Book Review: “The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend” by Katarina Bivald

“The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend” by Katarina Bivald (2013)

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary

Page Length: 394 pages (paperback edition)

Synopsis:

Once you let a book into your life, the most unexpected things can happen…

Broken Wheel, Iowa, has never seen anyone like Sara, who traveled all the way from Sweden just to meet her pen pal, Amy. When she arrives, however, she finds that Amy’s funeral has just ended. Luckily, the townspeople are happy to look after their bewildered tourist—even if they don’t understand her peculiar need for books. Marooned in a farm town that’s almost beyond repair, Sara starts a bookstore in honor of her friend’s memory.

All she wants is to share the books she loves with the citizens of Broken Wheel and to convince them that reading is one of the great joys of life. But she makes some unconventional choices that could force a lot of secrets into the open and change things for everyone in town. Reminiscent of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, this is a warm, witty book about friendship, stories, and love.

Review:

If you enjoy these follwing elements, then you as a reader are going to adore The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend:

• small town narratives
• character driven stories
• books about reading
• how the art of letter writing connects us

I was seeking out a cozy read on my bookshelves and I happened upon this title that’s been on my TBR backlist for a while. While the novel is slow-moving I didn’t feel as if there were any dull moments whatsoever. What drew me to this story was the main character Sara, and how she has such a passion for literature and how she wants to spread that joy around her. I as an avid reader could relate to this novel and how I’m always trying to get the non-readers in my life to pick up a book. It was interesting to watch her personal journey of growth while also finding a place where she can truly call home.

Because the novel is set in a small town, it definitely has its own style of charm along with a lot of colorful personalities which we become familiar with throughout the novel. I appreciate the multiple point-of-views and we see Sara view Broken Wheel and the residents view her impression on the town as well. We get in-depth glimpses of their daily life and and how they grapple with their own personal pasts. Though its residents may clash at times they come together as a unit when needed which provides that cozy “family” aspect of the novel.

I love books about books and this novel shows how powerful reading can be and how the impact of one small bookshop can have on a town. Since the author worked in a bookshop herself I felt like she put a part of herself into the novel and showcases the intricacies of working in a bookstore and the careful considerations that go into making each display for customers. It was fun to see all of the books mentioned throughout the novel (which has a complete list of titles featured in the back of the book) and which ones the residents would end up reading themselves.

Most of all as someone who write letters to pen pals this novel conveys the art of letter writing to its readers. Even though Amy and Sara live in separate countries they create a deep friendship (as I’ve done with some of my own pen pals) that goes beyond books. The inclusion of Amy’s letters to Sara throughout the novel gave the story it’s own personal touch. Reading this novel felt like getting a big hug and it instantly became a comfort read for me. I enjoyed getting to know Broken Wheel and it’s residents and the ending left me with a smile on my face.

Final Verdict: