Buchhandlung Kronengasse AG 

Kronengasse 9, Aarau

My brother Roger attended school in Aarau once a week as a teenager during his apprenticeship. Since then, I've associated Aarau with fog.

The small bookshop is located in the heart of the completely underrated, beautiful old town of the capital of the canton of Aargau. This bookshop is certainly not in an easy position, as it has several Orell Füssli branches in the neighbourhood, which outstrip this bookshop in terms of floor space. Nevertheless, I think it is advisable to favour this small but very friendly bookshop. The selection is chosen with love. I think the upper floor is well done, as you can find a well-presented selection of reading material in just a few steps.

The booksellers are very friendly. I think it was the apprentice who recommended the below book to me.

Ferdinand von Schirach: Sie sagt. Er sagt. (She says. He says.)

The play is a court case. It is a case of one person's word against the other's. The well-known TV presenter Schlüter has accused the successful businessman Dr. Thiede of rape. Both married, they had been secretly together for a long time. They then separated and met again by chance after a long time. Coincidentally, she was wearing the Chanel dress he had given her.

She only reported him days after this meeting.

What does she say? What does he say? Does he say anything at all?

As a reader, I felt like someone present in court. Not only did I read the sentences in the book from left to right, no, my head kept swinging from one person to the other. I thought it was brilliantly written and couldn't put the book down.

The structure of the piece is very intelligently done because I caught myself forming a judgment very quickly. There were just too many questions for me that were not answered. Things that weren't questioned (Tavor, Chanel dress for a café visit) or events that seemed very staged.

However, the arguments of the defense were also very questionable.

It also remained unclear why she didn't want to listen to him...

In the end, I had more questions than answers. 

But it's not over yet...

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

****

Buch am Dorfplatz 

Baslerstrasse 2A, Allschwil

A village store like you often find in smaller communities: a mixture of a stationery shop and a bookshop. The interior has little charm and is functionally furnished. This fancy house would have so much potential. However, the staff are extremely friendly.

Ruth Kornberger: Mrs Merian and the Wonders of the World

The book cover is beautiful and triggered false or too great expectations for me in terms of content.

It is certainly a difficult task to put oneself in the time of the 17th century and to describe life from the perspective of an explorer and artist. Nevertheless, I found the entire story lacking in suspense.

Maria Sibylla Merian was exceptional in her way and this personality could have been brought more into focus. I missed the rough edges, which such a woman certainly had.

The only people who were supposed to bring some drama into the story were invented, such as the love story around Jan de Jong.

I found the dialogues particularly astonishing, which in my opinion were often irrelevant.

The description of Merian's insect and butterfly paintings seems well researched, but seen from a distance. Unfortunately, the butterfly massacre reminds me a little of "The Island of Dr. Moreau"...

Bookshop: 

**

Book: 

**

Lindenmühle B&B&B

Landstrasse 37, Andelfingen

Sometimes it surprises you to find a much nicer bookshop in a small town like Andelfingen (located between Winterthur and Schaffhausen) than in larger towns. 

It is completely understandable that other items are also offered, such as natural cosmetics, bags, wrapping paper, candles or jewellery. There are not many shopping opportunities in a village and the Lindenmühle gives residents the opportunity to buy such items locally.

A corner is dedicated to books. Books can also be found everywhere on the tables between the other items. The selection is very up to date, with a focus on Switzerland and the region. They are displayed so that each title can be easily seen. The selection is therefore very limited. Of course, I would personally give the books more space, but it didn't bother me as much in the Lindenmühle as it does elsewhere. The coffee was delicious, with millet and lemon biscuit, and the interior invites you to linger. The whole shop has a beautiful wooden floor and country house furniture.

I highly recommend a visit!

Diane Oliver: Neighbors

Not read yet

Bookshop: 

**** 

Book: 

Bücher Doppler

Badstrasse 23, Baden

This beautiful bookshop is located in an old building in the centre of the pretty little town of Baden.

The shop is built like a tube, and the lower floor takes a little getting used to. The size is very good, the selection is also okay. The interior could be adapted to the charm of the little town.

Judith Hermann: Wir hätten uns alles gesagt (We would have said anything to each other)

What should I say about this book? What do I even think about this book? Maybe I shouldn't even bother with such questions, because they remind me of what I have read. Words. Somehow.

Judith Hermann writes about her life and her writing. 

You might think that my intellect is not enough. Possible. Maybe not.

It seems to me as if the author wanted to write a new book, but lacked the creativity.

It also seems to me that the author has a lot of time on her hands. Too much.

One of those books that I forgot about while I was still reading it.

Not for me.

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

* 

Librium

Theaterplatz 4, Baden

If there's one bookshop that reminds me of a school library, it's Librium.

Conveniently located on Theaterplatz in Baden, this bookshop is totally lacking in charm.

The selection is quite good with lots of hardcover books. It also has a wonderful selection of staff picks.

Timon Karl Kaleyta: Heilung (Healing)

The protagonist suffers from insomnia. His wife Imogen therefore sends him to a luxury resort in the Dolomites, where the infamous Dr. Trinkl is to treat him.

The first-person narrator soon gets involved with Mana, a woman who takes him to remote places and manipulates him in her own way. However, he never finds out anything about her. Nevertheless, she is always on hand.

Dr. Trinkl quickly diagnoses an experience in the past that makes the man uncomfortable. The doctor also pushes him to his personal limits.

The protagonist finally flees to his best friend Jesper, who, together with Marta, runs a farm with animals. There, the man experiences a sudden turnaround, the healing of the healing, so to speak. But what still needs to happen for him to be completely cured?

At the beginning, I found the novel extremely gripping. It is well written and makes you very curious. Towards the end, it all becomes a bit too much for me. The rough edges of the protagonist, including his weaknesses, started to annoy me.

But I think the cover is great with the memo. And all in all, it's good storytelling.

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

****

Buchhandlung Bad Ragaz

Bartholoméplatz 3, Bad Ragaz

You really should visit Bad Ragaz at least once. The beautiful village in the canton of St. Gallen is sure to put a smile on every guest's face.

Sculptures and art are everywhere. Whether it's a giant yellow snail on a wall, big coffee cups or other quirky figures.

Of course, a place like this is not complete without a bookshop, which is located right in the heart of the village next to a shop called Der Laden (the shop).

The bookshop is wonderful, small but run with a lot of love. I also noticed that it had many titles on display that I hadn't seen so obviously in other bookshops.

There are also second-hand books.

What's more, you don't have to do without quirky things in this shop either. The decor was very purple with an umbrella and lots of purple-coloured non-book items.

The bookseller is dedicated and very friendly. I can highly recommend it!

Franziska Gänsler: Like Islands in the Light

Not read yet 

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

Libreria Casagrande

Viale Stazione 1, Bellinzona

Bellinzona is considered the most Italian of Swiss cities and it is full of charm. Despite the language barrier, I found it to be very friendly and the architecture is wonderful anyway.

The Libreria Casagrande bookshop is on the way from the station to the old town. The entrance is not directly on the street, but next to a passageway.

The building is full of charm and for once the stone floor feels appropriate in the interior and not a bit cold.

The entire front part of the shop is filled with Italian books of various genres. At the back is the children's section, languages and a shelf with foreign-language books.

I liked it very much. Only the shelves should be replaced with wooden shelves. They look more like an office.

Giovanni Orelli: The Long Winter

Not read yet 

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

Libreria Taborelli

Via Camminata, Bellinzona

This wonderful and charming bookshop is situated in the middle of the lively town centre of Bellinzona. The building is perfect for it.

The selection is arranged over two floors, with the upper floor being located on a gallery standing on metal pedestals.

The floor is made of wood and creaks with every step, the selection is diverse and quite large for this small space. The beautiful windows were also very well used to present books. A few non-book items were cleverly placed among the books.

I had so many ideas in my head about how I could make the interior even cosier. 

There are also foreign-language books, which have been placed at the back of the gallery.

Children's books are offered in the shop on the other side of the alley. I like this quite a bit, so that the ‘adult books' section" can retain the charm of an antiquarian bookshop.

This bookshop has an enormous amount of charm.

Paolo Cognetti: Acht Berge

Not read yet 

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

Buchhandlung am Stadtbach

Bümplizstrasse 126, Bern

This bookshop is located in Bümpliz. What can I say. I didn't feel comfortable in this bookshop. Although it was cosily furnished, I felt that I was somehow not wanted as a customer. The bookseller probably knows her customers, she didn't know me. That's why she might have shown little interest.

Too bad, I won't consider it again and therefore don't recommend it. Especially as there are plenty of good alternatives in Bern.

Nathan Hill: Wellness

Not read yet 

Bookshop: 

*

Book: 

Buchhandlung zum Zytglogge

Hotelgasse 1, Bern

Typical Bern, you immediately feel welcome as a customer. At the entrance I was greeted by a Chaplin book on display. Despite the small size, I felt comfortable browsing inside. The selection is different to other bookshops of this size. No staff picks, but extremely helpful if you ask for recommendations. 

A nice alternative to the big bookstores. Definitely recommended.

Deborah Levy: August Blue

I had high expectations for this book, probably too high.

The novel starts promisingly enough, with the protagonist who is in Athens and observes a woman who looks very much like her and buys two mechanical horses at a market. She wants them too.

She will meet this woman again later.

