Anne here. Last weekend I was able to get away out into the country for the first time in over a year. The occasion was a book event — not about my books; this was a crime fiction event in a "booktown".
The place was the small former gold-rush town of Clunes, in central Victoria — two hours from Melbourne, and an hour or so from the city of Ballarat, which was built on the profits of the gold rush that took place here in the 1850's.
Clunes was one of the first places in Victoria where gold was discovered. By 1860 it had a population of more than 6000. It was prosperous enough for substantial community buildings to be built in the 1870's — churches, schools, a hospital, a free library, as well as local government buildings like the Town Hall and Court House. The main streets were even lit by gas. (The photo below is of the primary school.)
But the gold eventually ran out and the population dwindled, falling to a low of just 691 people in 1971. And like most small country towns, it needed to find a new way to survive.
Clunes, being a pretty little town with a well-preserved 19th century heritage, has always had its fair share of tourists, but the community has gone one step further and decided to become a "booktown." And it's obviously working, as these days Clunes has a population of around 1700 people.
What is a "booktown" you ask? It's a town that focuses on books. In the case of Clunes that means lots of shops that sell books — new, second-hand, and antiquarian, plus a focus on encouraging literary events, and a number of "pop-up" book stalls that come for the events.
In 2007 the first annual Clunes Booktown book fair was held, and the event has been growing in popularity ever since. It suffered, of course, with Covid, when all events were cancelled, but this year it started up again, with good social distancing practices, and while I'm told the numbers weren't nearly up to previous years, I was still pretty impressed, and enjoyed myself immensely.
When I drove up last weekend I knew I was getting close when the beige paddocks and grey-green gum trees gave way to bright splashes of autumn color — autumn color only comes from exotic trees imported from overseas, and the sight of them signals an old settlement.
The main street of Clunes is filled with lovely old-fashioned shops. I was a little disturbed to see images like the one at the top of the page in a shop window, and I hoped that the spines of books hadn't been sliced off to make this display, but I soon realized they were everywhere — even in the local pub, and were to show their support for books and Booktown.
This weekend was all about Book Clubs, and the focus of the first day was Crime. Despite the murderous topics covered, the atmosphere was lovely, with groups of people from book clubs having travelled up together, and others coming together and meeting for the first time. Everywhere, in cafes and restaurants and shops, in parks and in the streets, there were people talking about their book clubs, their love of books, talking about the sessions they'd just been to or were about to attend, and of course swapping titles of favorite books and authors. And of course there were author talks, book sales and signings. Book-lovers heaven.
My first event was this crime panel, made up of one of my favorite crime writers, Garry Disher, as well as Karina Kilmore (debut novelist) and Robert Gott (who sets his books in the 1940's), with the moderator, Jane Sullivan. It was a fascinating, wide-ranging discussion, from the influence of childhood reading, the importance of setting for each writer, the market for Australian crime fiction (it's very big in Germany) and how each author works.
The second panel I attended was called "Crime Takes to the Back Roads – Interrogating Rural Noir", with writers Lyn Yeowart and Katherine Kovacic, and Sandi Wallace and chaired by Maggie Baron. Another fascinating discussion about novels set in the country and how writers write. Katherine Kovacic, a veterinarian turned Art History expert turned novelist, also talked about why she changed careers and how her first book was inspired by the true-life unsolved murder of artist's model and painter Molly Deane in the 1940's.
In between sessions there were also plenty of interesting craft and historical shops to investigate. I bought some socks made on this fascinating machine — you can see some socks made on it draped over the lady's knee.
And I loved exploring a big old warehouse where giant slabs of native wood were waiting to be bought, polished up and made into tabletops or kitchen benches. And Madam Saddler looked pretty interesting, though it wasn't a shop open for exploration — it was a cottage to rent.
I ate well with good, fresh and interesting food, and excellent coffee, as well as a visit to Top Shop Takeaway on my arrival on the first night, where I was served a whopping traditional aussie hamburger (large beef patty, egg, bacon, cheese, beetroot, onion, tomato, lettuce and ketchup) which certainly filled me up!
Unfortunately I wasn't able to get accommodation for the whole weekend, so I didn't attend the Sunday events, but I'm sure they were just as successful. I'll certainly be attending more book-lovers events at Clunes in the future. There are booktowns all over the world — here are ten listed, mainly in Europe. You can read more about Clunes here.
So what about you — are you a member of a book club? Have you ever visited a booktown? If you could go to one, who would you like to see on a panel?
(And if you'd like to see more photos of Clunes, I've posted some on my own blog)
What a wonderful trip, Anne; thanks for sharing it with us! May I hide in your luggage next time?
I am in two book groups currently. One is a local group with whom I’ve been for about seven years. We’ve been meeting on Zoom for over a year but are talking about meeting in person this month. I was a member of a group that started some 26 years ago until I moved eight years later; another person who had moved away and I were invited to rejoin them when they moved to Zoom last year. That was a silver lining in challenging times.
I have never visited a booktown, but I’d like to now.
What a wonderful trip, Anne; thanks for sharing it with us! May I hide in your luggage next time?
I am in two book groups currently. One is a local group with whom I’ve been for about seven years. We’ve been meeting on Zoom for over a year but are talking about meeting in person this month. I was a member of a group that started some 26 years ago until I moved eight years later; another person who had moved away and I were invited to rejoin them when they moved to Zoom last year. That was a silver lining in challenging times.
I have never visited a booktown, but I’d like to now.
What a wonderful trip, Anne; thanks for sharing it with us! May I hide in your luggage next time?
I am in two book groups currently. One is a local group with whom I’ve been for about seven years. We’ve been meeting on Zoom for over a year but are talking about meeting in person this month. I was a member of a group that started some 26 years ago until I moved eight years later; another person who had moved away and I were invited to rejoin them when they moved to Zoom last year. That was a silver lining in challenging times.
I have never visited a booktown, but I’d like to now.
What a wonderful trip, Anne; thanks for sharing it with us! May I hide in your luggage next time?
I am in two book groups currently. One is a local group with whom I’ve been for about seven years. We’ve been meeting on Zoom for over a year but are talking about meeting in person this month. I was a member of a group that started some 26 years ago until I moved eight years later; another person who had moved away and I were invited to rejoin them when they moved to Zoom last year. That was a silver lining in challenging times.
