Village Story Peddlers: Nantucket Bookworks

The DMS wants to send some good cheer out to those wonderful independent books sellers. So, we decided to share some of our favorite corner bookstores with you. 




Today, we want to tell you about Nantucket Bookworks. This charming book nook has gobs of story magic dripping from every shelf!  

What is the story behind Nantucket Bookworks?

The store was founded in 1972 by Patty Claflin. Originally located in a basement on the corner of Federal and Broad, Bookworks soon moved into 25 Broad St, a small building dating back to 1880, where it has remained to this day. In the late 90's, the Claflins tapped Wendy Hudson to take over the business, and Bookworks changed hands at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, 2000. Several years ago, Wendy also took on responsibility for Mitchell's Book Corner, and now both stores operate under the Nantucket Book Partners umbrella (while maintaining our respective distinct identities and fan bases). For the full story, click here. 

What is your favorite book to chat about?

This summer, I've been leaning heavily toward The Secret History. It's an earlier novel by Donna Tartt, who wrote this summer's bestseller The Goldfinch, and it's the story of a young man from the midwest who becomes enmeshed in an intellectually lofty but morally debauched clique at an East Coast college. The plot is great, but Tartt's writing really makes this book.

My coworker Max prefers A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. According to Max, "It's the diary of a young Japanese girl who calls herself a time being, and the story is brought to you by a woman who finds the diary on a beach on an island in Canada that's a lot like Nantucket.... but the diary is more than it seems"

Our manager, Suzanne, has two favorites this summer: We the Drowned, which focuses on the shipping industry's effects on a small coastal town in Norway at the turn of the century, and The Baron in the Trees, the tale of a young Italian count who abandons his family in the middle of dinner one night and spends the rest of his life in the trees.



Are there any upcoming events happening at the bookstore? If so, what?

Since Mitchell's and Bookworks joined forces, Mitchell's has taken on most of the signings and author events, and every summer they have a very busy events schedule. This summer, Bookworks has featured volunteer face-painters on Saturday mornings, and this Saturday we're also hosting a signing by a local author, Melissa Macvicar.

Nimbus 2000 or a Firebolt???

This is a bookstore you'll definitely want to visit! 

Nantucket Bookworks
25 Broad Street
Nantucket, MA 02554
(508) 228-4000

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