The story revolves around a concert pianist who walks off the stage at a concert at the height of her career. Her family circumstances are somewhat opaque, her relationship with men difficult.

The longer her story was told, the less likeable this woman became to me. And I think that this was precisely the problem why I didn't particularly like this book. She was distant and alien to me and remained so throughout the novel. Somehow, I had expected much more from the individual sequences. All in all, it seemed to me as if the author simply wanted to write in different places in Europe. 

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

**

Haupt Buchhandlung

Falkenplatz 14, Bern

Beautiful bookshop in a very well-maintained building with pillars in front of the entrance! Located right next to the university, this beautiful shop is a real pleasure to browse through. 

You can tell from the topics that it is close to the university. It has a lot of natural history, architecture or fashion and design.

The interior is very nice, with the wonderful and crackling herringbone floors, lots of natural light and seating with niches. Even the tippi tent fits in well with the shop. Highly recommended.

Robert Seethaler: Das Café ohne Namen (The Café with no Name)

Robert Simon leases a vacant inn which, although it has no name, he affectionately calls a café.

It becomes a meeting place for many residents of the neighborhood, all of whom are struggling in their own way with everyday life 20 years after the Second World War. Times are hard, their stories and fates bitter.

I was standing at the bus stop in Winterthur to visit my mother when I read the last pages of the book. A friendly lady approached me as she had also read the book. She thought it was great. Unfortunately, I couldn't agree with her opinion. Although I thought the language was very good, the storytelling was lacking. I also missed an emotional component and couldn't build a relationship with any of the protagonists. The narrative style is certainly adapted to the events, but I lacked the excitement to find out more. 

Bookshop: 

*****

Book: 

***

Münstergass-Buchhandlung

Münstergasse 33, Bern

Totally likeable, typical Bern. Simply exemplary for the whole of Switzerland.

The bookshop is in the immediate vicinity of the Einsteinhaus. So it's not surprising that the range is aimed more at very educated people. Many books are also available from the literature club.

Unfortunately, the shop is dark. You could get a lot more out of it with light and the right shelves.

Dirk Gieselmann: Der Inselmann (the island man)

Hans is eleven years old. An outsider. His parents move to a desert island. They don't talk much. The boy begins to merge with nature and the animals. 

Until one day he is dragged out of this refuge and taken to a boys' home.

One day he returns.

A wonderfully sad novel that conjures up images in your mind's eye.

Great first sentence: It was so cold that even the wind was freezing.

I love underlining beautiful passages in a book. The Island Man is so beautifully written that I could have underlined several sentences on every page.

This book is proof that German can be a very poetic language. Only, this story has more language than story.

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

****

Stauffacher

Neuengasse 25-37, Bern

I'll just say that the Stauffacher bookshop right next to the railway station in Bern is my favourite bookshop in Switzerland. This is not only due to the large assortment, but also to the extremely friendly and knowledgeable staff. I could spend hours in this shop and I'm happy to go to Bern just for that.

Rose Tremain: Lily

A policeman finds a bundle with a baby: Lily. Thanks to him, the girl grows up in a loving family during her first years in the countryside. But at a certain age she has to leave them again. Years in an orphanage follow, which are no longer as carefree as her early childhood.

Lily is talented and hardworking, and as a young woman she finds employment with a wigmaker. There she meets the policeman again. The latter is married but attracted to Lily.

During the first pages I had the feeling that it would take me months to finish reading this novel.

Rose Tremain's writing, however, managed to make the story of Lily as a child and then as a young woman grow on me more and more and even made me cry at the end of the novel.

A beautifully told story of a girl abandoned by her mother and rescued and later even adored by that man. Just like it says on the cover: Heartbreaking.

Bookshop: 

*****

Book: 

****

Birsig-Buchhandlung

Hauptstrasse 104, Binningen

The Birsig bookshop is located on a main street near Basel's Zolli. 

I think bookshops like this are great. Although they are small and therefore have a limited selection, they are usually very lovingly selected.

The interior is somewhat lacking in design.

Right at the entrance there is an exciting selection of books about Basel (Rasser etc.). You know immediately where you are. Especially because the bookseller is typically Basel. 

Such bookshops should definitely be supported as customers.

Maria Pourchet: Fire/Feu

Fire is a book about a contemporary amour fou. The novel tells of the affair between the 40-year-old mother Laure and the depressive Clément, a single man who works in the world of finance. This story, set in an environment of over-privileged people, reminded me a little of all these uninteresting posts on social media.

The language and the protagonists were as alien to me as the first-person narrator Laure seems to be alien to herself. In my opinion, this could be due to the harsh language, which is too modern and strange for me and, unfortunately, just like the story as a whole, didn't appeal to me at all.

As this novel has received very good reviews, I suspect that it is another one of those novels where I lack the necessary intellect to understand the meaning and purpose of the story. 

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

** 

Furrer's Wundertüte

Zugerstrasse 7, Bremgarten

This bookshop is also a toy shop. To be honest, I found it a bit of a mess. The books are tucked away in a corner. Limited selection, but a decent selection for the space available.

The bookseller (or toy shop assistant) was friendly but very reserved.

Martin Rüfenacht: Reussgold

Swiss authors rarely reach me with their books. And this should be no different in the case of Martin Rüfenacht.

To me, the narrative style often seems somewhat researched and not integrated enough into the storytelling. The story about the cantonal policeman Bernauer is very dry and the resolutions are totally sought after. There is far too little focus on the perpetrator, but it was clear to me from the start who had committed the crime.

The humour didn't reach me at all either (e.g. the scene in the bathing establishment). 

All in all, it was a kind of crime series in the early evening programme on public television.

Sometimes it seemed as if the author wanted to entertain his own children with this book.

Nevertheless, I appreciate it when someone writes about their own region.

Bookshop: 

**

Book: 

** 

Buchhandlung am Kronenplatz

Hohengasse 31, Burgdorf

This bookshop is located near the castle in Burgdorf. 

I have disliked this place since I was a child. It must have been because of the relatives who lived there and who were so distant from me as a person.

The shop is located in an old and beautiful building.

I don't understand why they didn't use the light-coloured house façade as inspiration for the interior. The lighting is really bad.

However, the children's book section at the back of the shop is very nicely done.

Wilfried Meichtry: Sinking Upward

It's not easy for a boy growing up in the arch-conservative and Catholic Valais. Especially when he doesn't get his questions answered. And he has a lot of them. 

One day, when he discovers the name of his grandmother's brother on the family gravestone, almost completely erased, he begins to investigate.

These enquiries cost him his place at college. 

He ends up working as a shepherd on a mountain pasture. There he learns what love means for the first time. When he returns several months later, he looks for a place to stay and finds it with an elderly lady. What he only realises after a while is that she is the key to his uncle.

"Sinking Upward" should probably have had a different title. A nice book, but one that didn't particularly move me.

Bookshop: 

**

Book: 

***

Bücher Kerzen

Storchengasse 8, Chur

Bücher Kerzen is located in the beautiful old town of Chur. The shop is adorable from the outside. You simply can't go past.

Bücher Kerzen says it all, because this is exactly the mix you will find in this shop: books and candles.

At first glance, the inside looks very pleasantly bright and the sales room is larger than expected, because you can get to a back part where there are more books...and candles.

At second glance, however, I was less enthusiastic. The selection has a Christian flavour (presumably the reference to the candles) and is somehow a hodgepodge of topics.

I would give this shop a really nice country house style.

The bookseller turned his back on me the whole time and worked on the computer.

Gabriel García Márquez: See you in August

Ana Magdalena Bach, who is in her mid-forties, travels to the island where her mother is buried once a year on 16 August to lay flowers on her grave.

She is happily married, has two children and comes from a family of musicians. This could be the origin of her surname. This is not mentioned in the story, nor does it play a role.

In one of the years, she meets a man in the hotel bar and spends the night with him. This is repeated every year, but always with a different man.

The novel is from the estate of the Nobel Prize winner. According to the foreword, the book was not good enough for publication. I would see it differently: it is okay, but incomplete in many respects. Every year that the protagonist visits the island, I miss a part of it, and the time span between the years is also missing from the narrative in a certain way. You also don't realise to what extent her husband is aware of this. It seems much more like a first draft to me.

Of course, you also have to consider the circumstances in which the author was already at the time of writing. I'm not sure whether the sons did their father a favour by publishing it.

Bookshop: 

**

Book: 

** 

Lüthy - Das Buchhaus

Bahnhofstrasse 8, Chur

In Chur's Flatiron Building near the railway station is this large Lüthy bookshop, which has a coffee bar on the ground floor.

It's a wonderful place to browse, as the selection is good and varied. The shop is very bright, especially in the basement, thanks to the large windows.

Lüthy bookshops always lack a little charm, but they are generously furnished and very clean. I therefore really enjoy browsing in these shops. You just can't expect anything special. 

The Chur branch is very friendly.

Thommie Bayer: Einer fehlt (One missing)

‘Einer fehlt’ is a beautifully told novel about the three friends Paul, Georg and Schubert.

When Georg's wife, Malin, dies, he cannot be reached. Paul and Schubert are worried about him and decide to travel to Vienna to see him.

The narrative of the car journey to Vienna is very varied and beautifully combined with the past, how the three friends came together and how different their characters are.

