with limited space stocks titles that keep them in business. I can't fault them for it. Still it made me sad to understand what people demand. Maybe reading something is better than not reading at all. Personally, I want books that challenge me and make me contemplate life and meaning rather than simple entertainment. I want to read what's time tested and commonly regarded as the best of the best. I naively assumed this book store would have more of what I was looking for. I purchased "Crime and Punishment" and it was lovely. 5 stars and best wishes to the owner. The staff was pleasant and there was a table to rest and read.
