Rating: 
Summary: Too Simple - Didn't Pull Me In
Review: I found myself standing like an outsider watching a simple play - I never felt like I was part of the plot. I wasn't really interested in any of the characters. I appreciated the simplicity of the writing styles, but I felt confused when finishing.
Rating: 
Summary: Makes Reading Pleasure Again
Review: Its like coming home after a long absence and NOT being disappointed . I really enjoyed the ordinary, the simplicity of the story. Miss Fitzgerald creates a tight story full of character. You want to sit next to the characters after the finale and ask questions. Could you be so petty/mean? Why didnt you ask the other question? What is going on in your life? Very good characterizations.
Rating: 
Summary: A subtle tale of provincial manners
Review: Penelope Fitzgerald writes slim novels (usually not more than 150 pages long), many of which have been nominated for the prestigious Booker Prize award. "The Bookshop" was among them. I picked this up at a second hand bookshop and finished it in a day. Set in the 1950s in the quaint provincial town of Sussex, Fitzgerald's novel is about how a little old lady by the name of Florence Green fights to provide the essential service of a bookshop in her hometown but is finally defeated by the well heeled and well connected Gamarts who have other plans for the site her bookshop occupies. Though virtually without any action or plot, "The Bookshop" is a well judged and subtle piece of writing which is likely to appeal only to "serious readers". The subject matter and the whole setting are just too esoteric and too quaint to attract a mass readership. I for one won't be out scouring the bookshops for another Fitzgerald novel to read - not quite so soon anyway - if "The Bookshop" is anything to go by. It may be a gentle and evocative little thing but not a novel for all seasons. It's just too slow and (on a bad day) even a little dull.
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful short story.
Review: Florence is a lovely woman who wants to provide a service to her community while occupying herself during those lonely days on the island of Hardborough. Her husband has been dead some years, and she evolves a woman capable of taking care of herself. She makes mistakes but also makes smart decisions. Her biggest error is that she fails to recognize that she is not just in the book business - she is in the people business too. It would have been interesting to rewrite the story with Florence being more sensitive to her neighbors weaknesses and vulnerabilities. She certainly could have made a success of the business if she had not isolated herself from the community (Although it seems many of the folks in Hardborough preferred the solitary life). It would have been fun to see her do more networking. I thought it was beautifully written and bittersweet. At the end, Florence survives. All of us have failures to deal with and the good news is that Florence will continue to live the remainder of her years with the courage that she started the bookshop with. Why is it impossible to belive she might use that courage to be successful in another venture. So, I did not find the story as depressing as others. In some ways it was uplifting knowing that there are certain things that nobody can steal from you. I recommend the book.
Rating:
Summary: Charming and true
Review: It's amusing to read the disappointed reactions of all the Amazon.com readers who felt cheated by the lack of "plot" or "story." The point of all fiction is not necessarily to tell a story, nor even to satisfy the Reader. Fitzgerald hits many nails square on the head in her depiction of Florence and the town of squares and petty ingrates. I loved this book. A smart, sly, precocious characterization of a stylized real-life disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: Was the most boring book I have ever read.
Review: After reading "The Bookshop" by Penelope Fitzgerald I was quite disatified. The book was a total bore anad waste of time. It seemed the book was total exposititon and no climax or resolution. There was no plot but it had a setting in a quite village called Hardbourgh. As for the theme, there was none. It only left you feeling like a failure and that ohters can push you around. The book is about a women in her mid 50-60's by the name of Florence Green, who is bored by her town and feels it needs a bookshop. The only bookshop in town. She decides after much fight with other neighbors to buy the Old House in town, which is said to be haunted. Though it was never stated in the book as haunted only as "occupied by an old Rapper." The Rapper was only mentioned once or twice and nothing scarry took place in the Old House. On occasion was a few "knocking" noices heard here and there. I felt that there was little said on the haunting and that it was not focused on at all. It was not a big deal and after the third chapter it was not mentioned again. Florence moves into the Old House, which leaks, smells, and that is about it. The Old House was not described in any lengthy detail, at all except "old". I felt the whole book lacked detail and description. Even the characters lacked detail. They were quite boring to read about. Though I did enjoy reading about the party Mr. and Mrs. Gamart held at the Stead, their home. It was described as a Gatsby mansion. Mrs. Gamart was Florence's enemy. She wanted the Old House turned into a Arts Center, for desplay of local artists. Both pretend to hate eachother yet turn around and amuse eachother. Florence's shop did an average amount of business, with steady customers from town. She even set up a lending library, though closed it due to lack in interest. She had an eleven year old assistant by the name of Christine who im my opion was a brat. She was quiet a rude little girl who did the work only to please her mother. The shop stays open a year or so, but then is closed due to lack of interest and other misfortunes which I shall let you read to find out. Lets just say it has no happy ending. I felt the whole book was dry. It had no comedy, adventure, or drama. It lacked the elements of a good story including: theme, developed plot and setting, and good characterization. The story never picked up my interest. I felt it went nowhere. I was still at the beginning of how Florence wanted a bookshop. The whole thing was about a women and her damp bookshop, and her struggle to keep it open. I wondered what the purpose of the book was! To give up on something you really wanted was what came to my mind after reading it. I did however find one symbol in the book and that was the Rapper. I think he was a symbol of Florence's consious. The book lost my interest by the fourth chapter, though I kept reading hoping for it to pick up and become adventurous. I was extremely disappointed by the whole thing and would not recommend it to anyone unless you are very bored! I give a thumbs down!!!!
Rating:
Summary: I was disappointed
Review: After I read Fitzgerald's haunting "The Blue Flower," I was excited to read more of her work. At first, I enjoyed "The Bookshop." The description of not-so-scenic British countryside, some of the characterizations, are good. But some of the characters are not developed to any satisfaction. And the ending! Not only was it depressing, but it was totally pointless! What was Fitzgerald's message here? Apparently that life, and all our efforts to create a life, are unimportant and doomed to failure?
Rating:
Summary: Interesting but Problematic
Review: Although I do not feel the book was a waste of time, I was not pleased. It is a quiet novel about human devastation and provincial prejudice that just meanders along. If you are interested in a slow-paced, distinctly British work, then this will do well--otherwise, I would not recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: A disappointment
Review: What was the purpose of this book? It was totally unenthralling and depressing. I had read a great review of this and her other books. Now I'm afraid to try any others. The plot was undeveloped, though the characters could've been interesting. Who wants to read about people who just give up?
Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful book
Review: The length of this book is not its measure - virtually every word, every paragraph is haunting. After reading it, I immediately went to my public library to see what I else I could borrow written by this enchanting, thoughtful writer.
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