There is nothing more relaxing than snuggling under the covers with a wonderful book. I absolutely love to read. Luckily, my daughter is taking after me and loves to read as well. I read to her before she was even born, a gesture that my husband snickered at. I could spend hours and hours looking through book shops. I could also spend all of my paychecks in bookshops as well.

While most people prefer the chain stores such as Borders and Barnes and Noble, I prefer the smaller scale bookshops. Just like in the movie, 'You've Got Mail', smaller shops do exist and need customers to help them survive. We have two family owned book shops in my county that I frequent monthly. The owners will spend time helping you find exactly what you are looking for and help you to order anything that they don't carry.

I find that they are much more willing to help out their customers and take the time to know each person by name. I love that feeling. Plus, smaller book shops go out of their way to get authors to stop by for book signings and events. They usually hold poetry readings or have storytime for children.

Not to say that I don't enjoy the larger chain bookshops, because I do. The books are sometimes discounted and you rarely have to worry about a certain book not being in stock. They usually have comfy couches and chairs scattered around so that you can take a few moments to relax and escape your reality for a little while.

I've spent hours in book shops reading books and magazines before, sipping on coffee and pretending that there isn't a list of chores waiting for me at home. When my daughter is at her dance lessons, I sometimes sneak next door to the bookshop and relax for 30 minutes.

I belong to a book club that I can order books online or through the mail, which I frequently do because it is much less expensive. However, I miss the atmosphere of the bookshops. If I order a book online, I have to wait for it to arrive.

If I actually go to a bookshop, I have the advantage of starting to read the book there and having the atmosphere to go along with it. I try to support the smaller owned bookshops as often as possible because I like to support small businesses. No matter how big the book shops are, I could spend way too much time and money in them.