Danielle Hodges may have the ideal job for someone who loves to read. In mid-November she became manager of Book Reviews, 123 S. Main St.
The 2005 Bluffton High School and 2009 Bluffton University graduate majored in English and writing.
Relying on a loyal book-loving volunteer staff, Danielle puts in about 10 hours a week at the downtown bookstore. Assisting her are Janie Wireman and Joyce Daniels, both assistant managers.
“We are always looking for volunteers,” she said. “The first requirement is that the volunteer must like books.”
Book Reviews is a non-profit and sister store to Ten Thousand Villages and Et Cetera Shop, also on Bluffton’s Main Street. Profits from book sales go to Mennonite Central Committee.
Danielle says her reading preferences range from young adult fiction to parenting, as she and her husband, Dan, are parents of two children, Phoebe, 5, and Abram, 15-months. Dan is a naturalist with Johnny Appleseed Metro Park District.
“Cold Mountain,” by Charles Frazier, is a book she lists as one of her personal favorites.
Book lovers in Bluffton, according to Danielle, range in all ages, and “no,” she doesn’t know how many books are in the store.
Books are rotated about every four months. Those not sold after that period go on a 50 percent clearance. The store accepts donations of books “in decent shape.”
Book Reviews is open Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1. p.m. Its phone number is 419-358-6999.
