The importance of books in lives 

Carl Kollhoff is passionate about books. So of course working in a bookstore is the perfect place for him. For years, he ha also been delivering ordered books to special customers after closing time. And for him, those customers feel like real friends, even if each delivery only took a short time.
But when Carl loses his job, it’s so much more that Carl loses. And it takes a persistent nine – year – old girl to show Carl and his book friends that there is a whole world outside their homes and they in fact can help out each other, all together. 

This isn’t the kind of story that I usually read. You can find me enjoying romance, or cosy mysteries, or even a thriller here and there.
Yet there was something that drew me to pick up this book. Of course the bookstore was a giveaway, but the blurb made me curious to see this unlikely friendship between a man of older age and a curious and persistent nine – year – old girl.  

Once I started in the book, I discovered that perhaps it wasn’t that much about Carl and Schascha but more about the power and importance of books in people’s lives. No matter how different someone’s life is from someone else, the love of book is something universal and something that everyone can experience, no matter what genre they prefer. 

Of course the more I read about Carl, the more mixed feelings I got. Because on one hand it was truly sad to read how slowly he is somehow being disregarded, and feeling more and more alone on this world. But on the other hand, we also see the lengths he goes to keep his customers/ friends passionate about books. He goes very far for them, even if it costs him a lot, literally and figuratively. 

I have to say, from the moment Schascha enters the story, it turns into a lighter story, a more innocent one too.
Schascha is a force of nature to be reckoned with. And as expected from a nine – year – old girl, she won’t be easily dismissed. Once she put her mind to something, she will not give up.
But even if this girl puts on a big act towards Carl, we also see her purity in a way. even if she sees and understands more than any other young girl, she doesn’t understand everything and how the world works. 

In that respect, it was lovely to see the dynamics between Carl and Schascha. Carl is set in some of his ways, and Schascha forces him to do things differently, or goes behind his back. And in Carl Schascha finds in a way a lovely grandfather, sharing his wisdom with her. 

But, like I said before, there is more to this story than just the new friendship between Carl and Schascha. Because we also get glimpses through Carl’s eyes into his customers lives. And each customer couldn’t be more different from the other customer. Yet the one thing that connects them all, is their love for books and Carl delivering those books. 

It was funny but in a way also heart – warming to see how Carl finds the perfect name from a fictional character to call his customers, showing that he sees more to them than just being the delivery man.  

And how strange it can be, it’s that connection that changes each life. From a woman who pretends to be in a happy marriage, to a man enjoying stories but not knowing how to read, from a nun to a man writing his own books, Carl and his own story brings them all together, helping each other and joining forces. 

This book shows us that no matter who we are, books can truly unite people. Books don’t care about who you are or what you are. They only ask to be read and treasured. And only people with that same passion for books can understand how books can sweep you of your feet. But books can also be the link to get people out their homes, to become an united front and help out those around us. And that can be by helping with a small gesture, or by opening up your house, with or without the little nudge of a special little girl… 

For sure I had several laughs (wait until you meet Dog! 😊) but there were also heart – breaking moments, with losses. But that didn’t take away me enjoying this book, about books and people that love books!