World Paperback Day

Chapter Two bookstore with window in background and bookcase underneath beside two larger bookcases

To celebrate this book holiday, my husband took me to a new and used bookstore in the mountain town of Canmore, Alberta.

Even though Banff National Park (the first national park in Canada!) is nearby and much more well-known, there seems to be no existing bookstores left within the town of Banff—at least none that I could find in my research as the Indigospirit (mini version of a Chapters Indigo store) in Cascade Shops closed down a few years prior and the gift shops only supply a few local area interest books.

In terms of charm and everything that you can picture for bibliophiles, Café Books in Canmore hits the mark. The staff kindly let me take pictures of my excursion today, including the one above of their children's and fiction used books. Café Books is divided into two storefronts that are connected by a hallway with the front store entrance containing new books and book-related merchandise, and the back section an area for used books in a store that is unsurprisingly called Chapter Two. Once upon a time, Chapter Two hosted afternoon tea and served drinks and food, but it appears that this stopped around the time of the pandemic. The café seems to be a relic of those days, but the books certainly live on.

My hope was to find a paperback book to add to my shelves; however, there weren't many Christian books—they're the ones housed in the white cage-like bookshelf below with some non-Christian titles mixed in. While I was unsuccessful in finding a title, I'm grateful that we can celebrate paperbacks as they are a much more accessible and affordable way to read books. To learn that the history of this day originated with Penguin paperbacks made the picture of the classics books more special (the sign on the door behind the staircase is a directional sign toward Narnia 😉).

Café Books storefront with flowers and plants on the left side and a paperback book carousel on the right side and open doors in the middle

wooden staircase housing books in from of sealed door with bookcases to the right of staircase and door

arched bookcase unit with glass door holding books on top of dresser beside bookcase of business books

bookshelf on the left side of picture with middle table housing book-related puzzles and more book displays on the right side

Since this is the only bookstore near the Banff area, it's well worth exploring and admiring all of the interesting book displays. I imagine this is a popular stop as visitors are greeted with a large display of Out of Print merchandise when they enter, showcasing a love of literature. It was fairly busy, so I didn't capture any pictures of the front, but the back area leading to the children's section has an entire table filled with puzzles that are book-themed!

Caveat: In checking for any other bookstores in the Banff townsite area that I might have overlooked, it looks like there are two located in Lake Louise, Alberta. If I'm missing any others, I'm happy to hear about them so I can pay a visit!

Comments

Review: Shadowing You - The Wright Heroes of Maine #10

For Camp CCR , hosted by the Clearly Christian Readathon , I thought I would make my way to the Rescue Ridge campsite for romantic suspense and thrillers (earning this lovely badge ), and read Shadowing You by Robin Patchen . Taking place in China, terrifying circumstances are ratcheted up several levels with vendettas and technology creating a nearly insurmountable setting for the main characters. This book certainly left me breathless, dreading what could come next in a series of death-defying actions. Many thanks to NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : marital dishonesty, violence, death Book Synopsis When the wife he believed dead calls from China, an ER doctor races to find her before her enemies silence her forever. Ethan Wright never recovered from the death of his first love. Six years ago, Mei Lin discovered evidence linking powerful officials to a human trafficking ring. Sh...

Review: Emotional Hoarding

The topic of home organization appeals to me where, in reflecting our orderly God and Creator, it is nice to be in a calming environment. This book takes that sense of physical space and translates it to our emotional space, helping us clear out the debris that may be taking us away from what God wants for us to experience. Emotional Hoarding by Laurie Davies is gentle without diminishing the pain that can accompany such a state of mind, making it a useful primer on a myriad of feelings that can have us staying down. Many thanks to Moody Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : references to Brené Brown and Mark Batterson Book Synopsis We could live free, but cleaning house is hard. Emotional baggage is trendy. We might even joke about it. Yet, one of the early English definitions of luggage is anything of more weight than value. Let that sink in. When we collect, stack, and stockpile b...

Review: Still Judas - Dear Judas #2

I have been anticipating Still Judas by James Finke for some time after reading Dear Judas , a modern-day version of the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. Coupled with a narrative that brings the epistolary content to life, Dear Judas is a series that merges a fictional couple with non-fiction truth in a unique way. This book picks up after Tommy Finch's life is changed, and it is ideal for Christians who are established in the faith and yet may be reticent to share their beliefs. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Real spiritual warfare unfolds quietly in offices, living rooms, hospital rooms, and everyday conversations where believers decide whether to speak or stay silent. Tommy Finch survived cardiac arrest, encountered the reality of eternity, and gave his life to Jesus. But after his conversion, he slipped into something dangerously comfortable. He attends church. He prays...