I have never visited a booktown, but I’d like to now.
What a wonderful trip, Anne; thanks for sharing it with us! May I hide in your luggage next time?
I am in two book groups currently. One is a local group with whom I’ve been for about seven years. We’ve been meeting on Zoom for over a year but are talking about meeting in person this month. I was a member of a group that started some 26 years ago until I moved eight years later; another person who had moved away and I were invited to rejoin them when they moved to Zoom last year. That was a silver lining in challenging times.
I have never visited a booktown, but I’d like to now.
What an interesing post. I would love to live in a booktown.
I love to talk about book clubs, but I’ve never belonged to one. (I think I’d prefer a book club like the one in the Chance Sisters series.)
What an interesing post. I would love to live in a booktown.
I love to talk about book clubs, but I’ve never belonged to one. (I think I’d prefer a book club like the one in the Chance Sisters series.)
What an interesing post. I would love to live in a booktown.
I love to talk about book clubs, but I’ve never belonged to one. (I think I’d prefer a book club like the one in the Chance Sisters series.)
What an interesing post. I would love to live in a booktown.
I love to talk about book clubs, but I’ve never belonged to one. (I think I’d prefer a book club like the one in the Chance Sisters series.)
What an interesing post. I would love to live in a booktown.
I love to talk about book clubs, but I’ve never belonged to one. (I think I’d prefer a book club like the one in the Chance Sisters series.)
I love the idea of a book town too. UCLA has (or used to have) a book weekend on campus that attracted speakers, sellers and authors, and I think that’s as close as LA gets to that. Due to high rents and amazon competition, most of our independent bookstores have disappeared and even the chains are having problems.
I have never belonged to a book club myself, but when I was working I would often go to Gelson’s Market for a salad lunch (before the virus they let you make your own), which I could eat in the eat-it-here area inside the store. Every Thursday about half a dozen women would get a coffee and have their book club meeting there. They would all have the book with them — they seemed to be mostly what is now called book club fiction; no genre stuff — and after a few minutes it would become apparent that most of them hadn’t finished the book. The leader had a terrible time eliciting any comments or opinions. After a while they’d give up and go to more general conversational topics, and start to have a good time with each other 🙂
My sister in law belongs to some sort of club through her church and has a whole stack of book club books languishing in the hallway case where everybody throws stuff. She reads what she likes – dog books, mysteries and cozies – and is polite about the rest.
I do have a sort of two person book club going with my review colleague in Sweden. We are both passionate regency readers so we have much to talk about and we frequently disagree. I learn a lot from her. I like that system better than being pressured to buy a book that doesn’t interest me and then to have to think of something to say that is useful, or at least intelligent, when reading it seemed a chore and a punishment.
I love the idea of a book town too. UCLA has (or used to have) a book weekend on campus that attracted speakers, sellers and authors, and I think that’s as close as LA gets to that. Due to high rents and amazon competition, most of our independent bookstores have disappeared and even the chains are having problems.
I have never belonged to a book club myself, but when I was working I would often go to Gelson’s Market for a salad lunch (before the virus they let you make your own), which I could eat in the eat-it-here area inside the store. Every Thursday about half a dozen women would get a coffee and have their book club meeting there. They would all have the book with them — they seemed to be mostly what is now called book club fiction; no genre stuff — and after a few minutes it would become apparent that most of them hadn’t finished the book. The leader had a terrible time eliciting any comments or opinions. After a while they’d give up and go to more general conversational topics, and start to have a good time with each other 🙂
My sister in law belongs to some sort of club through her church and has a whole stack of book club books languishing in the hallway case where everybody throws stuff. She reads what she likes – dog books, mysteries and cozies – and is polite about the rest.
I do have a sort of two person book club going with my review colleague in Sweden. We are both passionate regency readers so we have much to talk about and we frequently disagree. I learn a lot from her. I like that system better than being pressured to buy a book that doesn’t interest me and then to have to think of something to say that is useful, or at least intelligent, when reading it seemed a chore and a punishment.
I love the idea of a book town too. UCLA has (or used to have) a book weekend on campus that attracted speakers, sellers and authors, and I think that’s as close as LA gets to that. Due to high rents and amazon competition, most of our independent bookstores have disappeared and even the chains are having problems.
I have never belonged to a book club myself, but when I was working I would often go to Gelson’s Market for a salad lunch (before the virus they let you make your own), which I could eat in the eat-it-here area inside the store. Every Thursday about half a dozen women would get a coffee and have their book club meeting there. They would all have the book with them — they seemed to be mostly what is now called book club fiction; no genre stuff — and after a few minutes it would become apparent that most of them hadn’t finished the book. The leader had a terrible time eliciting any comments or opinions. After a while they’d give up and go to more general conversational topics, and start to have a good time with each other 🙂
My sister in law belongs to some sort of club through her church and has a whole stack of book club books languishing in the hallway case where everybody throws stuff. She reads what she likes – dog books, mysteries and cozies – and is polite about the rest.
I do have a sort of two person book club going with my review colleague in Sweden. We are both passionate regency readers so we have much to talk about and we frequently disagree. I learn a lot from her. I like that system better than being pressured to buy a book that doesn’t interest me and then to have to think of something to say that is useful, or at least intelligent, when reading it seemed a chore and a punishment.
I love the idea of a book town too. UCLA has (or used to have) a book weekend on campus that attracted speakers, sellers and authors, and I think that’s as close as LA gets to that. Due to high rents and amazon competition, most of our independent bookstores have disappeared and even the chains are having problems.
I have never belonged to a book club myself, but when I was working I would often go to Gelson’s Market for a salad lunch (before the virus they let you make your own), which I could eat in the eat-it-here area inside the store. Every Thursday about half a dozen women would get a coffee and have their book club meeting there. They would all have the book with them — they seemed to be mostly what is now called book club fiction; no genre stuff — and after a few minutes it would become apparent that most of them hadn’t finished the book. The leader had a terrible time eliciting any comments or opinions. After a while they’d give up and go to more general conversational topics, and start to have a good time with each other 🙂
My sister in law belongs to some sort of club through her church and has a whole stack of book club books languishing in the hallway case where everybody throws stuff. She reads what she likes – dog books, mysteries and cozies – and is polite about the rest.
