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Rating: 
Summary: "A face of fanatical ecstasy."
Review: "The Haunted Bookshop" is the sequel to "Parnassus on Wheels." In "Parnassus on Wheels", Roger Mifflin romances spinster Helen McGill. In "The Haunted Bookshop", Roger and Helen have parked the traveling caravan of books, and they've opened a bookshop in Brooklyn. Roger has very definite ideas about books and his role as a bookseller. Roger sees himself as "a specialist in adjusting the book to the human need." So he "prescribes books" for his customers, refuses to sell rubbish or bestsellers, and has a keen eye for the customer whose "mind is ill for lack of books." One day, a young man named Aubrey Gilbert steps inside the Haunted Bookshop in hopes of selling his advertising services to Roger Mifflin. Instead, Roger spots that Aubrey is in desperate need of a few good books, and so they strike up a friendship. Aubrey's relationship with the Mifflins intensifies when Miss Titania Chapman arrives to work in the bookshop. Titania is the precious daughter of Mr. Chapman of Chapman Daintybits Company--one of Aubrey's biggest clients. Titania is sent to the bookshop to divest herself of "absurd, wasteful, snobbish notions." Titania's father believes that she will benefit from "being surrounded by books."
Shortly after the beautiful Titania arrives, Aubrey keeps finding excuses to visit the shop. And he discovers that there are mysterious goings on taking place. Books disappear only to reappear on the shelf within days, and sinister characters lurk in the alley behind the bookshop. Aubrey's curiosity results in a vicious assault, and soon he's on the scent of a great mystery ...
"The Haunted Bookshop" was written in 1919--just after the end of WWI. While not as quaint as "Parnassus on Wheels", it is also much more serious. It's part romance, part mystery, but the best parts of all are the pages jammed packed with Mifflin's (or the author's) philosophy about books. Clearly Morley is a man who understands perfectly the power of good books, and these pages ring out with a joyous truth. Mifflin states: "but there is indeed a heaven on this earth, a heaven which we inhabit when we read a good book." And Mifflin promotes the names of many books within these delightful pages. Many of the titles Mifflin recommends are now almost lost, and several pages are devoted to WWI literature. Mifflin argues that the Truth is "rationed by the government ... I saw the world clawing itself to threads in blind rage. I saw the glutton, the idler, and the fool applauding, while brave and simple men walked into the horrors of hell." The novel's dalliance with espionage is the book's weakest but necessary element. Mifflin's description of the dedicated bibliophile and anti-war sentiments are unforgettable, and make the novel, ultimately, rewarding--displacedhuman
Rating:
Summary: An Unusual and Enjoyable Book
Review: It's been years since I read The Haunted Bookshop, but it's one of those books that really stays with you. The proprietor of the bookshop has the proper attitude about selling books and has the sign posted right up on his wall: "We sell no fakes or trashes." I first read the book when I was in 9th grade, and remember thinking wistfully that I would love to visit the Haunted Bookshop. To my immense delight, I've discovered a few over the years, where I've made wonderful finds I never would have discovered at [local stores]. When you run across one of these bookstores, they are a joy to remember forever.
Rating: 
Summary: The Booksellers Bible
Review: It's been years since I read The Haunted Bookshop, but it's one of those books that really stays with you. The proprietor of the bookshop has the proper attitude about selling books and has the sign posted right up on his wall: "We sell no fakes or trashes." I first read the book when I was in 9th grade, and remember thinking wistfully that I would love to visit the Haunted Bookshop. To my immense delight, I've discovered a few over the years, where I've made wonderful finds I never would have discovered at [local stores]. When you run across one of these bookstores, they are a joy to remember forever.
