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A review by fuzzyhead
The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson
2.0
UGHHHHHHHHH
2.5 stars, rounded down because I can't bring myself to give this 3 stars.
I rarely write reviews on Goodreads. I don't have the time or, quite frankly, the talent. But I am so frustrated with this damn book that I'm just going to vent. So buckle up, you five people that might read this!!!!!!!!!
Growing up, Miranda and her uncle Billy were very close. However, on Miranda's 12th birthday, her mother and Billy fall out, and Miranda never sees him again. Fast forward sixteen years-Miranda learns her estranged uncle is dead and she has inherited his failing bookstore, Prospero Books. Before he died, Billy set up a sort of literary scavenger hunt for Miranda to solve, with the purpose of helping her uncover the painful truth about their family’s past.
The Good
1. Books
I love a good book about books. They make me feel warm and fuzzy, you know? The literary equivalent of cozy socks. And it's clear that the author intended this to be an ode to indie bookstores. That, at least, I can get behind.
2. The setting
Of course, much of the story takes place in a bookshop, which is lovely. The shop itself is in Los Angeles. I have this weird fascination with L.A. I can't really explain it. It's both a beautiful city and a garbage city, sprawling and hot and weird and filled with its own offbeat history and vibe. So, at least for me, it has that going for it.
The Bad
1. Miranda
Alas, our protagonist is a dud. She is completely self-absorbed and devoid of any discernible personality. She is shitty to her boyfriend (although in her defense, he's shitty to her, too). Also, you know how I said she and her uncle were very close when she was a child? And then he falls out with her mom when she's 12? Aside from ONE instance right after the fight, Miranda never tries to reconnect with this uncle she loved. Not as a teenager, not in college, not as a twenty-something adult. She just forgets about him. She never tries to figure out what happened, why such a beloved family member stepped out of her life, until the dude is dead. #okaycoolwhatever
I guess there's some character development at the very, very end of the book????? Like, I'm talking the last five pages. But it was too little to late.
2. All the other characters.
Sadly, no one else in this book is much better. Malcolm is actually the worst. Charlie is the only character I liked, and I think he had, like, 4 lines of dialogue. At the end of the book, I did find myself warming to Miranda's mom. That's pretty much it.
3. I KNEW IT ALL ALONG/YOU'RE SO PREDICTABLE
Seriously. When I am ten steps ahead of the main character in figuring out the *~*~*mystery*~*~*, something is afoot. And that something is usually mediocre writing.
God, I'm annoyed. I'd say skip this one. If you want a story about books and family secrets, I definitely recommend The Thirteenth Tale over this disappointment.
2.5 stars, rounded down because I can't bring myself to give this 3 stars.
I rarely write reviews on Goodreads. I don't have the time or, quite frankly, the talent. But I am so frustrated with this damn book that I'm just going to vent. So buckle up, you five people that might read this!!!!!!!!!
Growing up, Miranda and her uncle Billy were very close. However, on Miranda's 12th birthday, her mother and Billy fall out, and Miranda never sees him again. Fast forward sixteen years-Miranda learns her estranged uncle is dead and she has inherited his failing bookstore, Prospero Books. Before he died, Billy set up a sort of literary scavenger hunt for Miranda to solve, with the purpose of helping her uncover the painful truth about their family’s past.
The Good
1. Books
I love a good book about books. They make me feel warm and fuzzy, you know? The literary equivalent of cozy socks. And it's clear that the author intended this to be an ode to indie bookstores. That, at least, I can get behind.
2. The setting
Of course, much of the story takes place in a bookshop, which is lovely. The shop itself is in Los Angeles. I have this weird fascination with L.A. I can't really explain it. It's both a beautiful city and a garbage city, sprawling and hot and weird and filled with its own offbeat history and vibe. So, at least for me, it has that going for it.
The Bad
1. Miranda
Alas, our protagonist is a dud. She is completely self-absorbed and devoid of any discernible personality. She is shitty to her boyfriend (although in her defense, he's shitty to her, too). Also, you know how I said she and her uncle were very close when she was a child? And then he falls out with her mom when she's 12? Aside from ONE instance right after the fight, Miranda never tries to reconnect with this uncle she loved. Not as a teenager, not in college, not as a twenty-something adult. She just forgets about him. She never tries to figure out what happened, why such a beloved family member stepped out of her life, until the dude is dead. #okaycoolwhatever
I guess there's some character development at the very, very end of the book????? Like, I'm talking the last five pages. But it was too little to late.
2. All the other characters.
Sadly, no one else in this book is much better. Malcolm is actually the worst. Charlie is the only character I liked, and I think he had, like, 4 lines of dialogue. At the end of the book, I did find myself warming to Miranda's mom. That's pretty much it.
3. I KNEW IT ALL ALONG/YOU'RE SO PREDICTABLE
Seriously. When I am ten steps ahead of the main character in figuring out the *~*~*mystery*~*~*, something is afoot. And that something is usually mediocre writing.
God, I'm annoyed. I'd say skip this one. If you want a story about books and family secrets, I definitely recommend The Thirteenth Tale over this disappointment.