I do have a sort of two person book club going with my review colleague in Sweden. We are both passionate regency readers so we have much to talk about and we frequently disagree. I learn a lot from her. I like that system better than being pressured to buy a book that doesn’t interest me and then to have to think of something to say that is useful, or at least intelligent, when reading it seemed a chore and a punishment.
I love the idea of a book town too. UCLA has (or used to have) a book weekend on campus that attracted speakers, sellers and authors, and I think that’s as close as LA gets to that. Due to high rents and amazon competition, most of our independent bookstores have disappeared and even the chains are having problems.
I have never belonged to a book club myself, but when I was working I would often go to Gelson’s Market for a salad lunch (before the virus they let you make your own), which I could eat in the eat-it-here area inside the store. Every Thursday about half a dozen women would get a coffee and have their book club meeting there. They would all have the book with them — they seemed to be mostly what is now called book club fiction; no genre stuff — and after a few minutes it would become apparent that most of them hadn’t finished the book. The leader had a terrible time eliciting any comments or opinions. After a while they’d give up and go to more general conversational topics, and start to have a good time with each other 🙂
My sister in law belongs to some sort of club through her church and has a whole stack of book club books languishing in the hallway case where everybody throws stuff. She reads what she likes – dog books, mysteries and cozies – and is polite about the rest.
I do have a sort of two person book club going with my review colleague in Sweden. We are both passionate regency readers so we have much to talk about and we frequently disagree. I learn a lot from her. I like that system better than being pressured to buy a book that doesn’t interest me and then to have to think of something to say that is useful, or at least intelligent, when reading it seemed a chore and a punishment.
Kareni, what comfort it must have been to have those online book clubs in a time of isolation. Zoom has made things easier for a lot of us, I think. I’m impressed with any group lasting 27 years.
And while I don’t think you’d fit in the small bag I took away with me, you could always sit in the passenger seat of my car. 😉
Kareni, what comfort it must have been to have those online book clubs in a time of isolation. Zoom has made things easier for a lot of us, I think. I’m impressed with any group lasting 27 years.
And while I don’t think you’d fit in the small bag I took away with me, you could always sit in the passenger seat of my car. 😉
Kareni, what comfort it must have been to have those online book clubs in a time of isolation. Zoom has made things easier for a lot of us, I think. I’m impressed with any group lasting 27 years.
And while I don’t think you’d fit in the small bag I took away with me, you could always sit in the passenger seat of my car. 😉
Kareni, what comfort it must have been to have those online book clubs in a time of isolation. Zoom has made things easier for a lot of us, I think. I’m impressed with any group lasting 27 years.
And while I don’t think you’d fit in the small bag I took away with me, you could always sit in the passenger seat of my car. 😉
Kareni, what comfort it must have been to have those online book clubs in a time of isolation. Zoom has made things easier for a lot of us, I think. I’m impressed with any group lasting 27 years.
And while I don’t think you’d fit in the small bag I took away with me, you could always sit in the passenger seat of my car. 😉
It’s a lovely idea, isn’t it, Sue, and it was nice to see how all kinds of shops also had a book corner in them. I’ve never belonged to a book club either, though I’ve visited some as a guest writer, and have been invited to join several. I’ve always refused, as I’m resistant being told what to read. And yes, Lady Bea’s kind of book club is exactly my kind of preference too. Funny that. *g*
It’s a lovely idea, isn’t it, Sue, and it was nice to see how all kinds of shops also had a book corner in them. I’ve never belonged to a book club either, though I’ve visited some as a guest writer, and have been invited to join several. I’ve always refused, as I’m resistant being told what to read. And yes, Lady Bea’s kind of book club is exactly my kind of preference too. Funny that. *g*
It’s a lovely idea, isn’t it, Sue, and it was nice to see how all kinds of shops also had a book corner in them. I’ve never belonged to a book club either, though I’ve visited some as a guest writer, and have been invited to join several. I’ve always refused, as I’m resistant being told what to read. And yes, Lady Bea’s kind of book club is exactly my kind of preference too. Funny that. *g*
It’s a lovely idea, isn’t it, Sue, and it was nice to see how all kinds of shops also had a book corner in them. I’ve never belonged to a book club either, though I’ve visited some as a guest writer, and have been invited to join several. I’ve always refused, as I’m resistant being told what to read. And yes, Lady Bea’s kind of book club is exactly my kind of preference too. Funny that. *g*
It’s a lovely idea, isn’t it, Sue, and it was nice to see how all kinds of shops also had a book corner in them. I’ve never belonged to a book club either, though I’ve visited some as a guest writer, and have been invited to join several. I’ve always refused, as I’m resistant being told what to read. And yes, Lady Bea’s kind of book club is exactly my kind of preference too. Funny that. *g*
Janice a book festival/weekend sounds lovely. I think that article about 10 book-towns that I linked to at the end of the blog has a Californian place listed.
Your description of that book club reminds me of a lot of bookclubs I know of — where not everyone reads the book, and the discussion is labored until they give up and it becomes purely social chit-chat. I also think a lot of book clubs choose “worthy” sounding books, rather than books they’d all enjoy. But the book clubs that work, people really love, and that’s a good thing. But in general, book clubs are not for me, I think.
Janice a book festival/weekend sounds lovely. I think that article about 10 book-towns that I linked to at the end of the blog has a Californian place listed.
Your description of that book club reminds me of a lot of bookclubs I know of — where not everyone reads the book, and the discussion is labored until they give up and it becomes purely social chit-chat. I also think a lot of book clubs choose “worthy” sounding books, rather than books they’d all enjoy. But the book clubs that work, people really love, and that’s a good thing. But in general, book clubs are not for me, I think.
Janice a book festival/weekend sounds lovely. I think that article about 10 book-towns that I linked to at the end of the blog has a Californian place listed.
