Ruth Shaw is the bestselling author of The Bookseller at the End of the World. In 2016, in her late sixties, Ruth opened her first little bookshop in Manapōuri, Fiordland where she had settled with her husband Lance. They were quickly followed by a wee shop for children’s books and another that is filled with books that men might like. The Bookseller at the End of the World, consists partly of short vignettes about the people who visit her bookshops. This includes the story of how Ruth refused to sell a stack of books with green covers to a customer who had selected them to suit her home décor rather than to read them. The book is also an honest account of her earlier life. The bookshop stories are interwoven with her own ocean adventures and her tragedies – the rape as a teenager, the adoption of her first-born son, the death of another son shortly after birth and depression. These stories are told in short, clear chapters and without a hint of self-pity.
Bookshop Dogs is Ruth Shaw’s second book (publication date 24 October). In this book Ruth shares autobiographical stories that focus on Hunza the German shepherd who worked alongside her when she was a youth worker in Invercargill. Hunza played an essential role in Ruth’s ability to gain trust from troubled teens and gang members. They are interesting and beautiful stories about the impact Hunza had on the lives of these young people. This time Hunza’s stories are interspersed with short vignettes about the various dogs and their owners who have visited Ruth’s bookshops. Each vignette is accompanied by a photo of the dog that features in the story. This beautiful hardback book is a great read for dog fans and book fans alike.
Ruth Shaw’s writing style is candid and authentic, and the short chapters are easy to read.
Wilma
