So, We Bought a Book Shop

Shawn Smucker
  • 5.0 (16)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Two writers buy a small-town, local book shop in Lancaster, PA, called Nooks and discover a beautiful community of readers all around them. These are conversations with and about the writers, readers, and books that make the world a better place.

  1. 5D AGO

    045 A Trip Overseas and the Fear that Comes With Success

    We went to Italy! Nooks is busier than ever! And thoughts on an economy that isn's solely financial...how can we run a bookshop where finances are obviously important but where relationships don't become transactional? Books Mentioned: Beloved by Toni Morrison The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim Difficult Loves by Italo Calvino Art Work by Sally Mann Dear Writer by Maggie Smith The Creative Act  by Rick Rubin Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski (still) House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski Whalefall by Daniel Kraus Angel Down by Daniel Kraus Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

    51 min

  2. APR 14

    044 What's Missing?

    Maile's starting to feel a gap between the good things going on at the shop and how those good things are impacting her. In short, she's not feeling permeated by the good that's happening there. So what's missing? What do we do in our lives when there are good things going on but those good things are taking us away from our family or other things we love? Books Mentioned: Beloved by Toni Morrison Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland Counterweights by Shannan Miller Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt Buckeye by Patrick Ryan Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

    32 min

  3. APR 6

    043 On Being Misunderstood as a Bookshop

    Well, it happened. For the first time, we were called out online this week for not being sincere in our desire to welcome everyone. It was bound to happen, but it still hurts. We address that and talk about why we carry the books we carry and why we have the events we do. And if you ever question anything about Nooks or feel like we're being insincere or misguided, we would love to have a conversation with you about it. Shawn also finally finished reading a bestselling book that has wildly varying reviews and gives his take on it. And Maile talks about why she needs light books these days. Books Mentioned: Habits of the Sea by Shea Earnshaw Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Theo of Golden by Allen Levi Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski Beloved by Toni Morrison Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

    35 min

  4. MAR 30

    042 New Challenges

    Today we're talking about how it feels to actually stop and take a breath. For the last two years we've been working through challenges, both imposed and voluntarily taken on. And now we're thinking about our first two years at Nooks and what the next steps might be.  We also talk about the novel idea that maybe, someday, this shop could be financially successful and support us as a family. What does that look like for Nooks?  Books Mentioned: The Bookshop by Evan Friss Theo of Golden by Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski The Keeper by Tana French (NEW!) The Searcher by Tana French The Hunter by Tana French A House to Call Home by Christie Purifoy Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

    35 min

  5. MAR 24

    041 How This Bookshop is Breaking Us Open

    "I had no idea this shop would break me open the way that it has." Today, we're exploring this statement that Maile made this week, why she feels this way, and how Nooks is meeting people's need to belong. We also discuss the seemingly random nature of "taste," how so many of us end up liking (or hating) books that other people feel completely differently about.  Find out more about Elsewhere Bread! Books Mentioned: Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke The Silk Worm by Robert Galbraith Every Moment Holy Vol II: Death, Grief and Hope: by Douglas McKelvey and Ned Bustard Every Moment Holy: Rites of Passage by Douglas McKelvey and Ned Bustard Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann A House to Call Home by Christie Purifoy Tom's Crossing by Mark Z. Danielewski The Bookshop by Evan Friss Theo of Golden by Allen Levi Counterweights by Shannan Martin Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

    41 min

  6. MAR 17

    040 We Expanded! We Doubled Our Size! We're Exhausted!

    Today we're recording the podcast in our new space! After nearly doubling the size of our bookshop, we're feeling rather exhausted...which you can tell by the sound of our voices. But we're also incredibly excited to share the new space with you and catch you up on all the other goings on at Nooks. We also hearken back to our conversation in Episode 022 with Evan Friss, the author of The Book Shop. Books Mentioned: The Bookshop by Evan Friss Marce Catlett by Wendell Berry Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith The Silk Worm by Robert Galbraith Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann The Experiment by Rebecca Stead Flashlight by Susan Choi Wendell Berry: Port William Novels and Stories: The Civil War to World War II Wendell Berry: Port William Novels and Stories: The Postwar Years Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book #1) by JK Rowling Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

    39 min

  7. FEB 18

    039 An Exciting Announcement - Expansion!

    Today we're recording live from the bookshop and some surprise guests stop by! We also share an announcement about the next really exciting thing happening at Nooks (hint: expansion). Plus, Maile finished a long, long book, and we share what we've been reading... Books Mentioned: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann The Country of the Blind by Andrew LeLand A House to Call Home by Christie Purifoy Tom's Crossing by Mark Danielewski Memory Wall by Anthony Doerr Flashlight by Susan Choi Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

    28 min

  8. FEB 11

    038 A Book Written in One Sentence

    How does a writer decide to take a risk when it comes to using an out-of-the-box form or idea? And when they do, how does their agent, editor, and publisher respond? Today Shawn and Cade catch up with Daniel Kraus, author of many books including Whalefall and Angel Down. He's also worked with one of our favorite directors, Guillermo del Toro, on the book and movie, The Shape of Water. Whalefall takes place inside a whale's stomach. Angel Down is a book made up of one sentence. We talk about fathers and sons and how that relationship plays out in his novels. "If your dad's life is a road, then you have to branch off from that road." Also, how writing this book taught him something about himself.  With a shoutout to the bookshop Exile! Books Mentioned: Whalefall by Daniel Kraus Angel Down by Daniel Kraus The Shape of Water by Daniel Kraus The Brothers K by David James Duncan Blood Sugar by Daniel Kraus The Bee Sting by Paul Murray Mother Eating by Jess Hagerman Wolf at the Table by Adam Rapp Connect with us! Order From Our Bookshop.org Page! Switch from Audible to Libro.fm and support Nooks! Upcoming Book Clubs at Nooks! Nooks' Substack Maile's Substack Shawn's Substack Nooks' Instagram Page Nooks' Events Page Music by Copcar Karaoke Art by Ned Bustard *All book links connect you to our Bookshop.org site where our book shop will receive a generous portion of your purchase.

    39 min
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About

Two writers buy a small-town, local book shop in Lancaster, PA, called Nooks and discover a beautiful community of readers all around them. These are conversations with and about the writers, readers, and books that make the world a better place.

Information

  • Creator
    Shawn Smucker
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 All rights reserved. Content may not be shared without the expressed written consent of the copyright holders
  • Show Website
    So, We Bought a Book Shop

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