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: The Cul-de-Sac War

For National Good Neighbour Day , I thought this fun title from Melissa Ferguson would fit the bill! The Cul-de-Sac War is just the guide to neighbourly relations, right? 😂 (Fine, it's an American holiday and I should spell it the American way, but I can't let go of the "u".) Book Synopsis In this charming rom-com, two enemies find something they never expected in one another—taking "all's fair in love and war" to a hilarious and heartwarming new level. Actress Bree Leake doesn't want to be tied down, but just when it's time to move on again, Bree's parents make her an offer; hold steady in Abingdon for one full year, and they will give her the one thing she's always wanted—her grandmother's house. Her dreams are coming true... until life throws her some curve balls. And then there's her new neighbor. Chip McBride. For the first time in her life, she's met the person who could match her free-spirited air—and it's drivin...

Review: Reunited with the Hero - Heroes of Freedom Ridge #5

I'm really doing this; I'm going through the Heroes of Freedom Ridge series, and it's been a great Christmas journey! Living near the mountains, I'm starting to feel at home with this amazing ensemble of characters and families. A place like Freedom Ridge Resort may be out of reach, but it's fun to imagine being there. The fifth book in the series, Reunited with the Hero by M. E. Weyerbacher, is a food-oriented read as one of the central activities in the book is a cookie bake-off, along with a sweet romance, of course. Now, who could pass up Christmas cookies (and the relentless search for good coffee, although I can't relate as a tea drinker)? 😄 Book Synopsis A shocking reunion between high school sweethearts and a daughter with an avalanche of prayers leads to an unexpected Christmas. Fueled by faith and coffee, Widower Thea Riley sets out for a fresh start in her hometown of Freedom, Colorado. Housesitting her sister's cottage for the winter makes it ...

Review: He Is Faithful in Every Season

I'm a little sad that I read so little poetry as an adult compared to my youth. I don't know whether it's a lack of exposure to Christian poets or that I forget to seek it out, but am I ever grateful for opportunities to come across it when others reach out about it. Christian poetry is such a special genre that draws on truth and beauty in its arrangement of words to compose an entirely new scene. He Is Faithful in Every Season by Julia Rose does just that, providing us with a lovely reminder to encounter words in a fresh and inspired way. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Fifty poems intricately woven together with God's faithfulness and the truth of His Word. "He Is Faithful In Every Season" is a book of worship, love, redemption, freedom, and dependency. It touches on topics such as anxiety, fear, loneliness, and grief. It brings to light the aboundin...