Books
can reach readers in unique ways. On January 1 of this year Sharon and I met
Michael and his girlfriend, Kaja, in Puerto Vallarta. The next day we stopped
at a bookstore / café near their hotel downtown. Michael took a look around the
store and came out with a somewhat battered copy of Snow Falling on Cedars.
I
would not likely have remembered the name of the place but the owners stamped
the name on the book – A Page in the Sun.
At
their website of A Page in the Sun they describe the bookstore part of the
business:
We are Puerto
Vallarta's original English bookstore offering all major
genres including bestsellers, crime novels, literary classics, pulp fiction,
science fiction and everything in between, in paperback and hard cover books.
To
go with your book you can have a piece of cake or other delights:
Sample our world famous chocolate
lover's chocolate
cake, or opt for a Tres Leches (a Mexican classic for those who
love sweet dairy, not recommended for the lactose intolerant), luxuriate in the
glory of a homemade cheesecake, or dive into an adventurous sweet chili-lime pie. For
the more traditional, chow down on a wholesome whole-wheat carrot muffin, a
slice of coffee cake or an oatmeal-chocolate chip cookie to savor something that is
truly and simply delicious.
I
had not thought further of the book until this summer.
On
a trip home to Saskatchewan Michael gave me the book to read saying that, while
it is not a classic mystery, he thought I would find this book interesting. He
knows I prefer a recommendation without an explanation.
Some
books languish in my TBR boxes but Michael does not often suggest a book for me
and I decided to read the book this summer. It was my best reading decision in
months
I
finished the book on a perfect summer Saturday afternoon. It was a hot sunny
day at 26C. I just sat on our deck drinking a Pepsi and enjoying a snack
reading a great book until it was done.
Having
completed the book I was curious why Michael had chosen this book. He emailed
me:
For some reason the tattered cover caught my eye.
After reading the Synopsis and been to the Channel Islands I thought it
would be fascinating. I have only finished half (started reading when I was too
busy) but I plan on finishing. I thought he did a marvelous job of describing
the space the story took Place in.
I
concur with Michael’s assessment and I will be returning the book to him when I
see him in a couple of weeks on the Labour Day Weekend.
We
shall have to make a return visit to A Page in the Sun to see what more hidden
gems are on the shelves.
****
Guterson, David - (2016) - Snow Falling on Cedars (1995) and Life in Meskanaw and on San Piedro Island and Race and Ethnicity in War
Oh, Bill, that bookshop sounds wonderful! And what a good reading experience you had as a result of it, too. I'm glad for that, and I'm glad you mentioned A Page in the Sun. I like learning about different bookstores in different places.
ReplyDeleteMargot: Thanks for the comment. It is a nice store and café. It is an inviting place to stop in Puerto Vallarta.
DeleteI had to look up Puerta Vallarta to see where it is! Love the sound of the bookshop, and the cakes. And what a lucky way to come across such a great book.
ReplyDeleteMoira: Thanks for the comment. Puerto Vallarta is consistently in the high 20's C during the winter and the beaches are white and you can sit all day under a tiki hut drinking Corona with lime and reading a book.
DeleteOmigod! My dream bookshop! One that has chocolate cake, a cafe and good books!
ReplyDeleteOnly problem: One has to travel to Puerto Vallarta to find this treasure. Why can't my humongous city have this type of bookshop? The best I could do is the Barnes & Noble about 10 blocks away. It has a cafe on the third floor (mysteries are a few floors above), but no wonderful treats as you describe, and it's certainly not a cafe, but more like a department store cafeteria.
What I would give for a bookstore/cafe with delicious treats!
Lucky were you and your family. Definitely a place to revisit.
Kathy D.: Thanks for the comment. Books and cake are a bit of heaven on earth. For this winter I doubt we will be back in Mexico. Maybe next year.
DeleteWhat an interesting story of how you read the book, Bill. I would love to go to that bookstore.
ReplyDeleteTracyK: Thanks for the comment. I hope you get a chance to visit Puerto Vallarta.
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