The Bookseller at the End of the World is a memoir by Ruth Shaw published in 2022. Crammed with heartbreak and adventure, Ruth Shaw puts into writing the immersive and deeply engaging story of her life. Starting from when she was born, Shaw tells the journey that has brought her to where she is now: the owner of Two Wee Bookshops in the deep south of New Zealand. Ruth began her life in New Zealand with her older sister and parents. Having moved over and over as a child, her life started off on the move. After graduating high school, she started work as a cook and later joined and left the Navy. With risk and constant movement necessary to escape the trauma of her rape and her son’s adoption, Ruth found herself jobs sailing across the Pacific. Along the way, she met some of the most influential people in her life, found herself briefly arrested in Tahiti, encountered pirates, and experienced the loss of her first husband and second son. After much more adventure and pain, Ruth ended up in Manapouri reunited with her very first love. Sprinkled between episodes of her personal life story are short anecdotes of customers who have come to her bookshop. Throughout the book, the author weaves together her memories and lessons learned. This radiant life story reveals themes on hard work, love, and tragedy all constructed into a beautiful read. Every page turned feels like a chance for something more in life. Reading this book will allow you to transcend into Ruth’s experiences and open your eyes to the opportunities lying in every corner of the world. The Bookseller at the End of the World forces you to look at life in a new, unexpected way and leaves you with a feeling of comfort. Even through all of her hardships, she has found inspiring people and loving family wherever she goes. Ruth Shaw’s ability to build a life of her own is inspiring in itself, and I would recommend this to anyone searching for the next great book. Though it is a memoir, its captivating writing and story feel like a work of fiction.
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