Rating:
Summary: For the bibliophile in all of us
Review: Okay, so I admit, the cover attracted me to the book. It wouldn't be the first time that this has happened. And the title was alluring(considering that I've worked in a bookstore for years upon years and now spend my working hours in a library, is it any wonder?) And so, The Haunted Bookshop and Parnassus on Wheels in hand, I made my way to a chair by a window and found comfort in Christopher Morley's words."Did you ever notice how books track you down and hunt you out?...it follows you and follows you and drives you into a corner and makes you read it...Words cannot describe the cunning of some books." That was all it took, all the motivation I needed, to buy the book. The story itself kept me reading. Roger Mifflin, owner of "the haunted bookshop," is a man after my own heart. Some may find him a bit stuffy, perhaps just a tad bit pretentious(though charmingly so)in nature, but he's a man that knows the importance of books. In fact, he can choose the perfect book for a customer just by looking at him. Now that's a talent I'd like to have. Besides all of the book loving goin' on, the novel is peopled with charming characters, all trying to solve a mystery between reading and taking out the Mifflin's dog. The mystery is a little slow going at first, but soon after, as things fall into place, it becomes quite the page turner. All in all, a lovely book that any bibliophile will treasure.
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Summary: A Surprisingly Intriguing Mystery
Review: Published at a time when booksellers were concerned that "speechless movies" would destroy the book trade, and the action hero of the day was Tarzan, The Haunted Bookshop stands up to any modern novel of political intrigue. The story line revolves around the events at the end of World War I. President Wilson, the upcoming peace talks, and a disappearing copy of Oliver Cromwell's speeches all come together in a mystery that is full of surprises. Roger Mifflin, the proprietor of the Haunted Bookshop, is saddened to think he shall die with thousands of books unread. Yet, he finds the time to uncover a plot by a group of German thugs and prevents a tragedy that could have changed the course of world history. Allow yourself some time to stick with this book and like a visit to the Haunted Bookshop itself, you will find yourself exploring a fascinating place with many twists and turns just waiting to be discovered.
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Summary: Quaint and Delightful - Perfect Gift for Book Lovers
Review: The Haunted Bookshop is quaint, delightful fiction that is simultaneously entertaining and thought provoking. Like its predecessor, Parnassus on Wheels, it is first and foremost a book for book lovers. The exuberant Roger Mifflin, the owner of a dusty, out-of-the way, used bookstore in Brooklyn, thrives on helping people discover new books and authors. His bookshop motto reads: "We have what you want, though you may not know you want it." Making money is secondary to him and his favorite pastime is talking and arguing, especially about books.
Written in 1919, the action centers upon a then contemporary event, the planned voyage of Woodrow Wilson to the Peace Conference in Europe. Roger's leather bound copy of Carlyle's Oliver Cromwell disappears from its shelf, only to reappear the following night. A clever story of espionage follows.
Roger is a man of his times and is deeply concerned that the mistakes leading to the Great War not be repeated. His hopes for future world peace are poignant, especially as we modern readers realize that in just two decades the Great War would be renamed, and numbered.
Christopher Morley's characters - the irrepressible Roger Mifflin, his pragmatic and loveable wife Helen McGill Mifflin, the youthful, diligent Titania Chapman that works in their shop, and her idealistic suitor Aubrey Gilbert - are all eminently likeable characters. The villains are indeed villainous, but thankfully, miscommunications within their ranks causes their plans to go awry. Aubrey, acting as an amateur sleuth, misinterprets the situation, but ultimately all works out for the best.
I suppose it is best to read Parnassus on Wheels and its sequel, The Haunted Bookshop, in order, but it is certainly not necessary. I suspect that whichever you begin with, you will immediately begin searching for the other. It is no surprise that Christopher Morley, author of more than 50 books, is primarily remembered for these two marvelous stories.
Years ago my wife and I stumbled upon a pleasantly enticing, used bookstore on a narrow street in downtown Mobile. It was appropriately named The Haunted Bookshop.
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Summary: A really good book!
Review: This book is full of drama. I could not put the book down at night. It contains many quatos from other books. It is a good book and tells alot of details.
Rating:
Summary: An Unusual and Enjoyable Book
Review: This was an unusual little book but I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were a few quirky points I could nitpick about -- the characters are a little mannered and Mr. Mifflin, the eccentric but charming bookseller, is at his best discussing books and less interesting as an anti-war crusader, but these I wrote off to the time period the book was written. For me, they didn't distract much from the overall enjoyment of the book. Even the mystery to the plot turned out better than I'd expected. I haven't read the prior book, "Parnassus on Wheels" but I've added it to my future reading list.
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