When they can't find Georg in Vienna, they travel on to Italy and France. Unfortunately, from this point onwards, the story loses some of its previously wonderful narrative style and gave me the impression that the author wanted to do some travelling for his book. 

After the search was told very impressively and beautifully, the ending seemed a bit abrupt to me.

Nevertheless, a great read.

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

****

Manas Books & Coffee

Casinoplatz 7, Chur

I would describe Manas Books & Coffee as more coffee than books.

The room is divided into a corner with nice chairs for drinking coffee and a large counter where coffee can be ordered. Somewhere in between are book shelves, which are sparsely filled with books and esoteric products such as stones.

Very stylishly furnished, clean modern, but tasteful, the room still feels a little cool because of the light and the floor.

The biographies of Steve Jobs and Elon Musk are on display right next to the entrance. The café fits in, but the esoteric odds and ends surprised me a little...

Paulo Coelho: The Alchemist

not read yet

Bookshop: 

**

Book: 

Präsent

Calandastrasse 4, Chur

A little away from the old town, on the other side of the railway tracks, is the Präsent gift and book shop.

I was delighted when I stepped into the shop. It is lovingly furnished and divided into three sections: on one side there are a few tables and benches to have a coffee, the rest of the shop is dedicated to books and gifts. The range is very Christian orientated, which made it a little difficult for me to find anything. There were also 4 (!) English books.

The bookseller is very, very friendly.

Rainer Haak: Die Fischerhütte im Irgendwo (the fishing hut somewhere

Tom Sander needs a break. He no longer enjoys anything and feels that he needs a change.

When he tells his friends, one of them recommends a website to him. He registers there and expects a noble resort upon his arrival. Instead, he has to make his way on foot with all his luggage to a remote and simple fishing hut without electricity or running water.

At first, he is not particularly enthusiastic. However, he is soon visited by people such as old Olaf with his grandson Finn, Katharina, who constantly spoils him with fresh food, and Christina, who meets him on an emotional level. He befriends them all and learns to enjoy the silence and nature.

Every other day, he also finds a message in the letterbox signed with a G:. He acts on the questions on these messages and begins to reflect on his life.

It was clear to me that I had to expect a book in a Christian bookstore that was at least remotely related to finding God. 

It didn't reach me. Besides, it was all told a bit too quickly, especially in a book that would be so associated with calm, time and reflection. It also bordered on kitsch for me. 

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

** 

Schuler Bücher

Grabenstrasse 9, Chur

From the sign you would expect an orthopaedic shop, but inside you will find a typical Swiss bookshop. Perfect size, good mix of topics.

I was greeted and advised directly by the very competent and dedicated bookseller. I had already bought some of the recommendations in other shops and therefore decided in favour of the one she had recommended to me first.

Among other things, she recommended Paul Auster's book Baumgartner, which I had already bought in Wädenswil. A few hours later I read that the author had passed away...

Definitely go there when you visit Chur. Very friendly, as Chur generally is.

Simone Meier: Die Entflammten (Ignited)

not read yet

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

Buchparadies

Mall of Switzerland, Ebikon

This shop used to be at Lucerne railway station. I only went there when I needed something extremely urgently, because the books were completely overpriced and the selection was very poor.

The shop now has more retail space in the Mall of Switzerland. However, the selection and atmosphere are still mediocre. It reminds me of an upgrade of the Ex-Libris shops.

In my opinion, the name of the bookshop "Book Paradise" is inappropriate.

Margaret Atwood: The Penelopiad

We know Greek mythology from Homer's Odyssey or more modern versions from Hollywood films.

But what does it look like when the Canadian writer Margaret Atwood tells the story of Penelope and then also describes the events from her point of view, in a language that is rather unexpected for that era?

The result is an amusing novel and not at all far-fetched in the way the average-looking Penelope thinks about her oh-so-beautiful cousin Helena or her husband's long absence.

Oh yes, and then there are the 12 maids who are utilised and then sentenced to death and ultimately demand justice.

I found it an amusing, entertaining novel but not something I would recommend.

Bookshop: 

**

Book: 

***

Orell Füssli Outlet

Zentralstrasse 16, Ebikon

This outlet is located in a not particularly nice Migros shopping centre and has somehow been placed on the upper floor with little love.

For my personal development, I deal with a new topic every week. I affectionately call these topics "focus topics" and have a large pile of books with new ones. The respective topic is then drawn by dice.

The outlet is a great place to get such weekly themes at a favourable price and find inspiration.

Marie Hermanson: The Summer Einstein Disappeared

Marie Hermanson has written a novel with partly real, partly invented characters.

The story takes place in 1923, when the 300th anniversary celebrations are being held in Gothenburg.

Ellen gets a job at the newspaper and learns some terrible information at her aunt's place, where she is staying during the celebrations. An attack is being planned against Einstein. She confides in the policeman Nils, who has been promoted because of unfortunate incidents. Together they slowly track down the criminals.

Another character is Otto, whose donkey Bella is one of the attractions at this Expo and, due to an accident and coincidence, is able to help Albert Einstein and thus save him.

The story surrounding Einstein's Nobel Prize speech and a planned attack on the scientist inspired the author to write a story about it.

It's very entertaining, but sometimes a little predictable and the connections between the characters are sought after. I miss the subtlety. Nevertheless, a nice story.

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

*** 

Roastery

Dorfstrasse 9, Engelberg

This coffee roastery with integrated stationery and bookshop is located in the heart of beautiful Engelberg.

The books are tucked away between utensils like skis in a corner, a few steps up. 

The selection is small, but totally awesome.

Unfortunately no staff picks and the lady behind the counter didn't understand what I was looking for. Never mind, she was very friendly.

Sally Page: Das Glück der Geschichten Sammlerin

Janice collects stories. In her job as a cleaner, she learns a lot from the different people she works for. She is married to her husband Mike, who always relies on her - until she leaves him.

One day, Janice is sent to clean for an elderly lady. The first encounter is clichédly difficult. Gradually, the two women become friends and open up to each other. Janice comes to terms with her past.

Then she meets a very widely  read bus driver. They fall in love, but don't let it happen straight away. A love story has to have some drama.

Many other characters appear, whether in stories or in Janice's life.  Among them is a traumatised 12-year-old boy who, thanks to the fox terrier Decius, slowly comes back to himself. After all, it never hurts to score a few sympathy points with the reader.

This book struck me as a jumble of episodes. It seemed to me as if the author wanted to pack a lot of themes into one book. I found it neither touching, amusing nor entertaining. 

In the end, all that was missing for the perfect cliché was a shaman

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

*

Albert Le Grand

Rue du Temple 1, Fribourg

This bookshop certainly doesn't have it easy, as it is just round the corner from the much larger Payot bookshop.

However, I recommend everyone to visit this bookshop. The selection is marvellous, with mainly French literature. The atmosphere is suitably French with the mostly white spines. The interior could certainly be improved, especially in the basement. The best thing about this bookshop, however, is the wonderful staff. Sensationally friendly and competent.

Pierric Bailly: Le roman de Jim (Jim's novel)

At 25, Aymeric has reached a new point in life. When he meets his old love Florence after a stint in prison, she is six months pregnant. The two become a couple again.

He immediately takes on the role of substitute father, since the biological father Christophe wants to stay with his wife and two children and rejects the son Jim from the outset.

Aymeric and Florence move in with Florence's mother with the child. He spends time with the boy doing the typical father-son activities. The two have a strong bond.

Suddenly Christophe turns up again, who lost his family in a car accident. From now on he also lives under the same roof as the small patchwork family. This is doomed to failure. Aymeric moves out. 

When the mother dies, Florence sells the house and moves to Canada with Christophe and her son Jim. 

The farewell is painful, but the time of separation is even more painful, because Florence now denies Aymeric contact with Jim. 

When Jim is old enough, he turns up one day in France....

The novel is told very sensitively from the perspective of Aymeric, who had all my sympathies. However, I also find it very exciting how he sees things or some situations that Florence or Jim seem to perceive differently. 

This novel shows very nicely what personal decisions can have for effects.

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

**** 

Payot

Rue de Romont 21, Fribourg

Situated in a prime location in the centre of the shopping mile, it seems rather small at first glance. But when you take the escalator down to the basement, you are surprised by a large and very exciting sales area with a wide selection and variety.

The staff are very friendly. However, it is much more impersonal than in the Albert Le Grand bookshop.

What I liked in this shop after all the bookshops in German-speaking countries were the staff picks, which were very different in terms of subject matter. The bookshop is mainly French-speaking.

Pierre de Cabissole: Le Carnaval sauvage

Not read yet 

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

Lüthy Kanisiusbuchhandlung

Avenue de la Gare 6, Fribourg

I appreciate being approached by the bookseller, but I found it a bit intrusive. I felt like they wanted to get rid of me as quickly as possible in this shop.

But after the second enquiry, they let me browse after all. Almost every second novel is a staff pick. At least they read their range.

The interior is typical Lüthy with a poisonous green design. The staircase to the top floor reminded me of one of those long escalators on the London Tube.

While I was browsing through the novels, I overheard a few not particularly customer-friendly dialogues. ‘We're not Migros here’ and ‘We won't keep the books back if you don't come back within three weeks’ were just some of the dialogues. The content is one thing, the tone is something else... 

This shop lives from its location.

