The Lost Bookshop

An important theme in The Lost Bookshop, the power of books is informed by the motif of book references and how the three major characters find their lives centered around and inspired by books. These three characters share a love of books, which is a vital element that connects them: Opaline’s father fostered in her a deep appreciation for books; Henry became obsessed with rare books as a way to gain recognition; Martha, though initially wary of books, finds her own path through her relationship with several books. Books have the power to comfort, inspire, offer escape, motivate, and provide a sense of purpose. They do all these things at various points in the novel.

For Opaline, books begin as an escape. Her father taught her that “books were more than words on paper; they were portals to other places, other lives” (5). Although she later turns to books as a livelihood and purpose, they’re foremost a way for her to escape the pain of her life. For instance, after escaping from the corrupt mental health facility, she returns to her bookshop and is comforted by the presence of her books. She describes the “the reassuring presence of […] books around me” (371).