Your description of that book club reminds me of a lot of bookclubs I know of — where not everyone reads the book, and the discussion is labored until they give up and it becomes purely social chit-chat. I also think a lot of book clubs choose “worthy” sounding books, rather than books they’d all enjoy. But the book clubs that work, people really love, and that’s a good thing. But in general, book clubs are not for me, I think.
Janice a book festival/weekend sounds lovely. I think that article about 10 book-towns that I linked to at the end of the blog has a Californian place listed.
Your description of that book club reminds me of a lot of bookclubs I know of — where not everyone reads the book, and the discussion is labored until they give up and it becomes purely social chit-chat. I also think a lot of book clubs choose “worthy” sounding books, rather than books they’d all enjoy. But the book clubs that work, people really love, and that’s a good thing. But in general, book clubs are not for me, I think.
Janice a book festival/weekend sounds lovely. I think that article about 10 book-towns that I linked to at the end of the blog has a Californian place listed.
Your description of that book club reminds me of a lot of bookclubs I know of — where not everyone reads the book, and the discussion is labored until they give up and it becomes purely social chit-chat. I also think a lot of book clubs choose “worthy” sounding books, rather than books they’d all enjoy. But the book clubs that work, people really love, and that’s a good thing. But in general, book clubs are not for me, I think.
The California book town area (Grass Valley) is north of Sacramento, which makes it about 450 miles from Los Angeles. Maybe rents are cheaper there.
It was an interesting article. It does seem that these book towns, based on having many independent bookstores, are slowly disappearing everywhere. I wonder if all the paperback bookstore mysteries will also go away 🙂
When I thought about retirement back in the day, I assumed I’d be free to hang out in bookstores all day, maybe work in one or even own one myself. Some predicter of the future I turned out to be 🙁
The California book town area (Grass Valley) is north of Sacramento, which makes it about 450 miles from Los Angeles. Maybe rents are cheaper there.
It was an interesting article. It does seem that these book towns, based on having many independent bookstores, are slowly disappearing everywhere. I wonder if all the paperback bookstore mysteries will also go away 🙂
When I thought about retirement back in the day, I assumed I’d be free to hang out in bookstores all day, maybe work in one or even own one myself. Some predicter of the future I turned out to be 🙁
The California book town area (Grass Valley) is north of Sacramento, which makes it about 450 miles from Los Angeles. Maybe rents are cheaper there.
It was an interesting article. It does seem that these book towns, based on having many independent bookstores, are slowly disappearing everywhere. I wonder if all the paperback bookstore mysteries will also go away 🙂
When I thought about retirement back in the day, I assumed I’d be free to hang out in bookstores all day, maybe work in one or even own one myself. Some predicter of the future I turned out to be 🙁
The California book town area (Grass Valley) is north of Sacramento, which makes it about 450 miles from Los Angeles. Maybe rents are cheaper there.
It was an interesting article. It does seem that these book towns, based on having many independent bookstores, are slowly disappearing everywhere. I wonder if all the paperback bookstore mysteries will also go away 🙂
When I thought about retirement back in the day, I assumed I’d be free to hang out in bookstores all day, maybe work in one or even own one myself. Some predicter of the future I turned out to be 🙁
The California book town area (Grass Valley) is north of Sacramento, which makes it about 450 miles from Los Angeles. Maybe rents are cheaper there.
It was an interesting article. It does seem that these book towns, based on having many independent bookstores, are slowly disappearing everywhere. I wonder if all the paperback bookstore mysteries will also go away 🙂
When I thought about retirement back in the day, I assumed I’d be free to hang out in bookstores all day, maybe work in one or even own one myself. Some predicter of the future I turned out to be 🙁
Anne-Fascinating post! I don’t belong to a book club, but I have several friends who are also voracious readers and we’re always trading book titles and authors at each other. As for boomtown – I live in the US and have never Heard of one – not even the one in California. I fear I’ve been living under a rock. However – visiting a boomtown sounds like a splendid idea. The first word that came to mind was “nirvana.” Or pure wow! Not to mention having serious pangs of book envy. Lucky Anne to spend a weekend where the streets are not paved with gold, but are lined with books. The stuff that dreams are made of. Sigh…
Anne-Fascinating post! I don’t belong to a book club, but I have several friends who are also voracious readers and we’re always trading book titles and authors at each other. As for boomtown – I live in the US and have never Heard of one – not even the one in California. I fear I’ve been living under a rock. However – visiting a boomtown sounds like a splendid idea. The first word that came to mind was “nirvana.” Or pure wow! Not to mention having serious pangs of book envy. Lucky Anne to spend a weekend where the streets are not paved with gold, but are lined with books. The stuff that dreams are made of. Sigh…
Anne-Fascinating post! I don’t belong to a book club, but I have several friends who are also voracious readers and we’re always trading book titles and authors at each other. As for boomtown – I live in the US and have never Heard of one – not even the one in California. I fear I’ve been living under a rock. However – visiting a boomtown sounds like a splendid idea. The first word that came to mind was “nirvana.” Or pure wow! Not to mention having serious pangs of book envy. Lucky Anne to spend a weekend where the streets are not paved with gold, but are lined with books. The stuff that dreams are made of. Sigh…
Anne-Fascinating post! I don’t belong to a book club, but I have several friends who are also voracious readers and we’re always trading book titles and authors at each other. As for boomtown – I live in the US and have never Heard of one – not even the one in California. I fear I’ve been living under a rock. However – visiting a boomtown sounds like a splendid idea. The first word that came to mind was “nirvana.” Or pure wow! Not to mention having serious pangs of book envy. Lucky Anne to spend a weekend where the streets are not paved with gold, but are lined with books. The stuff that dreams are made of. Sigh…
Anne-Fascinating post! I don’t belong to a book club, but I have several friends who are also voracious readers and we’re always trading book titles and authors at each other. As for boomtown – I live in the US and have never Heard of one – not even the one in California. I fear I’ve been living under a rock. However – visiting a boomtown sounds like a splendid idea. The first word that came to mind was “nirvana.” Or pure wow! Not to mention having serious pangs of book envy. Lucky Anne to spend a weekend where the streets are not paved with gold, but are lined with books. The stuff that dreams are made of. Sigh…
I don’t belong to a book club, but a booktown sounds like a wonderful place to live or visit. I also now want to try an Aussie burger!
