Town Talk | The Book Inn: Shepparton’s hidden gem on Wyndham St

Like many of us, I have stuck my nose into second-hand bookshops — everywhere I’ve been. But I’ve never seen anything like this one. The books are in outstanding condition, many of them ‘as new’; there are plenty of children’s books priced at 50 cents; there are books for teenagers and adults; and there are the classics. Adult books are priced at $1 for paperbacks and $2 for hardcovers.

If you have grandchildren, the winter school holidays are less than three weeks away. This would be a great time to stock up on half a dozen books, which will cost you $3 total. Or, why not just have a browse for yourself? You might be as amazed as I was.

What I found

One of my favourite reading experiences of all time was Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome series. There are six books but when I first started buying them, I didn’t know they would be read so many times — at least five by me. My husband and mother read them also. So, the first book I bought was a paperback. The end result, after many years of reading, was that The First Man in Rome was in four of five pieces. It had all come adrift from the spine, not from lack of care but from overuse. I have tried several times to replace it, but these books are relatively scarce these days.

At the Book Inn, I found a hardcover version of The First Man in Rome – priced unbelievably at $2.

In addition, I found a hardcover copy of Banjo Paterson’s complete works. I frequently find myself reciting one of his poems and then getting stuck on the next line. My husband used to be useful in this regard, but no longer, so I need the words!

My daughter-in-law, who introduced me to this ‘hidden gem’, insisting that I’d love the place, took me there last week. She has also stocked up for the winter.

Why are the prices so low?

The Book Inn is one of the many services offered to Shepparton by Family Care. It is a win-win situation where the books are priced to be affordable to all, and the small profit goes towards one of the other services. All the books are donated, and the store is staffed by volunteers.

We are all aware that prices are going up everywhere — and it isn’t easy to see an end to it all. Recently, one million underpaid Australians received an increase of around $30 per week. Not one of us could be opposed to this, but the recipients will spend the money because they need it. If their employers increase prices to cover the extra costs and if an additional $25 million (each week) goes into the economy, what happens to inflation?

I don’t know — but the outcome doesn’t look good for any of us!

However, it is wonderful to know that you can afford to keep reading and continue to encourage young ones to do the same.

Family Care

This excellent organisation is locally based and locally conceived. Albert Kellock was the driving force behind it in 1984. Forty years later, there are offices in Cobram, Seymour and Wallan, with outreach offices in Alexandra and King Lake. This not-for-profit organisation provides many outstanding services.

These include disability support services for children and young adults, carers’ support services, child and family services, which include parenting education and support, and, of course, The Book Inn, which aims to promote literacy in the community.

Interested in volunteering?

This local organisation is impressive; the more I learn, the more impressed I am. If you could offer a few hours per week, why not call Family Care on 5823 7000?

And don’t forget to visit this delightful store at 94 Wyndham St — just south of the RSL Club. You never know what you might find.

A weird book story

Last Christmas, among some good books and a number of clothing items, which I’ve worn regularly, my eldest grandson gave me two very weird books. Each is 600 pages of fantasy fiction — a genre that has never attracted my interest.

A note inside the first book said something like this: “You are aware that I have never read fiction of any kind — until now.”

That is true. I’ll never know how he passed his VCE, writing about books he hadn’t opened.

We didn’t discuss the new books; he said, “Read your books, Marn.”

His father’s birthday came along, and he received the same books, although he never reads fiction either.

More recently, my grandson and I were making coffee in the kitchen. He said, “You once told me that you have learnt from every book you read — fiction or other.” Yes, that was true, and I could well have said it. However, I now asked, “What do you expect me to learn from this fantasy genre?”

He said, “I thought you might want to know why I now believe in God.”

This young man has been a proclaimed atheist for at least 15 years. We have simply accepted it as his choice. Now, he must have seen a tear or two in my eyes because he gave me a hug before picking up his father’s coffee. As he left the kitchen, he said, “Read your books, Marn.”

Guess what I’m reading! The First Man in Rome will have to wait. I have 400 pages of book one yet to read and 600 of book two.

I must share this

If you have been reading Town Talk over the years (and God bless you if that is true), you might remember a gentleman who saw the world differently from me; he repeatedly told me that I wore rose-coloured glasses. Roger and I corresponded frequently. Then, sometime last year, I wrote about research that claimed we had 60,000 thoughts a day, and most of them were repeats of yesterday. My train of thought led me to the time when I had taught myself to think positively, which was in the 1980s.

Apparently, while reading this, Roger began to understand — I write positively because I think positively. His email that week suggested I keep my rose-coloured glasses.

Last week, when I was at the heritage lecture, Roger gave me something wrapped in white tissue paper: rose-coloured glasses decorated with deep pink feathers. They reminded me of Dame Edna. He was telling me that, in recent times, I hadn’t been very positive at all. That is true; Roger noticed it, and perhaps you have, too.

The joy of writing Town Talk is the wonderful, interesting people I have met, and I am deeply grateful for this. Hopefully, I’ll return and become Pollyanna once again. I’m much happier in that mode — and maybe a bit more fun to read.

Roger is one of the wonderful, interesting people, and I will treasure these awful glasses.

Have a good week; find something to laugh at. And may it be easy, my friends.

Marnie

Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au

Letter: Town Talk. The News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.

Phone: Send a text to 0418 962 507. (Note: text only. I will call you back if you wish.)