I ABSOLUTELY LOVED

The bookseller (NZ Life & Leisure, May/June). I was a librarian for 30 years (and, yes, I know all the book- related jokes). Now retired, I’m still an avid supporter of public libraries and applaud how libraries have embraced technology and have become busy community centres of activity, thereby ensuring their survival. But in recent years, I’ve come to appreciate bookshops — especially those that sell second- hand/pre- loved books: havens where I can search out old favourites to add to my collection that I happily re- read again and again.

The Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival sounds like an exceptional fun event, and it’s nice that it has stimulated such lovely bookshops where readers can fossick for gems to fill any gaps in their bookshelves.

Writer Lee- Anne Duncan’s lyrical description of Featherston and the gorgeous pictures of “canopied shopfronts”, the Royal Hotel and those quirky bookstores will undoubtedly encourage many of us to go visit Featherston — especially during the book festival weekend.