Emma Cline: The Invitation

Not read yet 

Bookshop: 

**

Book: 

Payot

7, Place Cornavin, Geneva

The Payot bookshop at Cornavin railway station has a large and balanced selection for a station bookshop. However, you won't find anything unusual here.

I got a coffee voucher when I paid for the book. Very nice gesture.

Alice Riva: La Paix des Ruches 

Alice Riva was one of the pioneers of feminism in Switzerland, lived autonomously, never married and remained childless. Certainly very untypical for that time. Even today, women are still looked at strangely if they decide to live without children and marriage. I could identify with Riva's lifestyle and had high expectations for the book "La Paix des Ruches". Moreover, it was even on display as a recommendation in the bookshop in Geneva. 

Unfortunately, I was disappointed, as I usually am when I read works by feminists. Too many thoughts, too little narrative art.

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

**

Librairie Delphica

19, BD Georges-Favon, Geneva

It was the day after the Roch Voisine concert in Geneva, when I was strolling through the town and passed the Delphica bookshop. 

It was windy and there were books laid out in front of the shop. The pages of one book flew across the pavement.

A man came by and collected some pages and informed the shopkeeper. I helped to collect them and carried the books into the store.

When I looked around the shop, I saw mostly religious and spiritual books. As I was fascinated by neither, I picked up the thinnest book on display: a book about Jean de la Croix.

Alain Delaye: Jean de la Croix

I read the book and probably wouldn't have noticed if it had been this very book that was missing pages...

Bookshop:

*

Book:

*

Librairie Atmosphère

rue Sait-Leger 1, Geneva

This bookstore reminded me of a very elongated apartment. It is also completely cluttered from the entrance to the farthest corner. It has almost too many books in this small space. Nevertheless, it invites you to browse.

There were no staff picks, I took the book that was almost demonstratively displayed: Take me with you! Which I then did.

Hope Jahren: La fille qui aimait les arbres (Lab girl)

The French title is irritating and provokes wrong expectations. The English title is more suitable in my opinion.

Hope Jahren takes us through her life as a scientist, which was already shaped in her early childhood in her father's laboratory.

The narration seemed like a long car ride: There are always exciting, but also many moments where the landscape passes by almost unnoticed. Some parts are more explained than told.

But whenever she talks about her longtime companion Bill, it becomes intimate and touching in a very unusual way.

I very much liked the preface and epilogue.

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

***

Gutenberg Buchhandlung

Kirchstrasse 3, Gossau (SG)

The small bookstore in Gossau, St. Gallen, is somewhat hidden between a pastry shop and unnecessarily parked cars. The architecture of the building is modern and more residential than commercial.

The store is very pleasant. Unfortunately, both the ceiling and floor look very cold because they are kept in an industrial design. The light brown book shelves then unfortunately bring out little charm.

Nevertheless, I find the way the books are presented very unusual and good. The shelves run through the store like a long S, with the children's books at the very back and a table with chairs for reading. The books are literally placed in your hands, since no book disappears in a stack with this type of display. 

The book I bought was the book of the month for September 2024.

Iida Turpeinen: Das Wesen des Lebens 

Not read yet

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

Buchpunkt

Oberdorfstrasse 31, Herisau

When you stand in front of this beautiful house in the heart of Herisau, you could easily think you were somewhere in Zermatt. It is simply idyllic in the town center and the shop is just the same on the inside. It is also very friendly, which applies to the whole of Eastern Switzerland.

I love browsing in the bookshop. The bookseller was very committed to finding me a suitable book. Despite the limited space, the selection is quite large and very diverse.

On the ground floor, you'll find mainly novels, while the upper floor is dedicated to children's books and cookbooks.

There are many staff picks, which also differ from those of most bookstores, which I appreciate. Individuality is simply to be commended!

My only criticism of the decor: replace the rug with a wooden floor and add new lighting. Otherwise, it's simply recommendable.

Julia Phillips: Cascadia

Not read yet

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

Blatter Imhof AG

Bahnhofstrasse 22, Huttwil

I stood in this shop for a relatively long time and probably held every single book in my hands several times. In the end, I decided in favour of the book that caught my attention first. There are no staff picks. But I wasn't surprised and didn't see much point in asking the staff. She seemed more like a stationery saleswoman than a bookseller to me. Nevertheless, she was very friendly.

Eoin Colfer: The Dog Who Lost His Bark

It was in the adult books section, which is probably why it caught my eye straight away.

A wonderful children's book that is partly told from the point of view of Oz the dog. How does it feel for a puppy when he is separated from his mum and ends up as a Christmas present in a gift box with holes in it?

When Oz doesn't turn out to be the dog of his dreams, he is abandoned without further ado and ends up in an animal shelter. He has lost his bark because people misunderstood him.

He is taken from the shelter by Patrick and his mum, who are spending the summer with their grandfather. Patrick's mother was abandoned by his father, but the boy doesn't know that yet.

Thanks to Patrick, Oz finds his way back to barking and starts a happy life. But once again he has to return to the animal shelter. Now it was Oz who no longer understood people...

The illustrations are done with a lot of love.

A book that everyone who wants or already has a dog should read.

Bookshop: 

*

Book: 

****

Papeterie Bücher Kohler

Luzernstrasse 14, Huttwil

One of the most sparsely furnished shops I have ever visited. There is some stationery at the front of the shop and at the back there is a table with books laid out and a shelf with more books.

Even though it almost doesn't qualify as a bookshop for me, I'll give an extra point for the extremely friendly bookseller. I hope that lots of villagers will consider this shop.

There are no staff picks. The lady said that I should just choose one of the ones on the table. After a while, she brought me the book I had bought at the end, which tells the story of the local village.

Marianne Erne, Patricia Jäggi, Kathrin Probst & Katharina Wehrli: Kruttingen - E Dorfgschicht (Kruttingen - a Village Story)

I have to admit that I approached this book very sceptically, as I rarely like books by Swiss authors.

Furthermore, the book was written in High German, but the dialogues are in Swiss German. This worked surprisingly well in this story.

Nevertheless, I was thoroughly entertained. It is written in such a way that you can quickly immerse yourself in the village life of Kruttingen. Of course, this book somehow only works for the Swiss, and the narrative style reminded me strongly of the black and white films with Margrit Rainer.

The structure is textbook: Georg comes back to the village after all these years. His mother has died and he didn't manage to see her again in time. Everyone either has memories of him or a direct relationship. And then he is said to have stolen 20,000 francs from the safe in his parents' bakery.

Little by little, the details of the various villagers come to light, and there are a few surprises along the way....

Bookshop: 

**

Book: 

****

Bodan Bücher 

Hauptstrasse 35, Kreuzlingen

My brother Roger gave me a voucher from this bookshop for Christmas. I was delighted to redeem it.

The bookshop is on the top floor, as the shop is half stationery shop and half bookshop. There is relatively little choice, but the shop is still quite nicely done.

The shop assistants are more like stationery salespeople than typical booksellers.

Antoine Laurain: An Astronomer in Love

Property agent Xavier is divorced and sees his son Olivier every two weekends. By chance, Xavier comes into possession of a telescope.

This telescope brings him closer to his pretty neighbour Alice, but the relationship with his eleven-year-old son also takes on a wonderful closeness and time together thanks to this device.

In parallel, Antoine Laurain tells the adventure of the astronomer Guillaume le Gentil de la Galaisière, who is travelling the world on a royal mission to see the transit of Venus. He misses it, even eight years later, because of fog.

It would be another 120 years before the next transit of Venus could be seen.

And this is where the two stories of Xavier and Guillaume come together.

What a marvellously told novel! This is exactly how good writing works.

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

*****

BuK Handlung GmbH

Schachenstrasse 15a, Kriens

A combination of café and small bookshop with two entrances. Potz tuusig!

It has a lot of hardcover books, which makes the shop look very high quality despite the small selection. An enrichment for Kriens.

It also seems to be doing well. It was really busy this Saturday.

Maja Haderlap: Nachtfrauen (Nightwomen)

Maja Haderlap's novel tells the story of a family in southern Carinthia that has to come to terms with the past. Also in political terms.

Mira comes from a family of Slovenian origin and has left rural Carinthia for the capital Vienna, where she lives with her husband Martin. 

The beginning of this book is very well described, very atmospheric with the journey in the car from the big city to rural Jauntal, where her childhood catches up with her as soon as she is greeted in Slovenian.

Her mother Anni is to leave the house and move into a retirement home. The relationship between mother and daughter has always been complicated. It is described very impressively why this is the case.

Part 2 of the book is mainly about the mother. I found the touching and atmospheric nature of the first part a little lacking. The story doesn't seem complete to me.

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

***

Orell Füssli

Pilatusmarkt, Ringstrasse 19, Kriens

It is a typical small Orell Füssli branch. Despite the tight space, always pleasant to browse, but not spectacular.

Like all Orell Füssli shops, the interior is very inviting.

Rebecca Serle: In Five Years

"In Five Years" is very American - too American for my taste.

The protagonist Dannie is professionally successful, gets engaged but remains unmarried. One night she has a dream in which she wakes up in an unknown flat where there is a strange man. It is unfortunately predictable how the story will develop regarding this dream.

Only Dannie's deep friendship with her best friend Bella adds any depth to the story when Bella receives a terrible diagnosis from her doctor.