I don’t belong to a book club, but a booktown sounds like a wonderful place to live or visit. I also now want to try an Aussie burger!
I don’t belong to a book club, but a booktown sounds like a wonderful place to live or visit. I also now want to try an Aussie burger!
I don’t belong to a book club, but a booktown sounds like a wonderful place to live or visit. I also now want to try an Aussie burger!
I don’t belong to a book club, but a booktown sounds like a wonderful place to live or visit. I also now want to try an Aussie burger!
Your passenger seat sounds like a far more comfortable option, Anne, and would certainly facilitate chatting… thank you!
Your passenger seat sounds like a far more comfortable option, Anne, and would certainly facilitate chatting… thank you!
Your passenger seat sounds like a far more comfortable option, Anne, and would certainly facilitate chatting… thank you!
Your passenger seat sounds like a far more comfortable option, Anne, and would certainly facilitate chatting… thank you!
Your passenger seat sounds like a far more comfortable option, Anne, and would certainly facilitate chatting… thank you!
I love this! We have very few brick and mortar bookstores of any kind anymore within an hour’s drive of me. Maybe even farther. It makes me sad that convenience has taken precedence over carousing with tactile books, be they new, old or in between. It sounds like you had a wonderful trip! And something I’d love to do.
I love this! We have very few brick and mortar bookstores of any kind anymore within an hour’s drive of me. Maybe even farther. It makes me sad that convenience has taken precedence over carousing with tactile books, be they new, old or in between. It sounds like you had a wonderful trip! And something I’d love to do.
I love this! We have very few brick and mortar bookstores of any kind anymore within an hour’s drive of me. Maybe even farther. It makes me sad that convenience has taken precedence over carousing with tactile books, be they new, old or in between. It sounds like you had a wonderful trip! And something I’d love to do.
I love this! We have very few brick and mortar bookstores of any kind anymore within an hour’s drive of me. Maybe even farther. It makes me sad that convenience has taken precedence over carousing with tactile books, be they new, old or in between. It sounds like you had a wonderful trip! And something I’d love to do.
I love this! We have very few brick and mortar bookstores of any kind anymore within an hour’s drive of me. Maybe even farther. It makes me sad that convenience has taken precedence over carousing with tactile books, be they new, old or in between. It sounds like you had a wonderful trip! And something I’d love to do.
I would love to go to any of the book towns in the article. But, I believe for me Clunes would be an ideal place to visit.
It looks like a lot of small towns in Texas and other parts of the western parts of the US. Except the historic buildings in Clunes are more numerous and really beautiful. And evidently your gold rush was about the same time as the gold rush here in California. Small world.
I thank you for this post. If I could travel, I would love to walk through each of the places pictured in Clunes and many of the places mentioned.
And I would love to rent that cottage and look out my window every day on Clunes and the book people.
Hope everyone is well and happy.
I would love to go to any of the book towns in the article. But, I believe for me Clunes would be an ideal place to visit.
It looks like a lot of small towns in Texas and other parts of the western parts of the US. Except the historic buildings in Clunes are more numerous and really beautiful. And evidently your gold rush was about the same time as the gold rush here in California. Small world.
I thank you for this post. If I could travel, I would love to walk through each of the places pictured in Clunes and many of the places mentioned.
And I would love to rent that cottage and look out my window every day on Clunes and the book people.
Hope everyone is well and happy.
I would love to go to any of the book towns in the article. But, I believe for me Clunes would be an ideal place to visit.
It looks like a lot of small towns in Texas and other parts of the western parts of the US. Except the historic buildings in Clunes are more numerous and really beautiful. And evidently your gold rush was about the same time as the gold rush here in California. Small world.
I thank you for this post. If I could travel, I would love to walk through each of the places pictured in Clunes and many of the places mentioned.
And I would love to rent that cottage and look out my window every day on Clunes and the book people.
Hope everyone is well and happy.
I would love to go to any of the book towns in the article. But, I believe for me Clunes would be an ideal place to visit.
It looks like a lot of small towns in Texas and other parts of the western parts of the US. Except the historic buildings in Clunes are more numerous and really beautiful. And evidently your gold rush was about the same time as the gold rush here in California. Small world.
I thank you for this post. If I could travel, I would love to walk through each of the places pictured in Clunes and many of the places mentioned.
And I would love to rent that cottage and look out my window every day on Clunes and the book people.
Hope everyone is well and happy.
I would love to go to any of the book towns in the article. But, I believe for me Clunes would be an ideal place to visit.
It looks like a lot of small towns in Texas and other parts of the western parts of the US. Except the historic buildings in Clunes are more numerous and really beautiful. And evidently your gold rush was about the same time as the gold rush here in California. Small world.
I thank you for this post. If I could travel, I would love to walk through each of the places pictured in Clunes and many of the places mentioned.
And I would love to rent that cottage and look out my window every day on Clunes and the book people.
Hope everyone is well and happy.
A booktown!!! This sounds like absolute Heaven!! I’d love to visit a place like that.
I’m not in a book club either and never have been. I only read what I want to read and a lot of these clubs seem to pick what’s the in thing at the moment. I’m on the GoodReads site and I enjoy that very much.
If I could escape to that rented cottage, I’d be gone in the morning:):)
A booktown!!! This sounds like absolute Heaven!! I’d love to visit a place like that.
I’m not in a book club either and never have been. I only read what I want to read and a lot of these clubs seem to pick what’s the in thing at the moment. I’m on the GoodReads site and I enjoy that very much.
If I could escape to that rented cottage, I’d be gone in the morning:):)
A booktown!!! This sounds like absolute Heaven!! I’d love to visit a place like that.
I’m not in a book club either and never have been. I only read what I want to read and a lot of these clubs seem to pick what’s the in thing at the moment. I’m on the GoodReads site and I enjoy that very much.
If I could escape to that rented cottage, I’d be gone in the morning:):)
A booktown!!! This sounds like absolute Heaven!! I’d love to visit a place like that.
I’m not in a book club either and never have been. I only read what I want to read and a lot of these clubs seem to pick what’s the in thing at the moment. I’m on the GoodReads site and I enjoy that very much.
