I enjoyed this book about books and reading. I grew up with several pen pals, so the fact that Sara & Amy become acquainted and for a friendship having been pen pals was awesome. The big draw to this book, for me, was the fact it is set here in Iowa. I have not lived in as small a town as Broken Wheel. From my friends who have, I am not 100% positive that actual small town folk would have been as welcoming to a total stranger from another country as the fine people of Broken Wheel were...but will allow it as a necessary literary device to forward the narrative. I can understand why this book was a popular book club pick. I'm glad I read it and will recommend it!
From the Publisher...
Broken Wheel, Iowa, has never seen anyone like Sara, who traveled all the way from Sweden just to meet her book-loving pen pal, Amy. When she arrives, however, she finds Amy's funeral guests just leaving. The residents of Broken Wheel are happy to look after their bewildered visitor—there's not much else to do in a dying small town that's almost beyond repair.
You certainly wouldn't open a bookstore. And definitely not with the tourist in charge. You'd need a vacant storefront (Main Street is full of them), books (Amy's house is full of them), and...customers.
The bookstore might be a little quirky. Then again, so is Sara. But Broken Wheel's own story might be more eccentric and surprising than she thought.
A heartwarming reminder of why we are booklovers, this is a sweet, smart story about how books find us, change us, and connect us.
About the Author...
KATARINA BIVALD grew up working part-time in a bookshop. Today she lives in Älta, Sweden, with her sister and as many bookshelves as she can squeeze in. She has still not decided whether she prefers books or people.