I found the dialogues particularly unpleasant to read.

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

**

Lüthy Bader 

Marktgasse18, Langenthal

Another bookshop that is half stationery, half bookshop. Especially in smaller towns, this concept is perfectly understandable. 

I found this shop very nice to browse, because the selection is still quite large. 

What I always appreciate is a box in front of the entrance with reduced books.

The staff are also very friendly.

Toni Morrison: Recitatif

Which is the black girl, which the white girl? Toni Morrison's book is meant to stimulate our perception of which of the two protagonists we see as the white and which as the black girl.

Of course, I have been grappling with this question as well. The author has scattered some clues and certainly tried to lead the reader on the "wrong track". I might have judged differently if I had known more about the region and the situation in the USA at the time of writing. In the end, I came to the conclusion: it could have been either of them. For me it was ultimately irrelevant, because both girls ended up in the children's home as 8-year-olds and became best friends. And in this context I had formed a clear opinion: forcedly.

By the way, the way the character of the mute and disabled kitchen worker Maggie was treated engaged me the most....

I find the afterword by Zadie Smith unnecessary in this book.

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

**

Buchzeichen

Marktgasse 27, Langenthal

Beautiful shop in the heart of Langethal's old town centre.

The bookshop is located in a very well-kept old building with a herringbone floor and beautifully curved windows.

Unfortunately, bookshops often have a tendency to display their books on dark shelves. You could get a lot more out of this if you could decorate more in a French country house style.

However, the selection is lovingly presented.

Very dedicated and attentive staff.

Lukas Bärfuss: Die Krume Brot

The book is about the fate of the young woman Adelina, the daughter of Italian immigrants in Switzerland. 

Adelina learnt to live with little, and you got the feeling that she had even less with every page of the book. Even when she had a saviour at her side in times of need. 

The blurb had raised my expectations, but I didn't sympathise with the protagonist. Even though I sympathised with her at the beginning, she became less likeable with every deed and every new fate. And so I wasn't surprised that in the end she even decided against staying together with her own daughter.

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

***

Stocker

Hertensteinstrasse 44, Luzern

It's the biggest bookshop in my adopted hometown of Lucerne. The selection is very good, but the ambience leaves something to be desired. A renovation would do the shop a lot of good. Nevertheless, I am a good customer in this shop.

Ruth Stiller: Those who do not love must die

This book is for teenagers and unfortunately does not appeal to me at all.

Neither the protagonists nor the story reached me. It is described as "almost true crime". It may be based on a real case, but I still didn't find the story exciting or maybe it's just too modern for me. I lacked any connection to the main characters.

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

*

Hirschmatt

Hirschmattstrasse 26, Luzern

This bookshop is the one I like best in Lucerne. The selection is exceptional.

I was all the more excited about the recommendations.

Matt Haig: The Midnight Library

Nora has no more vitality after many disappointments and the death of her beloved cat. She decides to end her life.

On her way to the afterlife, she arrives at the Midnight Library. Each book in this library holds the chance to dive into another self. These are the lives Nora would have lived had her choices over the years been different.

But are Nora's expectations fulfilled in these lives? On the contrary, in most cases she is disappointed by what she finds. Even a seemingly perfect life does not move her to want to keep it and she keeps returning to the Midnight Library. Until finally she makes a definitive decision.

Matt Haig has written a very moving and entertaining book about life that is thought-provoking.

Certainly not a book of regrets.

Bookshop:

****

Book:

*****

Jenny & Bannholzer AG Bücher Papeterie

Bahnhofstrasse 20 / 22, Meiringen

As is often the case in smaller towns, Jenny is also divided into half stationery shop half bookstore. 

And this division also runs through the middle of the store: stationery on the left, books on the right.

Meiringen is a Mecca for Sherlock Holmes fans. So it's a bit surprising that the Sherlock Holmes section is close to the entrance, but still somewhat hidden. There is room for improvement in terms of design.

Pedro Lenz: Primitivo

The book revolves around the life of Charly, an apprentice bricklayer who, while working on a construction site, makes the acquaintance of Primitivo, a Spanish immigrant. Charly is fascinated by his work colleague, who has traveled far and wide in the world and has a weakness for poetry. The Spaniard influences the young boy in many situations that a young man in the 80s from the canton of Oberaargau experiences.

One day Primitivo has a fatal accident at work. 

Primitivo wasn't a staff pick. There were no staff picks. The book was available in signed version directly at the cash desk.

I read the "high German" version of the book, since I am unfortunately not enthusiastic about books in Swiss dialect.

Pedro Lenz has succeeded with "Primitivo" a wonderful story from everyday life, which amused me on the one hand, but also touched me very much.

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

****

Altstadt Buchhandlung

Hauptgasse 37, Murten

The old town bookshop is located in the centre of the beautiful village of Murten.

A small, elongated room. Unfortunately, the customers are usually in each other's way. The selection is very limited due to its size, but this bookshop still has charm thanks to its beautiful location.

The bookseller takes a lot of time to find the right book for each customer.

Sven Stricker: Sörensen hat Angst (Sörensen Has Anxiety)

Sven Stricker has created a really entertaining work with this crime novel.

The characters (especially Sörensen) are a total success and as a reader I found myself in the centre of the fictional village of Katenbüll. 

I found the case rather average, especially the resolution. I actually always expected the dog Cord to find the kidnapped boy Jan. After all, they had met briefly once. 

For me, this crime novel lives mainly from the personality of the protagonists, who simply had human behaviour patterns. The dialogues are great and the details and comments on the side are simply amusing.

Perhaps Stricker should simply describe a day in Sörensen's life in which only everyday things happen. It would probably be even more entertaining.

Bookshop: 

***

Book: 

****

Buchhandlung Klosterplatz

Munzingerplatz 2, Olten

Olten is certainly not one of the most attractive towns in Switzerland, but it does have a beautiful old town. This bookshop is located next to St Martin's Catholic Church.

The product range is in keeping with the location. In addition to books, it also sells gifts and stationery, as well as Christian items such as angels.

I am notoriously non-religious, but I felt very comfortable in this shop. The product range has been lovingly selected and the staff are extremely friendly.

What is also very well done is that the books are in the front, nicer part of the old town house. The rear part definitely needs to be redecorated and different lighting installed.

Jan Weiler: Der Markisenmann (The Awning Man)

15-year-old Kim doesn't know her father. She lives with her mother, her stepbrother and her stepfather Heiko. They lead a life of luxury.

Kim always plays second fiddle, is tolerated but not loved. One day she can't take it any longer and seriously injures her little half-brother.

After a stay in a psychiatric ward, Kim is left with her biological father, Ronald Papen, who lives very modestly and works as an unsuccessful awning dealer. She has to spend the summer vacation with him.

On the very first day she thinks of running away. But then the two grow closer and closer. Kim learns more and more about why she was never allowed to meet her father.

This novel touched me from the very first page. Although the complicated father-daughter relationship could have quickly slipped into kitsch, the story had exactly the opposite effect on me. Jan Weiler's language is beautiful with lots of metaphors. The images were right in front of my eyes. 

He also described many heartfelt and imaginative situations, such as when Kim poured water into the puddle in front of the hall so that it didn't dry out. On the last day of her vacation it rained: the puddle no longer needed her...

It doesn't happen to me that often when I read, but I cried for the last 40 pages.

I visited two bookshops in Olten. There is a larger one and the one on Klosterplatz. It's funny, but in retrospect these two bookshops seem to me like the two protagonists of the book, Papen and Heiko. And I can even guess where one of them got the awnings from...

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

*****

Schreiber Kirchgasse

Kirchgasse 7, Olten

I have visited this bookshop several times. It has a great selection with all kinds of topics. It has staff picks everywhere, which I also really like.

However, I don't find the interior particularly attractive with the red carpet and the not very inviting stairs, which are crammed with games.

On the other hand, I think the upper floor with the terrace and the many seating options is marvellous!

Unfortunately, you are often approached a little too often by the staff (even on the stairs). 

Gaea Schoeters: Trophäe (Trofee)

Hunter White travels to Africa to shoot a rhinoceros for a large sum of money. This is because it is still missing from his collection. But “his” rhino is killed by poachers before he can shoot it.

The animal hunt turns into a manhunt, but not for the poachers, but for a young man to compensate Hunter in some way. In return, the tracker Dawid, who is to accompany him on this hunt, is to be given the opportunity to study in America.

Hunter and Dawid set off. Will he really make the young man his prey?

This book was recommended to me in several bookshops. Unfortunately, it didn't reach me as a reader at all. It was a pain to read and so I could at least sympathize a little with the protagonist towards the end of the novel, albeit in a different context.

Honestly, I just didn't care how things turned out with Hunter in the end.

Even if the author seems to be well informed about the customs of the natives, none of it convinced me.

A few extra paragraphs wouldn't have hurt the ease of reading.

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

** 

Frau Bucher

Kempttalstrasse 1, Pfäffikon ZH

I mainly have childhood memories of Pfäffikon, as we used to hire rowing boats or pedalos there with the family.

The village centre has lost none of its charm, but the houses around it are unfortunately, as in so many places today, architecturally tasteless.

However, the bookshop has the charm of the village centre and looks really unusual with a slightly lower half of the shop. The selection is not particularly large, but I felt very comfortable there, as this bookshop was full of charm.