If I could escape to that rented cottage, I’d be gone in the morning:):)
A booktown!!! This sounds like absolute Heaven!! I’d love to visit a place like that.
I’m not in a book club either and never have been. I only read what I want to read and a lot of these clubs seem to pick what’s the in thing at the moment. I’m on the GoodReads site and I enjoy that very much.
If I could escape to that rented cottage, I’d be gone in the morning:):)
Janice, it’s very sad to think that so many bookshops in the USA have closed. That’s hasn’t yet happened here. I take hope from the vinyl record thing — just when so many people had got rid of their old records, they became cool, and record shops started opening up. Let’s hope so. There is such pleasure browsing through bookshops.
I recall seeing an article somewhere about a bookshop in the UK that you could go to and run for a while. Maybe that could be a fun holiday for you.
Janice, it’s very sad to think that so many bookshops in the USA have closed. That’s hasn’t yet happened here. I take hope from the vinyl record thing — just when so many people had got rid of their old records, they became cool, and record shops started opening up. Let’s hope so. There is such pleasure browsing through bookshops.
I recall seeing an article somewhere about a bookshop in the UK that you could go to and run for a while. Maybe that could be a fun holiday for you.
Janice, it’s very sad to think that so many bookshops in the USA have closed. That’s hasn’t yet happened here. I take hope from the vinyl record thing — just when so many people had got rid of their old records, they became cool, and record shops started opening up. Let’s hope so. There is such pleasure browsing through bookshops.
I recall seeing an article somewhere about a bookshop in the UK that you could go to and run for a while. Maybe that could be a fun holiday for you.
Janice, it’s very sad to think that so many bookshops in the USA have closed. That’s hasn’t yet happened here. I take hope from the vinyl record thing — just when so many people had got rid of their old records, they became cool, and record shops started opening up. Let’s hope so. There is such pleasure browsing through bookshops.
I recall seeing an article somewhere about a bookshop in the UK that you could go to and run for a while. Maybe that could be a fun holiday for you.
Janice, it’s very sad to think that so many bookshops in the USA have closed. That’s hasn’t yet happened here. I take hope from the vinyl record thing — just when so many people had got rid of their old records, they became cool, and record shops started opening up. Let’s hope so. There is such pleasure browsing through bookshops.
I recall seeing an article somewhere about a bookshop in the UK that you could go to and run for a while. Maybe that could be a fun holiday for you.
Thanks, Binnie — yes, the book-talk and swapping of titles — it’s such a booklovers’ pleasure. That’s the style of thing I enjoy — I’m less of a fan of the more serious discussions that some book clubs do. A little too much like school for me.
By the way, when Katherine Kovacic was talking about her books, she mentioned that the dog in her crime series, an Irish wolfhound, whose name I have forgotten, practically has his own FB page these days — and I thought, I bet Binnie would love that. https://www.facebook.com/katherine.kovacic.1
Thanks, Binnie — yes, the book-talk and swapping of titles — it’s such a booklovers’ pleasure. That’s the style of thing I enjoy — I’m less of a fan of the more serious discussions that some book clubs do. A little too much like school for me.
By the way, when Katherine Kovacic was talking about her books, she mentioned that the dog in her crime series, an Irish wolfhound, whose name I have forgotten, practically has his own FB page these days — and I thought, I bet Binnie would love that. https://www.facebook.com/katherine.kovacic.1
Thanks, Binnie — yes, the book-talk and swapping of titles — it’s such a booklovers’ pleasure. That’s the style of thing I enjoy — I’m less of a fan of the more serious discussions that some book clubs do. A little too much like school for me.
By the way, when Katherine Kovacic was talking about her books, she mentioned that the dog in her crime series, an Irish wolfhound, whose name I have forgotten, practically has his own FB page these days — and I thought, I bet Binnie would love that. https://www.facebook.com/katherine.kovacic.1
Thanks, Binnie — yes, the book-talk and swapping of titles — it’s such a booklovers’ pleasure. That’s the style of thing I enjoy — I’m less of a fan of the more serious discussions that some book clubs do. A little too much like school for me.
By the way, when Katherine Kovacic was talking about her books, she mentioned that the dog in her crime series, an Irish wolfhound, whose name I have forgotten, practically has his own FB page these days — and I thought, I bet Binnie would love that. https://www.facebook.com/katherine.kovacic.1
Thanks, Binnie — yes, the book-talk and swapping of titles — it’s such a booklovers’ pleasure. That’s the style of thing I enjoy — I’m less of a fan of the more serious discussions that some book clubs do. A little too much like school for me.
By the way, when Katherine Kovacic was talking about her books, she mentioned that the dog in her crime series, an Irish wolfhound, whose name I have forgotten, practically has his own FB page these days — and I thought, I bet Binnie would love that. https://www.facebook.com/katherine.kovacic.1
Karin it was a particularly good one, but yes, the Aussie “hamburger with the lot” is a full meal. When I was growing up, it was never a thing to get chips with a hamburger, because the hamburger filled you right up.
A hamburger with the lot is always something of a surprise, as different shops vary what they think “the lot” is — the one I ate the other night was pretty standard, but some places will also include a slice of pineapple (which I’m not a fan of). And one time there was also everything mentioned above with a sausage as well. That one stuck in my memory because it was when I was a young bushwalker and we’d been walking all day and were starving. We arrived in a small town late and almost everything was closed — except for a small out-of-the-way cafe down near the port. It didn’t look too prepossessing, but we didn’t care as long as we could get something to eat. LOL — we sure did. It was a gigantic burger with everything plus a sausage!
Karin it was a particularly good one, but yes, the Aussie “hamburger with the lot” is a full meal. When I was growing up, it was never a thing to get chips with a hamburger, because the hamburger filled you right up.
A hamburger with the lot is always something of a surprise, as different shops vary what they think “the lot” is — the one I ate the other night was pretty standard, but some places will also include a slice of pineapple (which I’m not a fan of). And one time there was also everything mentioned above with a sausage as well. That one stuck in my memory because it was when I was a young bushwalker and we’d been walking all day and were starving. We arrived in a small town late and almost everything was closed — except for a small out-of-the-way cafe down near the port. It didn’t look too prepossessing, but we didn’t care as long as we could get something to eat. LOL — we sure did. It was a gigantic burger with everything plus a sausage!
