Two Wee Bookshops and the Heartfelt Tales of a Remote Bookseller
While planning my itinerary for New Zealand back in June 2024, I was researching things to do in Te Anau after visiting Milford Sound when I stumbled upon a place called “Two Wee Bookshops.” Intrigued, I dug deeper and discovered that one of the bookshop’s owners, Ruth Shaw, had written a memoir. The idea of visiting a bookshop in the remote South Island while on tour and potentially meeting the author herself captivated me! I also found out that the bookshop sometimes closes during the winter months, so I decided to email Ruth to confirm whether it would be open in December. She responded warmly and graciously, which only fueled my excitement.
Fast forward to December 2024, I visited Manapouri, a quaint village near Te Anau. Anyone driving down the street where the bookshop is located can’t help but be drawn to it because of its vibrant and colorful appearance. It almost felt as if a lorikeet had transformed into a bookshop!
I was looking for books on Māori Mythology, so I entered the shop and was greeted by a tall woman with sharp features and a soft smile. I asked for assistance, and she led me through the two bookshops, showing me the Māori books I had been searching for. I assumed she was Ruth Shaw but, for some reason, never asked her directly until after I left the store. I later realized she wasn’t Ruth, but we had a lovely conversation about the books in the shop and Ruth’s signed copy of Bookseller at the End of the World. Leaving the shop with a big smile on my face, I was thrilled to have purchased my very first signed book!
Though my heart was full after this experience, I didn’t realize it was just the beginning of a beautiful journey. The adventure began when I boarded a flight from Queenstown back to Brisbane, flying over the stunning, glacier-covered mountains of Aotearoa. As I gazed out the window, reflecting on the amazing time I’d had in New Zealand, I opened the book. The Bookseller at the End of the World was a beautiful hardcover, adorned with a charming cover featuring navy-blue bushes and a woman with a ponytail reading beneath a warm, nostalgic sodium vapor light.
As I read, it felt as if I had formed a personal connection with the author through her bold, captivating writing style. The book took me on an emotional roller coaster — experiencing the highs, lows, challenges, and beauty of Ruth’s life journey. I don’t want to spoil the experience for potential readers, but it felt like listening to the heartfelt stories your grandparents share when you’ve reached an age where you can understand life’s deeper nuances.
Interspersed with these life stories, Ruth shares amusing and insightful short tales about the people who visit her bookshops. You can easily picture the characters coming to life, and the references to the bookshop feel magical, especially once you’ve had the privilege of visiting Two Wee Bookshops yourself.