It has lots of staff picks, not just the ones you find everywhere. 

I think you should visit the shop for the ambience alone. The wooden floor also cracks so beautifully.

Stine Pilgaard: Meter i sekundet (Metres per second) 

The first-person narrator, her boyfriend and their son move to Velling, a small town in West Jutland.

What is expected in such a place is belonging to the community. And so the child is enrolled in daycare, the protagonist takes countless driving lessons, and the nameless protagonist is offered a job in the “sorrow box” where she is supposed to advise readers with her answers.

The people in this region seem as simple-minded as the writing style of this novel. I found it difficult to get through. I assume that this was intentional. However, this could just as easily have been achieved with boring and dry dialogues. 

At first, I found some passages quite amusing. However, I lacked the curiosity to learn more about it, as this simplicity runs through the entire novel and became repetitively tedious.

What I liked the least, though, was the typical novelistic female humour. I grew up with Loriot, who represents a timeless and dry humour for me.

I thought there was too little offbeat humour.

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

*** 

Sarganser Buchladen

Pizolstrasse 4, Sargans

There are some bookshops that you just like. One of these is the small but lovingly furnished bookshop (since 1979) in Sargans, located right next to the train station.

Inconspicuous, housed in a small flat-roofed building with a mountain backdrop and Sargans Castle in the background.

The salesroom is small, so the selection is very limited, but everything is very brightly decorated. It is a pleasure to browse in such a small and extremely friendly store. 

Ingrid Noll: Gruss aus der Küche (Greetings from the kitchen)

Irma has turned a traditional inn into a vegetarian restaurant serving creative dishes.

Her team consists of her best friend Nicole, the highly educated and attractive Josh, 17-year-old Lucy and a pensioner named Vincent who is over 80 and supposedly deaf but secretly wears a hearing aid and hears more than he should.

The relationships are entangled, because the three women have all had a tryst with Josh and the older man is attracted to the landlady Irma.

When the pensioner proposes to her because he wants to leave her the house in his will, the idyll begins to falter and what should not have come to light can no longer be hidden.

Ingrid Noll has written an entertaining novel that contains many turbulent scenes and also makes you think at the end: namely, how we treat and view older people.

However, I find the ending superfluous and much too kitschy. 

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

***

Bücher Dillier

Poststrasse 8, Sarnen

I really like this bookstore in the heart of the old town of Obwalden's capital. This is exactly the size my own bookstore would be.

Wonderful for browsing, could even have a bit more of an assortment. I especially like their "Blind Date with a Book" offer. Books are wrapped with a short description. Like Christmas and Easter together!

Santiago Lorenzo: Los asquerosos (Wir alle sind Widerlinge)

Manuel is an underestimated man with few friendships. Professionally, he cannot realize himself according to his abilities and lives a very modest secluded life. One day he injures a policeman in self-defense and decides to go into hiding. He ends up in the ghost village of Zarzahuriel, where his uncle takes care of him in a roundabout way.

Manuel begins to find himself in this seclusion, until one day he gets neighbours who destroy his idyll over the weekends. The troublemakers don't notice Manuel. And so Manuel decides to get rid of these superficial intruders in a clever way. He sets traps all over their house.

I can't judge the translation, because I don't understand Spanish/Basque, but the German version is linguistically great to read.

Santiago Lorenzo's story became much more understandable to me after I read the author's vita. Perhaps also because I can empathize with him...

Brilliant book! Highly recommended.

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

*****

Bücherfass

Vordergasse 72, Schaffhausen

The small town of Schaffhausen is full of charm. With the Rhine Falls and Munot as its main attractions, this town also has a very charming old town. It is actually predestined for an equally charming bookshop.

I found the Bücherfass. The house offers the best conditions and the shop is also very well furnished. It has a large selection, considering that there is little space on the ground floor. Upstairs, there is a corner with children's books, art and other non-fiction books.

Despite all this, I felt very uncomfortable in this shop. It felt like I was in a boutique where the saleswoman was fussing over everything I held in my hands. The bookseller didn't know how to please me as a customer and I felt constantly watched. Despite the many alternatives, there seemed to be only this one book that she could recommend to me...

This bookshop has so much untapped potential. It's no wonder that people prefer to shop at one of the chains...

Arno Geiger: Journey to Laredo

not read yet

Bookshop:

***

Book:

Bücher von Matt Stans

Tellenmattstrasse 1, Stans

The bookshop, located right next to the railway crossing at Stans station, has a good size.

The selection is average, but the books are well presented, making it fun to browse through the bookshop.

At the back, a staircase leads to a room full of antiquarian books. The room is very cosy with all these old books. I think the neon lights are a real shame as they take away a lot of the atmosphere. The same goes for the shop.

The bookseller was very friendly, but not very attentive.

Nicole Wellemin: Späte Ernte (Late Harvest)

not read yet

Bookshop:

***

Book:

Buchhandlung zur Rose

Gallusstrasse 18, St. Gallen

A visit to this small bookshop in the heart of the beautiful town of St. Gallen should be part of every visit to this friendly and beautiful place.

The house in which the bookshop is located is bursting with charm. The bookshop's selection is naturally small due to the space available in the shop, but the range has been put together with a great deal of love for good books. There are many Scandinavian authors in particular. What I really liked is that the bookseller has his own opinion about good novels and doesn't just want to sell the latest on the market.

Brilliant!

Stephanie Bishop: The Anniversary

not read yet

Bookshop:

*****

Book:

Untertor

Bahnhofstrasse 11, Sursee

The bookshop is housed in a rather modern building. Unfortunately, it lacks the charm that bookshops often have. It felt like being in a schoolhouse library. But the staff are very friendly.

Katie Kitamura: Intimacies

The individual characters in this book seemed to me like different languages that didn't understand each other.

I felt like an outsider while reading this book, like someone sitting behind a screen listening to what was happening to the protagonists in this book. Don't ask me what this book was about. As soon as I finished the last page, I had immediately forgotten the book.

I don't have an opinion on this book either. Therefore the rating is missing.

Bookshop:

**

Book:

no opinion

Doppelpunkt

Zentralstrasse 5a, Uster

Uster has grown strongly in recent years, which could be due to the excellent train connections. Unfortunately, this growth does not only have good sides...

Nevertheless, I appreciate the fact that there is a bookshop in this Zurich municipality, just five minutes from the railway station.

The bookshop looks very clean to me, but it's still a lot of fun to browse, as the books are beautifully laid out. What is missing is ‘that certain something’, because bookshops with this range are very common.

Nevertheless, I received very friendly and good advice from the bookseller's husband. It should be noted that he is not a bookseller. I also like the friendly pair of eyes above the sun blinds on the building. Very likeable.

Katharina Adler: Iglhaut

not read yet

Bookshop: 

***

Book:

ZAP* Visp

Bahnhofstrasse 21, Visp

One of the ZAP* branches, of which there are several in the canton of Valais, is located near Visp railway station.

This bookshop is beautifully furnished. Finally a bookshop with a nice floor and good lighting. 

Even if there isn't a huge selection, it's a lot of fun to browse through. You shouldn't expect anything extraordinary, but you will find a lot about Valais. There are also stationery items, for once at the back of the shop, which gives the books a better sales area.

Viola Ardone: The Children's Train

not read yet

Bookshop: 

***

Book:

A. Köhler AG

Zugerstrasse 26, Wädenswil

The bookshop and stationery store A. Köhler AG is located in the beautiful town of Wädenswil on Lake Zurich.

When you enter the store, you will primarily find stationery and gift items. The bookshop is located in the basement. The space is larger than you would expect.

Unfortunately, it looks a bit like a warehouse with poor lighting. Basically, there's just a wall full of books and two or three tables. Nevertheless, the friendliness of the staff makes this very modest bookshop worth a visit.

Tommy Jaud: Man müsste mal (One Would Have to)

A book of entertaining short stories that take place in the author's life.

"One would have to" is a book that you can read quickly. I was thoroughly entertained and laughed a few times.

However, the majority of the book contains few surprises, such as topics like "which of the two spouses is better at loading the dishwasher with crockery". 

One chapter particularly appealed to me: the Prinzenrollen (princess rolls biscuits) and the missing pull tab. Let's ignore the fact that usually one or two biscuits get stuck in the lid of these packs...

I can absolutely understand the displeasure about the new closure! It's scandalous what some marketing departments put us through. A boycott would be the only right thing to do (I'm already doing it with Toblerone), but it won't make any difference to me with the Prinzenrollen, as I don't like them that much anyway. They're the size of a three-storey frisbee and that's not bite-sized enough for me.

As you can see, the book also appealed to me personally on an emotional level. Maybe it was just symptoms. I'll have myself checked for Klaus when I get the chance...

Bookshop: 

**

Book:

***

Buchparadies

Zugerstrasse 23, Wädenswil

The bookshop is located on the main street of Wädenswil in a not very attractive building. However, you will be surprised inside, because it is an surprisingly beautiful salesroom with lots of space and light. However, I think the floor is a killer. 

It is a pleasure to browse in this store. There is also a large table with recommendations, some of which are quite different from other bookshops. However, after a while you realize that it's an Orell Füssli branch and not an independent bookshop.

Paul Auster: Baumgartner

Yet another one of those books for which I am probably not intellectual enough.

The beginning is beautifully told, approachable. The protagonist Baumgartner is a man you want to know more about.