Karin it was a particularly good one, but yes, the Aussie “hamburger with the lot” is a full meal. When I was growing up, it was never a thing to get chips with a hamburger, because the hamburger filled you right up.
A hamburger with the lot is always something of a surprise, as different shops vary what they think “the lot” is — the one I ate the other night was pretty standard, but some places will also include a slice of pineapple (which I’m not a fan of). And one time there was also everything mentioned above with a sausage as well. That one stuck in my memory because it was when I was a young bushwalker and we’d been walking all day and were starving. We arrived in a small town late and almost everything was closed — except for a small out-of-the-way cafe down near the port. It didn’t look too prepossessing, but we didn’t care as long as we could get something to eat. LOL — we sure did. It was a gigantic burger with everything plus a sausage!
Karin it was a particularly good one, but yes, the Aussie “hamburger with the lot” is a full meal. When I was growing up, it was never a thing to get chips with a hamburger, because the hamburger filled you right up.
A hamburger with the lot is always something of a surprise, as different shops vary what they think “the lot” is — the one I ate the other night was pretty standard, but some places will also include a slice of pineapple (which I’m not a fan of). And one time there was also everything mentioned above with a sausage as well. That one stuck in my memory because it was when I was a young bushwalker and we’d been walking all day and were starving. We arrived in a small town late and almost everything was closed — except for a small out-of-the-way cafe down near the port. It didn’t look too prepossessing, but we didn’t care as long as we could get something to eat. LOL — we sure did. It was a gigantic burger with everything plus a sausage!
Karin it was a particularly good one, but yes, the Aussie “hamburger with the lot” is a full meal. When I was growing up, it was never a thing to get chips with a hamburger, because the hamburger filled you right up.
A hamburger with the lot is always something of a surprise, as different shops vary what they think “the lot” is — the one I ate the other night was pretty standard, but some places will also include a slice of pineapple (which I’m not a fan of). And one time there was also everything mentioned above with a sausage as well. That one stuck in my memory because it was when I was a young bushwalker and we’d been walking all day and were starving. We arrived in a small town late and almost everything was closed — except for a small out-of-the-way cafe down near the port. It didn’t look too prepossessing, but we didn’t care as long as we could get something to eat. LOL — we sure did. It was a gigantic burger with everything plus a sausage!
Theo that’s so sad that bookstores are disappearing. There’s a special pleasure in browsing through shelves of books.
Theo that’s so sad that bookstores are disappearing. There’s a special pleasure in browsing through shelves of books.
Theo that’s so sad that bookstores are disappearing. There’s a special pleasure in browsing through shelves of books.
Theo that’s so sad that bookstores are disappearing. There’s a special pleasure in browsing through shelves of books.
Theo that’s so sad that bookstores are disappearing. There’s a special pleasure in browsing through shelves of books.
Annette, yes, the California gold rush started in 1849, and ours started in 1850, and a lot of miners from California came over here in search of gold. I think the dwindling population of Clunes helped preserve the historic buildings. Plus the civic buildings were really well-built and solid in bluestone and brick, rather than wood, which is more common. And now quite a few have been classified by the National Trust, so will be preserved. I was really heartened to see that quite a few houses had “for sale” signs, most of which had “SOLD” pasted over them. And more were obviously being renovated, so it looks like the revitalization of the little town was working. I took a lot more photos than would fit on this blog — I’ll pop some on my personal blog.
Annette, yes, the California gold rush started in 1849, and ours started in 1850, and a lot of miners from California came over here in search of gold. I think the dwindling population of Clunes helped preserve the historic buildings. Plus the civic buildings were really well-built and solid in bluestone and brick, rather than wood, which is more common. And now quite a few have been classified by the National Trust, so will be preserved. I was really heartened to see that quite a few houses had “for sale” signs, most of which had “SOLD” pasted over them. And more were obviously being renovated, so it looks like the revitalization of the little town was working. I took a lot more photos than would fit on this blog — I’ll pop some on my personal blog.
Annette, yes, the California gold rush started in 1849, and ours started in 1850, and a lot of miners from California came over here in search of gold. I think the dwindling population of Clunes helped preserve the historic buildings. Plus the civic buildings were really well-built and solid in bluestone and brick, rather than wood, which is more common. And now quite a few have been classified by the National Trust, so will be preserved. I was really heartened to see that quite a few houses had “for sale” signs, most of which had “SOLD” pasted over them. And more were obviously being renovated, so it looks like the revitalization of the little town was working. I took a lot more photos than would fit on this blog — I’ll pop some on my personal blog.
Annette, yes, the California gold rush started in 1849, and ours started in 1850, and a lot of miners from California came over here in search of gold. I think the dwindling population of Clunes helped preserve the historic buildings. Plus the civic buildings were really well-built and solid in bluestone and brick, rather than wood, which is more common. And now quite a few have been classified by the National Trust, so will be preserved. I was really heartened to see that quite a few houses had “for sale” signs, most of which had “SOLD” pasted over them. And more were obviously being renovated, so it looks like the revitalization of the little town was working. I took a lot more photos than would fit on this blog — I’ll pop some on my personal blog.
Annette, yes, the California gold rush started in 1849, and ours started in 1850, and a lot of miners from California came over here in search of gold. I think the dwindling population of Clunes helped preserve the historic buildings. Plus the civic buildings were really well-built and solid in bluestone and brick, rather than wood, which is more common. And now quite a few have been classified by the National Trust, so will be preserved. I was really heartened to see that quite a few houses had “for sale” signs, most of which had “SOLD” pasted over them. And more were obviously being renovated, so it looks like the revitalization of the little town was working. I took a lot more photos than would fit on this blog — I’ll pop some on my personal blog.
Teresa, yes, I think you’re right about “the in thing” choices. People like to keep up with the current book fashions, and book clubs help keep them informed — even if they don’t actually finish reading the books. I’m like you — I read voraciously and like a variety.
