Arts and Letters Bookstore

 I finally had the opportunity to visit the Arts and Letters Bookstore on the square in Granbury the other day. It was a quaint space with a variety of books. 

One of the things I found interesting about the bookstore were some of the other services the bookstore provided. They have Staff Picks which are book recommendations from employees, a subscription service where each month a book is handpicked and delivered to you,and a monthly bookclub. 

It also hosts special events like a midnight release of a new anxiously awaited book. Although, Granbury is a little far for weekly visits for me I would definitely recommend visiting if you are in the area or live nearby. 

So far this is the eighth independent bookstore I have visited this year. Most were in the local area and another was in Ruidoso, New Mexico. 

This week I plan on returning to the first bookstore I visited in January, Intermission Bookstore in Brownwood. 

You Are Your Choices

 

This book by Alexander Stoddard will probably be the last book I finished reading in 2023. I went ahead and took notes throughout so it took a little longer than it probably should. However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Stoddard’s POV about choices and how they influence and affect our day to lives. 

What made this book even more special is that it came from a third party vendor, and although not new, it was a signed copy. I had read quite a bit of Stoddard in the 90’s, and always loved her zest for life. 

This book is basically a series of 50 essays that could be read in any order. I’m sure I’ll dip back in periodically from time to time. 

Prior to this I attempted to read Lone Wolf  Jodi Picoult. Although it wasn’t bad, I realized that at this season of my life reading random fiction has become more of a struggle than a joy. I haven’t given up completely, but I think I need to be a little more discerning when it comes to how I want to spend my time. 

However, overall I can say I did read throughout 2023, and that is really what is most important. 

Storiebook Cafe

 I’m glad I finally made a trip to Storiebook Cafe in Glen Rose. 

Even if you are not a book lover, the food alone is worth the trip. I didn’t end up purchasing any books, but being surrounded by books and Christmas decorations sure made for an enjoyable lunch. 

The books here are not new, and are primarily fiction. I’ve decided to not invest as much in fiction this coming year, and rely more on my local library.  

What I found interesting about the small town of Glen Rose was there were actually two other bookstores on the square. One was used books and antiques, and the other had a combination of both. I’ll do a little write up about the third bookstore we visited. 

Along with lunch we visited several stores on the square. It was a fun way to spend an afternoon.