By Deanna Brown
Book lovers need look no further than the charming, quaint downtown of Blooming Grove for great deals on non-fiction books.
Tom and Faye Moore opened Digginchy Books at 117 S. Fordyce this week. The store is located right next to the drive-thru of the bank.
Even more interesting than the books, which are all $5 and less, is the story behind the pair.
Tom lived in Dallas, and has been an avid collector of non-fiction books for over 20 years. Faye lived in San Diego, with a very successful interior design business. She also spent time on the east coast.
The two met online playing chess, as both are avid chess players.
“I played chess with her for three years before I knew she was a girl!” Tom said.
Indeed, Faye had selected a male avatar due to the fact she was not in search of suitors, but merely wanted intelligent chess partners. They began having phone conversations, then after a couple years of no contact, they reconnected.
“I moved to Dallas to be with him, and he was living in this old farmhouse that was absolutely full of books!” Faye said. “Even the windows were covered with books. Every inch of space in that house had books.”
Tom search around online and discovered the building in downtown Blooming Grove. The pair picked up and moved themselves and all his books to the Grove, with the intention of selling them online.
“But people kept stopping by, knocking on the door, and wanting to come in and prowl through the books,” Tom said. “So, we decided, ‘Why not?’ We’ll just sell a few here, too.
“We’re not going to make any money doing this, but it’s more of a community service than anything, I guess. If we can get books about art, psychology, Civil War, foreign language, in people’s hands, and do it for $5 or $1, it would be a good thing. In this economy, what else can you do for $5?
“And, you can get a book, read it, and it could potentially change your life.”
Nearly all the books are hardbacks, but there is not much for fiction enthusiasts. If you like Shakespeare or Kurt Vonegut, you’re in luck. Looking for some Chilton manuals? Look no further. If you want to learn about gardening, childrearing, American Indians, architectural science, Digginchy is the place. Many of the books are scarce now, and some out of print. There are also books for children.
Digginchy is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. All books on the front porch are priced at $1.
“We’re not totally organized yet, and you may have to dig a little,” Tom said. “But true books lovers like to do that anyway.”
For more information, call them at (903) 695-0455, or stop by and visit the store at 117 S. Fordyce.
“I love Texas!” said Faye, who has never lived in the state before. “It has some of the boldest, most outspoken people I’ve met. It’s great!”
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