The Door-To-Door Bookstore - by Carsten Henn

About the Book

"Small-town German bookseller Carl Kollhoff delivers his books to special customers in the evening hours after closing time, walking through the picturesque alleys of the city. These people are almost like friends to him, and he is their most important connection to the world. When Kollhoff unexpectedly loses his job, it takes the power of books and a nine-year-old girl to make them all find the courage to rebuild their bonds with each other"--

Book Synopsis

The charming international bestseller about an unlikely friendship between an elderly door-to-door bookseller and a nine-year-old girl that changes his life.

Small-town German bookseller Carl Kollhoff delivers his books to special customers in the evening hours after closing time, walking through the picturesque alleys of the city. These people are almost like friends to him, and he is their most important connection to the world.

When Kollhoff unexpectedly loses his job, it takes the power of books and a nine-year-old girl to make them all find the courage to rebuild their bonds with each other.

A bestselling phenomenon internationally, Carsten Henn's The Door-to-Door Bookstore is a feel-good novel about books and friendship.

Review Quotes

"The feel-good novel for all book lovers."―Spiegel online

"The most warm-hearted and touching novel we could wish for as readers for this special year. It is a book that somehow hugs you when you read it, it really pulls you into its arms."―Deutschlandfunk


"It is a warm-hearted story without kitsch with lovingly described protagonists. The right book for a dark rainy day, which immediately becomes a little brighter when you read it."―Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung


"The basic idea of the book - that an unselfconscious child turns the life of a lonely old man upside down - is not new. But Henn has created characters with great empathy who quickly grow on you."―Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger


"Henn's novel is a declaration of love for the written word, a cheerful, fast-reading feel-good book for in between."―Westfalen-Blatt


"A book that is about books must be written in an appropriate style. Carsten Henn succeeds in this with wonderful formulations and sentences that you want to learn by heart right away. A book to read often and again."―WDR 4 "Hier und heute"

"A book to snuggle up with, a book that warms and gives confidence. Just the thing for anyone who knows how important a good book can be."―Brigitte

"At least as great as the story is the author's language: full of love, light-footed, powerful. You cry while reading, you laugh and sometimes you do both at the same time."―Freundin

"Carsten Henn has written a sensitive, poetic novel about the magical power of books to connect people. This novel is a pleasure to read for all book lovers."―Aachener Zeitung

"With this quite fabulous book, Carsten Henn provides a surprise. The Cologne native became known for 'culinary-vinophile' crime novels. (...) 'Der Buchspazierer' is of a completely different calibre - one that turns out much more delicate and poetic."―Kölnische Rundschau

"This is a feel-good book that caresses the soul and conveys the beautiful message of books that make you happy."―Ruhr Nachrichten

"This charmer, translated from the German by Melody Shaw, is an unabashedly sentimental, determinedly uplifting novel about friendships forged through books."―NPR

"Completely satisfying.... A specific kind of summer fun."―LA Times