It begins with him burning his finger, an encounter with the UPS employee who delivers a book to him, then he falls down a flight of stairs and finally the story of the love of his life, Anna, whom he lost in an accident.

However, as soon as the first few pages have passed, the narrative seems to me to have been sought after, the storytelling is lost. By the time Auster finds his way back to the narrative at the end, he had unfortunately already lost me as a reader.

Bookshop: 

***

Book:

** 

klappentext GmbH

Rathausstrasse 33, Weinfelden

And it's precisely because of bookshops like this that I can often only give 4 stars. Kappentext offers a shopping experience. That's so rare these days that I simply appreciate it. When I stepped into this bookshop, the corners of my mouth immediately curved into a smile. It's lovingly decorated, even if some of the furniture doesn't really harmonise, it makes for an extremely cosy whole.

At the entrance, there are sofas and armchairs for drinking coffee on one side and Scandinavian accessories on the other.

At the back of the shop there are lots of children's books and toys. 

There are books everywhere in the rest of the shop. The selection is great and the bookseller is fantastic! In general, the people in Eastern part of Switzerland are always very welcoming.

It must be fun to work in such a beautiful place.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!

Scott Alexander Howard: The Other Valley

Odile lives in a valley in which the same valley lies to the east, except that it is 20 years in the future. The one in the west is 20 years in the past. The borders to the other valleys are strictly guarded and only a few people are allowed to travel across the borders. The power lies with the Conseil.

The story is told from the point of view of 16-year-old Odile. She applies for the Conseil and is promptly accepted as a candidate. 

One day, she thinks she has seen the parents of her best friend Edme coming from the Valley of the future to see their son. Odile will be faced with a difficult decision...

The idea of the story is wonderful. Linguistically, it didn't reach me. I totally miss simple storytelling. Sentences are often strung together carelessly and irrelevant details are mentioned. Only in the last third did the author manage to create something like suspense for me. 

Bookshop: 

*****

Book: 

*** 

Le Petit Bookshop

Landstrasse 18, Wettingen

This shop specialising in French and English literature and language is located on the outskirts of Wettingen, close to the city of Baden.

I really appreciate it when a bookshop has a concept and this is absolutely the case here.

My first impression was of a doctor's waiting room, but then I felt very comfortable and the bookseller was absolutely charming!

Hélène Dorion: Pas même le bruit d'un fleuve

Hanna's mother, Simone, has recently passed away. While clearing out her mother's home, Hanna finds a notebook, photos and old newspaper clippings. At first she cannot interpret the finds. 

Before she passed away, Hanna had offered to drive Simone to her old home on the St. Lawrence River again. She had refused. Simone had always been very distant with her daughter.

At one point Hanna says of her mother: ‘Elle me semblait marcher de l'autre côté de la rive’ (I thought she walked on the other side of the shore).

So after her death, Hanna sets off for Kamouraska. Gradually, she learns more about Simone's past and how the finds are connected to her great love and a tragic shipwreck in 1918.

But she also discovers something they have in common.

Hélène Dorion's novel is beautifully and poetically written. 

I would have structured the sequence of the times from past and present in the narrative somewhat differently in order to create more suspense.

Hélène Dorion is, incidentally, the first living woman and the first Quebecker to be included in the French curriculum for the baccalaureate, with her work ‘mes forêts’.

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

***

Imhof Papeterie + Buchhandlung

Hauptgasse 31, Willisau

This shop is located in the centre of beautiful Willisau.

A stationery shop with an integrated bookshop on the upper floor. Their website advertises a large selection. I wouldn't agree with that. The department is small and only fills about half of the floor. About half of the books are children's and young adult books. The selection of novels is very limited. The only really obvious book on display was the Guinness Book of Records. I ended up reaching for a book that was on display on the stairs. It's called Floor 13 and was laid out on the 13th step of the stairs. Was this a deliberate choice?

C.M. Ewan: The Interview

Kate has had some difficult years. Her beloved husband Mark died in a plane crash. She hasn't coped well so far, as they both worked for the company responsible for aviation safety. And there had been some inconsistencies in the past.

She wants to develop professionally and is able to attend a job interview with a very prestigious company through an agency. But this turns out to be a trap in a modern glass building. And her past seems to have caught up with her faster than she would like...

With this novel, CM Ewan has created a really exciting thriller, a real page-turner.

The only thing is that I wouldn't have written Kate in the first-person narrative.

Even though he describes in the epilogue that there may have been errors in his story in terms of the travel restrictions, I didn't mind. Not even the fact that he turned Swiss back into Swissair. This even fitted perfectly in the context in an unintentional way...

Bookshop: 

**

Book:

****

Buch am Platz

Kirchplatz 2, Winterthur

I love small bookshops, which are located in pretty places like a church square. The one in my beloved hometown Winterthur is one such place. The selection is limited, but very exciting to browse through.

Claire Keegan: Small things like these

The coal merchant Bill delivers goods to an Irish convent. The situation of exploitation of young girls he encounters leaves a strong impression to him.

But when it comes to church, there is silence.

In my opinion the story is somehow not finished. Or maybe the author was just silent about it too.

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

***

Obergass

Obergasse 2a, Winterthur

The bookshop Obergass in Winterthur is always worth a visit. The interior is not very special, the shelves remind me of a school library but I like the selection of books and the friendly staff.

CJ Hauser: The Crane Wife

The bookseller was pleased that I had chosen the apprentice's recommendation. The blurb was very promising, the content of the book unfortunately less so.

The book has received good reviews and was described as frank and funny.

For me it is a typical book written by a woman of today, both in terms of style and content. I found it neither funny nor touching. I probably won't remember it in a few months.

Bookshop: 

****

Book: 

**

Weltbild

Bahnhofplatz 5, Winterthur

The wonderful Salomé works in this shop. If she had the opportunity to determine the product range herself, it would certainly be a brilliant shop. As it is, it's just a Weltbild shop that sells a lot of other stuff besides books. Things that the world doesn't need. The selection of books is also very limited and only focussed on the latest publications.

The Weltbild stores in Switzerland closed all branches in August 2024 due to bankruptcy. 

Chris Whitaker: We begin at the end

It begins with the death of a girl. Her sister Star never really gets over her death.

30 years later, Star is still depressed. Her daughter Duchess (13 years old) mainly looks after her little brother Robin.

Then the alleged murderer Vincent goes free. It is not long before he is involved in another murder case. This time Star is the victim.

The children are first sent to their grandfather, then to a foster family and finally to a children's home. Until Duchess decides to seek out her mother's murderer.

The relationship between the two children is beautiful. However, it is somewhat predictable that Vincent and Duchess are more than just acquainted with each other.

I found the character of the policeman Walk most exciting.

A very entertaining book, with highs and lows.

Bookshop: 

**** (thanks to Salomé)

Book: 

*** 

WEGA Nishinaga AG

Bahnhofstrasse 29, Zermatt

I would never have thought that I would give a bookshop a minus rating and that the only right thing to do in my opinion would be to close the shop or change the name from WEGA to "Weggah" (Swiss German for go away).

There is a dark souvenir shop on the ground floor. You have to go to the basement for the books. You won't be greeted as the woman behind the counter is on a private phone call. The selection and the interior are more than poor. 

There are no staff picks and you can't ask because of the private conversation. When I picked up a book with Zermatt content and wanted to pay for it, the woman sent me to the souvenir shop to pay. In English, mind you, although as a non-Swiss she was obviously a little embarrassed when I replied in my mother tongue. She didn't say goodbye either.

In the souvenir shop I was then also served in a rather unfriendly manner. At least I was allowed to pay for the book, as I was very close to simply taking it with me as compensation.

I formally apologise to all tourists who visit Zermatt and come across people like this. Because this does not do justice to the beautiful and very friendly Valais.

Mark Twain: In Switzerland

It's quite something when a writer like the legendary Mark Twain dedicates almost an entire book to his journey through Switzerland, mentioning places that I see almost every day.

I particularly like the dialogues at the beginning of the book, which are full of irony and sarcasm. They could hardly be more clichéd. Well, and even the cuckoo clocks from Switzerland were not missing.

It's a shame the WEGA bookshop didn't exist back then. The dialogue with the ignorant lady behind the counter would certainly have been very entertaining.

Some of the descriptions in this book are wonderful, he calls the Matterhorn the Napoleon of the mountains, just different from his peers.

Towards the end, in my opinion, he recounts events too often, which unnecessarily drags out the book. 

Nevertheless, an entertaining novel by an author whose pictures always remind me of a grim Einstein.

Bookshop: 

minus ***

Book:

***

ZAP* Zermatt

Hofmattstrasse 3, Zermatt

What could be better than running a bookshop at the foot of the Matterhorn? The bookshop is located right in the centre of the village of Zermatt. 

As is so often the case in smaller villages, it is a mixture of stationery and bookshop. 

The selection is okay, but more could definitely be made of the branch, considering that these ZAP bookshops belong to Orell Füssli (as unfortunately do most in Switzerland nowadays).

What stands out are the various books about the region and also some in foreign languages, which is thanks to the tourists.

Alex Schulman: Malma terminus

Harriet, Oskar and their daughter Yana are the three protagonists of this novel and all three are travelling by train to Malma, a small town in Sweden where their interwoven fates come to an end.

