A review by inkedlibrary
The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Book Feels

The Door-to-Door Bookstore is a heartwarming and enjoyable read that hooks you with its relatable characters and engaging story. It explores friendship, loneliness, and the power of empathy. Plus, the literary references are pretty cool. Although the ending feels a bit rushed, it's still a good book overall.

Overall Review

If you're looking for a book similar to "A Man Called Ove" that brings warmth through good relationships with relatives, friends, and family, "The Door-to-Door Bookstore" by Carsten Henn is also a great read. Like all the books I read, I had no idea what this book was about at first, and it was fun to be a blind reader of a book. Then, "The Door-to-Door Bookstore" presents its interesting story without being contrived. The story revolves around the book delivery service owner, known as Mr. Kollhoff, and a little girl named Schascha, who is almost ten years old. I won't spoil more about the plot, but I must give credit to the character development and the story itself. I truly enjoyed how the story unfolded, with each character being captivating. And I liked how the author portrayed the friendship between Carl, Schascha, and their community of readers. The author also touches on themes of loneliness, trauma, and the importance of empathy and kindness. Their characteristics and the story have a strong connection to each other, and I appreciate that. It can even be said that they are not a family in the true sense, but they end up becoming a family who need each other. The expression "sometimes family can be found in the most unexpected people" is truly reflected in this story. The author's message is also well conveyed, where the two main characters seem to teach readers to be more sensitive to small things about someone, which can then trigger empathy within themselves and help each other in the worst situations. And what's impressive about this book is the literary references included in the story. Well, just by looking at the title of the book, there must be some literary references that should be mentioned here, and that's quite impressive. Although the ending feels a bit rushed, overall, everything is still good and enjoyable.