Despite being grouped together with the other bookstores of the Hobart Book Village, this is so much more.
The Shops Around The Corner (40 Cornell Ave Hobart NY) is a part of the Hobart Book Village but it’s more than the just a bookstore. Actually, there are several businesses under one roof including two bookstores, designer clothing, niche collectibles, a library/community center, and more.
Unlike other the stores here in Hobart, this spot is open daily from 11am to 5pm year round. Despite its small size, there is a great deal that happens here including regular yoga classes, art events, book clubs, etc. You can keep up to date with their events on The Hobart Exchange Facebook Page.
I spent a lot of time browsing the different vendors. Checking out homegoods, gifts, clothing, and (of course) many books (including sifting thru bins of bargain books). I was getting a bit overwhelmed when I had the pleasure of eavesdropping a couple’s conversation, fishing for inspiration. Their conversation about favorite writers piqued my interest. I confessed to listening in and they turned me on to an author Ellis Peters (aka Edith Mary Pargeter) who writes medieval murder mysteries. That sounded weird. I like weird.
‘A Morbid Taste for Bones’ by Ellis Peters is the first book in a series of twenty that follows the adventures of Brother Cadfael, a Welsh Benedictine monk, herbalist, and former crusader. Published in 1971, Brother Cadfael travels to the Welsh village of Gwytherin to acquire the sacred bones of Saint Winifred for his abbey. He finds a local community divided by a mystery. A victim is found shot thru the heart with an arrow. While many claim he was struck down by a divine wrath, Cadfael knows an earthly hand did the killing.
I picked up a second book because it seemed like a fun read. ‘The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir’ by Bill Bryson is a 2006 nostalgic and humorous memoir about growing up in mid-century America. As a child he imagined himself to be a superhero, donning an old football jersey with a lightning bolt and calling himself ‘The Thunderbolt Kid’. Using this persona as a springboard, Bryson re-creates the life of his family and his native city in the 1950s with all its transcendent normality.
I also grabbed a novelty button which boasts, “the book was better” because . . . let’s face it . . . it usually is. That button has since found a home on one of my hats.
I feel I have to bring this up. I recently saw a negative post about these shops. The person was very disappointed because they had assumed this was simply another bookstore. As if the fact that several businesses housed under one roof is somehow worse. A couple had made similar comments while I was in the shops. I was dumbfounded by these comments. I’ve found that many of these types of criticisms come from urbanites who expect all places to be as singular and convenient as where they’re from. The world is bigger and in many cases slower.
For me, the fact that this is home to more than one business embodies the charm and personality of this tiny, rural village. The comradery among the locals is something I’d like to see more of in urban settings. Not to mention that this place was jammed with all manner of books, kitsch, and activities. The woman working there on this day was at another shop the day before. This is a small community of like-minded folks, tight knit and friendly. In the short time I was there, that much was obvious.
I really enjoyed my shopping experience at The Shops Around The Corner and hope that when I return, it’ll be timed so I can partake in some of their events.
Facebook -> facebook.com/thehobartexchange