Harriet once travelled to Malma by train with her father as a child, carrying a small urn. Then, as an adult, Harriet travelled the same route with her husband Oskar. And so did Yana.

The episodes alternate between the now and the then in flashbacks and from the respective perspectives.

The novel is written in a very atmospheric style. As a reader, you are on the train, in the kitchen, in the middle of Yana's first day at school or, finally, at Malma's terminus. The protagonists seem very real with all their faults, characterised by their experiences. 

It is almost unbearable to read about the lives of the individual fates and yet you don't want to put the book down because you want to know how it all ends.

The relationship between Yana's parents and how they behaved towards her is masterfully described, as is Oskar's assessment of his wife and child: Yana keeps her secrets by keeping quiet, Harriet by lying.

Bookshop: 

***

Book:

****

Leserei

Kirchplatz 14, Zofingen

The first bookshop in this series of bookstore visits was the Leserei in Zofingen.

A beautiful shop located in an enchanting old town house with card stands in front of the entrance.

It was a real pleasure to browse for books in this very friendly shop.

What I particularly love about the website are the sections, which are all formed with the ending -erei: Veranstalterei, Instagramerei, Öffnungszeiterei...

Daniele Mencarelli: For the Fighters, for the Crazy ones

Daniele was admitted to a psychiatric hospital where he has to stay for a week. He has to share the room with five other people - supposedly crazy people.

A very personal and deep bond begins between the patients.

A beautiful, profound, but also entertaining novel. 

A really great recommendation from the staff.  A book I would probably never have read.

Bookshoperei: 

****

Bookerei:

*****

Balmer Buchhaus

Rigistrasse 3, Zug

When I was still working near Zug's old town, I often enjoyed going to this bookshop during my lunch break. The selection is very large and spread over three floors. 

There is a café at the back.

Right at the entrance there is a large corner dedicated to novels and thrillers, and on the windowsill there is a "blind date with a book" offer.

There is also a lot of English-language literature, which is certainly due to the large number of expats in Zug.

I sometimes have the feeling that there is almost too much space in this shop. I don't like the design. It's too modern for me, but not stylishly modern. I don't like this green at all.

Nevertheless, I really enjoy visiting this bookshop and always plan to stay a little longer, because otherwise I'm guaranteed to miss the train...

Ann-Helén Laestadius: Straff

Currently Reading

Bookshop: 

****

Book:

Barth Bücher

Shopville, Hauptbahnhof, Zürich

Barth Bücher is an Orell Füssli bookshop in disguise. They probably think you won't notice it.

For a railway station bookshop, it's quite versatile and a good place to go if you need a book for your next train journey.

Elena Fischer: Paradise Garden

Billie is 14 and lives with her single mum in a modest home. Although they have to get by on very little money, Billie has a happy childhood.

When they win money in a radio competition, they want to go to the seaside. The North Sea is out of the question. Billie soon finds out why. Her mother never talks about her past and Billie's father.

The holiday falls through because Billie's grandmother suddenly calls from Hungary to seek medical treatment in Germany. An argument ensues and Billie's mother falls and dies.

After a period of mourning, Billie takes the search for her father into her own hands...

Elena Fischer tells this novel beautifully. Her words translate easily into pictures. I could particularly visualise the story on Spiekeroog, even if I found it less moving at the end than at the beginning.

Bookshop: 

***

Book:

****

Buchhandlung Bodmer AG

Stadelhoferstrasse 35, Zürich

Zurich is a city full of small, good bookshops. The Bodmer bookshop is one of them.

The sales area is small, but it is well utilised. The shelves are bright and there are lots of tables with recommendations. I have also seen many of their recommendations in other bookshops. I recommend not only recommending newer novels, but also older ones and classics, as Waterstones does.

It also has many beautiful hardcover books.

Sunjeev Sahota: China Room

The main story takes place in India in 1929. 

Mehar (aged 15) and two other women are married off to three sons on a farm without knowing which woman has been assigned to which man. 

They live together on the farm in the china room and have to give themselves to the men in the dark at night in order to give birth to a son for their respective husbands

Mai, the mother, is a true matriarch. She seems to have the family under control.

But then Mehar falls in love with one of her sons. And you guessed it, it's not the one whose wife she was supposed to be...

The story is loosely based on the author's family history. I found the narrative style very sensitive and easy to understand for someone who is not familiar with Indian family traditions. 

In my opinion, the part of the story, with the great-grandson who travelled from England and went to rehab on the farm, would not have been necessary.

Bookshop: 

****

Book:

*** 

Buchhandlung Hirslanden

Freiestrasse 221, Zürich

What I like about Zurich is that it has space for several smaller bookshops that are very individual in their style.

The HIrslanden bookshop (Bookshop of the Year 2013), which opened in 1984, is one such special bookshop for me.

It is small, but has a lot of bookshop charm. As soon as you walk in, you realise that this shop is run with a lot of love and dedication. The booksellers are very friendly and helpful.

The sentence on the sign at the entrance, which I've heard changes every day, is great.

Many of the books are displayed in piles on tables and it's worth taking a closer look at them. Right at the entrance they offer ‘Blind date with a second hand book’. I also think that's a very nice idea. The first sentence of the book is mentioned on the cover. I'll give it a try when I get the chance.

Kristin Höller: Leute von früher (people from the old days)

Marlene travels to Strand, a place on an island in the East Frisian Wadden Sea. There she works for months in an adventure village that represents the times of 1900.

At first she is very disillusioned because she lives in a very simple accommodation where she has to share a bathroom and kitchen with the other residents. Little by little she gets to know them.

Marlene is assigned to work in a grocery store. Janne works in the smokehouse and occasionally passes by to smoke at the shop window where Marlene works. The two of them start dating and become closer.

When they spend the first night together, Marlene has the feeling that someone has been haunting them at night. But Janne plays it down. It soon turns out that this island has a secret. It goes way back into the past and is said to come back every few years.

I found the beginning of the novel very atmospheric. It raised false expectations in me that were not fulfilled. I think the title is well chosen, as it can only be fully understood towards the end. Therefore, I would have put much more emphasis on this island secret from the beginning.

Unfortunately, I couldn't relate to the protagonists at all. 

Bookshop: 

****

Book:

** 

Nestor Buch AG / Never Stop Reading

Spiegelgasse 18, Zürich

A place full of history. Lenin once lived at Spiegelgasse 14, Georg Büchner at number 12 and Never Stop Reading is at number 18.

At first, this bookshop looks like a designer store with little to suit my taste. On second glance, however, I found the range extremely exciting and unusual. There are lots of beautiful and illustrated books. A really great and dedicated bookseller. I'm always happy when I'm not offered the usual book recommendations.

There is a slight lack of light. But it's also difficult in this salesroom.

Elias Hirsch: Content

5 reasons why I don't recommend reading this book

• Because you should never judge a book by its cover and the text on it.
• Because I didn't smile once, let alone laugh. And I wasn't in a bad mood. Not even after reading it. It felt like reading an instruction manual. I was neutral, so to speak.
• Because (almost) everything used to be better in terms of art, music and literature compared to this loud and modern kind of humour. And I'm old enough to be able to judge that.
• Because this book would have been better designed as a listicle or alternatively as a cake (I would have eaten it through the open microwave door, even though I don't have a microwave)
• Because the author thanks me (Sibylle) in the acknowledgements at the end of the book, even though he doesn't even know me.

Bookshop: 

****

Book:

**

Orell Füssli

Füsslistrasse 4, Zürich

I love this shop! How many times have I travelled to Zurich just to go to this Orell Füssli shop, spent my short lunch break there or skipped a train. 

It's worth it.

There is a great selection on four floors. From novels to specialist areas such as medicine or law, foreign-language literature including British non-books articles, it has the status for me that record shops used to have.

There is also a Starbucks branch on the first floor.

Even if I go there with a clear goal in mind, I can't avoid browsing.

Even though there are now too many Orell Füssli branches for me and they are damaging the independent book trade, I love this branch, the largest bookshop in Switzerland.

Joyce Carol Oates: Babysitter

Not read yet

Bookshop: 

*****

Book:

Travel Book Shop

Rindermarkt 20, Zürich

This bookshop has its very own concept: travel, maps and what I particularly liked was the literature on the respective countries. A really great concept.

The furnishings look like shelves that have been sorted out. Nevertheless, I really liked the store. Highly recommended.

Terhi Kokkonen: Arctic Mirage (Rajamaa)

One thing is clear from the outset: Karo has killed her husband Risto. 

The question is: why? 

The couple have a car accident during their winter holiday and are stuck in a remote location in Lapland. The insurance company is slow to respond, forcing them to stay in a luxury hotel called the Arctic Mirage. 

The name of the hotel is also the title of the book: and it fits with what is increasingly being revealed.

For once, a successful translation of the original title.

This marriage is anything but harmonious. Karo seems to constantly imagine events, and she also interpreted the accident differently from Risto. 

What Risto dismisses as imagination turns out to be gaslighting, a particularly insidious form of psychological manipulation.

Kokkonen has made a wonderful debut with Arctic Mirage. It can certainly be compared to the music of her bands Ultra and Scandinavian Music Group, both of which I have had CDs on my shelf for many years.

I would also like to mention that I find both the book itself and the cover beautiful! 

Bookshop: 

****

Book:

****