There were some lovely B&B’s in and around the town and next time I might stay in one of them..
Teresa, yes, I think you’re right about “the in thing” choices. People like to keep up with the current book fashions, and book clubs help keep them informed — even if they don’t actually finish reading the books. I’m like you — I read voraciously and like a variety.
There were some lovely B&B’s in and around the town and next time I might stay in one of them..
Teresa, yes, I think you’re right about “the in thing” choices. People like to keep up with the current book fashions, and book clubs help keep them informed — even if they don’t actually finish reading the books. I’m like you — I read voraciously and like a variety.
There were some lovely B&B’s in and around the town and next time I might stay in one of them..
Teresa, yes, I think you’re right about “the in thing” choices. People like to keep up with the current book fashions, and book clubs help keep them informed — even if they don’t actually finish reading the books. I’m like you — I read voraciously and like a variety.
There were some lovely B&B’s in and around the town and next time I might stay in one of them..
Teresa, yes, I think you’re right about “the in thing” choices. People like to keep up with the current book fashions, and book clubs help keep them informed — even if they don’t actually finish reading the books. I’m like you — I read voraciously and like a variety.
There were some lovely B&B’s in and around the town and next time I might stay in one of them..
Annette, if you want to compare Clues with your Texas towns, I’ve posted some more photos on my own blog.
https://www.annegracie.com/clunes-booktown/
Annette, if you want to compare Clues with your Texas towns, I’ve posted some more photos on my own blog.
https://www.annegracie.com/clunes-booktown/
Annette, if you want to compare Clues with your Texas towns, I’ve posted some more photos on my own blog.
https://www.annegracie.com/clunes-booktown/
Annette, if you want to compare Clues with your Texas towns, I’ve posted some more photos on my own blog.
https://www.annegracie.com/clunes-booktown/
Annette, if you want to compare Clues with your Texas towns, I’ve posted some more photos on my own blog.
https://www.annegracie.com/clunes-booktown/
Hi Anne. I think I would need a whole year in a booktown! I am surprised that article didn’t mention Hay-on-Wye in England as with many bookshops and an annual book festival, it must qualify. I have belonged to a bookclub for 17 years. I get Teresa’s point but sometimes it is good to be made to read something you wouldn’t otherwise.
For the past year, we have met on Zoom. But our next one is in person at my house as I am moving from Suffolk to Scotland and so leaving the club. Fingers crossed, a bookclub will welcome me in at the new place
Hi Anne. I think I would need a whole year in a booktown! I am surprised that article didn’t mention Hay-on-Wye in England as with many bookshops and an annual book festival, it must qualify. I have belonged to a bookclub for 17 years. I get Teresa’s point but sometimes it is good to be made to read something you wouldn’t otherwise.
For the past year, we have met on Zoom. But our next one is in person at my house as I am moving from Suffolk to Scotland and so leaving the club. Fingers crossed, a bookclub will welcome me in at the new place
Hi Anne. I think I would need a whole year in a booktown! I am surprised that article didn’t mention Hay-on-Wye in England as with many bookshops and an annual book festival, it must qualify. I have belonged to a bookclub for 17 years. I get Teresa’s point but sometimes it is good to be made to read something you wouldn’t otherwise.
For the past year, we have met on Zoom. But our next one is in person at my house as I am moving from Suffolk to Scotland and so leaving the club. Fingers crossed, a bookclub will welcome me in at the new place
Hi Anne. I think I would need a whole year in a booktown! I am surprised that article didn’t mention Hay-on-Wye in England as with many bookshops and an annual book festival, it must qualify. I have belonged to a bookclub for 17 years. I get Teresa’s point but sometimes it is good to be made to read something you wouldn’t otherwise.
For the past year, we have met on Zoom. But our next one is in person at my house as I am moving from Suffolk to Scotland and so leaving the club. Fingers crossed, a bookclub will welcome me in at the new place
Hi Anne. I think I would need a whole year in a booktown! I am surprised that article didn’t mention Hay-on-Wye in England as with many bookshops and an annual book festival, it must qualify. I have belonged to a bookclub for 17 years. I get Teresa’s point but sometimes it is good to be made to read something you wouldn’t otherwise.
For the past year, we have met on Zoom. But our next one is in person at my house as I am moving from Suffolk to Scotland and so leaving the club. Fingers crossed, a bookclub will welcome me in at the new place
Alice, yes, in another article I read, Hay-on-Wye was mentioned as the very first “booktown” and it inspired others to follow suit, so I don’t know why the Guardian article didn’t mention it.
Wow, 17 years is a fabulous record for your bookclub. When you move to Scotland, maybe you can keep up an occasional get-together on zoom. All the very best in finding another book club that suits you. And good luck with your move as well.
Alice, yes, in another article I read, Hay-on-Wye was mentioned as the very first “booktown” and it inspired others to follow suit, so I don’t know why the Guardian article didn’t mention it.
Wow, 17 years is a fabulous record for your bookclub. When you move to Scotland, maybe you can keep up an occasional get-together on zoom. All the very best in finding another book club that suits you. And good luck with your move as well.
Alice, yes, in another article I read, Hay-on-Wye was mentioned as the very first “booktown” and it inspired others to follow suit, so I don’t know why the Guardian article didn’t mention it.
Wow, 17 years is a fabulous record for your bookclub. When you move to Scotland, maybe you can keep up an occasional get-together on zoom. All the very best in finding another book club that suits you. And good luck with your move as well.
Alice, yes, in another article I read, Hay-on-Wye was mentioned as the very first “booktown” and it inspired others to follow suit, so I don’t know why the Guardian article didn’t mention it.
Wow, 17 years is a fabulous record for your bookclub. When you move to Scotland, maybe you can keep up an occasional get-together on zoom. All the very best in finding another book club that suits you. And good luck with your move as well.
Alice, yes, in another article I read, Hay-on-Wye was mentioned as the very first “booktown” and it inspired others to follow suit, so I don’t know why the Guardian article didn’t mention it.
Wow, 17 years is a fabulous record for your bookclub. When you move to Scotland, maybe you can keep up an occasional get-together on zoom. All the very best in finding another book club that suits you. And good luck with your move as well.