In the perennial human search for happiness, is it possible that something as simple as location can make a difference? Follow Eric Weiner as he travels the globe in an amusing quest for the answer. ($25.99 Twelve)



When Hanna Heath, a rare book expert, discovers odd articfacts like an insect’s wing, white hair and salt crystals hidden in the binding of an old mauscript she has been given to research, she embarks on an adventure that takes her from Seville in 1480 to Bosnia in World War II  and Venice in 1609. As she so capably demonstrated in March and Year of Wonders, Geraldine Brooks is a master of historical fiction. ($25.95 Viking)



Boston author Sue Miller once again draws us into the lives of two women and their respective marriages in a tale of relationships, confusing expectations, forgiveness and redemption. The questions posed by her characters are those that we might be tempted to ask ourselves if we were not too afraid to hear our own answers. ($24.95 Knopf)



When his previous volume of essays and criticism was published, The Library Journal said, “This collection makes it clearer than ever that Updike is our preeminent man of letters.” In Due Considerations, Mr. Updike tells of his lifelong love affair with words. Included in this collection are tributes to legendary New Yorker figures; essays on travel, faith, and literature; and a section called “Personal Considerations,” in which the author explores the conversation between reader and writer. ($40.00 Knopf)



Looking for a weekend read with charming characters (well most of them), intrigue, escape, a little romance and a wise, black Labrador? This will be your cup of tea! ($13.95 Avon)

We’re pleased to announce the arrival of Khaled Hosseini’s new novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns. Local readers (and our own booksellers) are giving high praise to this haunting novel, which concerns events in Afghanistan from the era of the Soviet invasion to the present day. Fans of Hosseini’s earlier book, The Kite Runner, will not be disappointed. ($25.95 Riverhead)

40 Years at 40 West – We're Tickled Pink!

Greetings from The Book Shop!
We are so appreciative of our loyal customers and friends, some of whom have supported our store since it opened in 1968! With your help, the Book Shop has bought and sold thousands of great books, encouraged several generations of children to love books and reading, contributed to countless worthwhile nonprofits, and provided an environment where the free exchange of ideas could take place. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Read a special birthday retrospective.

Chris Davenport, who grew up on the North Shore, spent the year of 2006 climbing and then skiing all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000 foot peaks.  This is a remarkable collection of photographs and text chronicling an amazing adventure. ($49.95 Capitol Peak Publishing)



Written by the author of The Omniore’s Dilemma and The Botany of Desire, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto takes the reader to an understanding of how we need to eat to regain our health and sustain a healthy food supply for coming generations. When read in combination with his previous books and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, Pollan makes an entirely new (or very old) case for how we should feed ourselves for the future. ($21.95 Penguin)



Those of us who wonder whether we can make a difference in the lives of others need look no further than this inspiring book. As Haji Ali, Korphe Village Chief, writes: "Here (in Pakistan and Afghanistan), we drink three cups of tea to do business: the first you are a stranger; the second, you become a friend; and the third, you join our family, and for our family we are prepared to do anything--even die." This is the story of a mountaineer who drifted into an impoverished Pakistan village in 1993 and found his humanitarian spirit awakened. By 2003, he had built fifty-five schools! ($15.00 Penguin)

Barbara Kingsolver and her family decided that for one year they would eat only animals and vegetables whose provenance they knew. “We were about to begin the adventure of realigningour lives with our food chain.” Readers who enjoyed The Omnivore’s Dilemma are sure to respond to Kingsolver’s newest book. ($26.95 Harper)

Plan your travel
with discounted
audio books.

Purchase a new audio book at The Book Shop and return it for a 25% rebate on the original price. This rebate may be applied towards any full price item in the store. Used audio books will be available for 50% off the original price.
Returned items must have original receipt and packaging.

Book Groups
Need ideas? Here is a list of what some of our book groups are reading:
Mothers of Invention
    by Drew Gilpin Faust
River of Doubt
    by Candice Millard
The March
    by E.L. Doctorow
Things Not Seen
    by Andrew Clements
The Alchemist
    by Paulo Coelho

Two friends enjoy the Book Shop's children's room.

Best friends Toot and Puddle are stymied by what to give each other for Christmas but each wants their gift to be homemade and the best ever! ($16.99 Little Brown)

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The Golden Rule is found in all the world’s religions and cultures. In this conversation between a young boy and his grandfather, they discuss all the different forms it takes and how everyone, no matter their age, can live by it. ($16.95 Abrams)

Jan Brett has put an Inuit twist on the classic tale of The Three Bears with her customary beautiful illustrations. ($16.99 G.P. Putnam’s Sons)

Forty Years and Counting: A Birthday Retrospective

Long before the internet introduced online bookselling, and before the large chains opened stores on the North Shore, thriving bookstores existed all over Boston and in the surrounding communities. It says a lot about the North Shore that readers still support bookstores in Marblehead, Salem, Beverly, Gloucester, etc.

This year, one of the North Shore's favorite bookstores, The Book Shop of Beverly Farms, is celebrating 40 years of bookselling.

When the Book Shop was founded, Couples and Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, along with the children's favorite, Corduroy, were bestsellers and LBJ was President!

The store was founded by three women: Mimi Adams, Mary Perkins, and Nancy Hewson, all of whom are still loyal book shop customers.

The demise of the book is constantly being reported in the business media. The current co-owners of the Book Shop - Pam, Lee, Deb, Janet and Becky –would like to tell you that news of the book's demise is greatly exaggerated. The genuine excitement children express when they start reading a great book in our cozy children's room is contagious.  

The Book Shop provides a haven from the fast pace of modern life. People who step into the Book Shop find themselves relaxing and enjoying the wide range of books for every age and interest. Members of our staff read a great deal; they're always happy to make recommendations. We order books every day and, if a book

is currently in print in America, we can have it here within a day or two. We discount New York Times bestseller hard covers by 20 percent. We're involved with lots of local book groups and offer discounts to people who belong to any book group.

The Book Shop is great for instant gratification. You don't have to wait for something to arrive in the mail. Just head on down to 40 West Street and we'll help you find something great to read.  We're here Monday-Saturday 9-5. You can also find us on the web at www.realbookshop.com.

We've had some great book signings over the years. As we looked through our archives this week, we found announcements of signings by Henry Cabot Lodge and Madeleine L'Engle, among others. We are also very proud to feature signed books by our esteemed local author, John Updike.

The shop has hired many local students over the years. It was very fun recently to see that these young people have a space called I LOVE THE BOOK SHOP on Facebook. Even though it was just a part-time job, it clearly had meaning for these young people.

Every day brings something new and we never know what people are going to ask for. One time, as we were closing up the shop, a burly guy pulled up on a motorcycle and came flying into the shop--he was clearly a man on a mission. We were pretty surprised when he asked for a copy of Pat the Bunny.

One of our favorite challenges is figuring out what people want when they don't know the author or the title.  We usually start by asking, "Is there a dog on the cover?" We had a request for How to Kill a Mockingbird. I had to explain that this isn't actually part of our "how-to" collection.

We're proud of what we've accomplished during the past forty years and hope to see all of you at our 50th anniversary celebration in 2018!