A chapter from booktown
Nine bookshops opened in the former mining town of Blaenavon in 2003. Could books rejuvenate the depressed town and revitalise the local economy? Maev Kennedy spent a day a month in Blaenavon and reported exclusively for guardian.co.uk
Book no defeat
In her final dispatch from Blaenavon, South Wales's booktown, Maev Kennedy finds its residents cheerful despite the rain and the year's mixed fortunes
April is the cruellest month
Last month saw Blaenavon's first drive-by shooting, a defection, and the desolation of an ordinary book seller, writes Maev Kennedy
Winter of our discontent
Maev Kennedy listens to mutters of disaffection from Blaenavon's locals, but finds that even booktown incomers get the council blues
Bookshops may open a new chapter for a town time forgot
World Book Day started in Blaenavon at 7.45am, when James McDonald sold two Terry Pratchett paperbacks for £3.50 to a customer surprised that even the newsagents at the top of the town had turned into a bookshop.
From fetes to the fates
Maev Kennedy finds Blaenavon preoccupied with preparations for the town's first literary festival.
'A couple of bob for Christmas'
Sales (and trains) were slow in Blaenavon booktown this season, writes Maev Kennedy
Nothing going on but the rent
Maev Kennedy finds the booktown experiment is having a positive effect on Blaenavon. Unfortunately the booksellers can no longer afford to live there
Local poet scores on first try
This month, while the rest of the Wales is caught up in the rugby World Cup, Maev Kennedy finds Blaenavon celebrating a new performance poet.
Grishams Grishams everywhere
In her latest report from Blaenavon, Maev Kennedy gets a lesson in book economics - the main currency of which appears to be John Grisham novels - and finds booktown's tenants playing hide and seek.
Blood, sweat and tears
Amid a sweltering August, booktown struggles with a broken oven, bored children and scaffolding poles, writes Maev Kennedy, in her latest monthly instalment from Blaenavon
'We can't have too many witches'
Nine bookshops opened last month in the former mining town of Blaenavon, where a unique experiment is underway. Can books rejuvenate the depressed town and revitalise the local economy? Maev Kennedy is spending a day every month in Blaenavon, and reports exclusively for Guardian Unlimited. July in booktown saw hostile locals, tarot card wars and the departure of Marlene
A chapter from Blaenavon
As the many sceptics warned, the first day of the Blaenavon Booktown experiment ended in tears.
Books open new chapter for Plywood City
Hopes high as the boards come down on main street.
Books could help town to turn over a new leaf
Former coal and iron centre hopes to match the Hay-on-Wye effect.