Bookshop of the Broken Hearted

Tom Hope, a lonely farmer, meets Hannah Babel, a vibrant small-town bookseller, and together they build Australia's most beautiful bookshop. However, Hannah carries the weight of her past as a survivor of Auschwitz, and Tom must confront his own heartbreak from the loss of his wife.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 288 pages
\n Publication date: 11 July 2019
\n Publisher: Faber & Faber
\n

The perfect book for anyone who has ever had their heart broken, anyone who has ever had their broken heart mended, and anyone who has ever visited a bookshop, "The Bookshop of the Broken Heart" is a heartwarming and poignant tale of love, loss, and the power of books to heal.

Tom Hope, a hardworking farmer living on a farm in rural Australia, has been lonely since his wife, Trudy, left him and took their young son, Peter, to join a religious cult. He does his best to manage the farm, milking the cows, harvesting the apples, and caring for the sheep, but his heart feels empty without his loved ones.

One day, a quixotic smalltown bookseller named Hannah Babel enters Tom's life. Hannah is the second Jew that Tom has ever met, and she is the most vivid and captivating person he has ever encountered. When she asks Tom to move in and help her build Australia's most beautiful bookshop, Tom is hesitant at first. He has never been much of a reader and doesn't see how books can help him heal his broken heart.

However, Hannah is determined to change Tom's perspective on books and love. She introduces him to a wide range of literature, from classic novels to contemporary poetry, and encourages him to open his heart to the power of words. As Tom reads more and more, he begins to see the world in a new light. He discovers that books can transport him to different places and times, allowing him to experience love and loss in a way that he never could before.

Tom and Hannah's relationship is a slow and gradual one. They start as friends, sharing their dreams and passions for books. But as they spend more time together, they begin to develop feelings for each other. Tom is hesitant to admit his feelings, fearing that he will lose Hannah if he does. Hannah, on the other hand, is patient and understanding, and she continues to support Tom as he works through his heartbreak.

One day, Hannah receives a devastating news. Her own little boy, who had been sent to Auschwitz during World War II, has passed away. Tom is heartbroken for Hannah, and he knows that he must do something to help her heal. He offers to go with her to Auschwitz, to visit the camp where her son had been imprisoned and died.

At first, Hannah is hesitant to accept Tom's offer. She has spent years trying to forget the horrors of her past, and she doesn't want to reopen old wounds. But Tom is persistent, and he convinces her that going to Auschwitz is not about forgetting the past but about honoring the memory of her son and the millions of other victims of the Holocaust.

As they arrive at Auschwitz, Tom and Hannah are both struck by the sheer scale of the camp. The barbed wire fences, the crematoria, and the rows of empty bunk beds are a haunting reminder of the atrocities that took place. But as they walk through the camp, Tom and Hannah also find moments of hope and resilience. They meet survivors who have managed to rebuild their lives after the horrors of the Holocaust, and they hear their stories of strength and perseverance.

Tom and Hannah spend several days at Auschwitz, visiting the memorials, museums, and exhibits. They talk about their past and their present, and they share their hopes and dreams for the future. As they leave the camp, Tom and Hannah are both changed by their experience. Tom has learned to appreciate the power of books and the beauty of the human spirit, and Hannah has found a new sense of purpose and meaning in her life.

Back in Australia, Tom and Hannah continue to work together to build their bookshop. They open it in a small town on the coast, and it quickly becomes a beloved institution in the community. People come from all over to visit the shop, to browse the shelves, and to connect with the books and the people who love them.

Through their bookshop, Tom and Hannah have helped countless people heal their broken hearts. They have provided a space for people to come together and share their experiences, to find solace and comfort in the pages of a book. And they have shown that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope and beauty to be found.

"The Bookshop of the Broken Heart" is a testament to the power of love, loss, and the healing power of books. It is a story that will touch the hearts of readers of all ages and backgrounds, and it will remind us of the importance of compassion, understanding, and the power of human connection.

\n Weight: 228g\n
Dimension: 197 x 128 x 18 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780571349784\n
Edition number: Main\n