I love bookshops. Obviously – being a bookaholic.
Recently reading ‘The Bookshop Book’, a book all about, er, bookshops, has reminded me of some of my own favourites and I thought I’d share them.
Top of the list, of course, is my fabulous local bookshop, Chapter One, in Woodley, Berkshire, which is home to the lovely Mary, John, Lesley and Val.
Possibly home to the friendliest booksellers ever.
Whether I’m looking for a last minute gift for a family member, a treat for my son or just an opportunity to browse, I always find something worth taking home with me. (Alright, several somethings.) And even when I just pop in to say hello and have a chat, the staff are always friendly and find the time to ask after my son – and what he’s reading. They have interesting events happening regularly, often featuring local authors and poets (especially Julie Cohen, Cathy MacLennan and A. F. Harrold) and usually involving cake. Mmm, cake.
Another bookshop which is lovely and holds regular events (though sadly I’ve yet to attend any) is Word on the Water, a bookshop on a boat. Yes, a boat.
Books and boats. What’s not to love?
If you’re not already sold on this place I should mention that there are cosy places to sit inside and the owner will happily let you browse for hours. Word on the Water doesn’t currently have a permanent mooring, so part of the fun of visiting is checking where they are moored and when they are open.
Further afield, one of the highlights of my trip to Paris a couple of years ago was visiting this rather well-known English language bookshop:
One of many book nooks
“My dream is to work here someday.” Owen Black age 9
Yes this is Shakespeare and Company, which my husband spotted and then (possibly) regretted mentioning, as that was then our morning’s destination. Fortunately, there is a coffee shop next door, so he got to drink coffee while I scoured the shop from top to bottom, occasionally appearing in a flurry of excitement to update him on my book browsing and purchasing activities. (“Did you know there’s a reading room? A reading room! I could just sit there and…no? Not today? Really?”) Patient though he is, I may need to send him away for a day if I get the chance to visit again. After all, you need to use a ladder to access the top shelves. I could be there a while. Fortunately, there is also a bed in the shop…
Next up is this place:
This is how libraries should look: dramatic but serious-minded
Now this isn’t strictly speaking a bookshop. Okay, it isn’t a bookshop at all. But it is rather ace. This is the rather appealing children’s section of Amsterdam central library:
Never mind the books; I’m sure as a small child I would have loved to play hide and seek here and just generally run around.
And this is the view from the top floor:
An opportunity to gaze upon boats inbetween reading chapters and scoffing tasty food.
And if that doesn’t tempt you to visit, maybe this will:
My mouth is watering. Seriously.
This is just one of many tables laden with delicious treats in the library’s restaurant. More libraries should have their own restaurant, IMO. Especially if they are going to look like this. If I return to Amsterdam I shall definitely be visiting the library again, and if you’re lucky enough to live there, they have a large selection of English language books to borrow.
If you want your bookshops to do more good in the world than simply providing you with lovely books, and possibly cake, then check out Catching Lives Books in Canterbury, Kent:
The door makes me feel a little Alice-in-Wonderland-ish.
It’s a secondhand bookshop, run by independent charity ‘Catching Lives’ to support the homeless and vulnerably housed around their local area. And, to add to the fun, it’s now housed in an historic 1640s building. Sadly, my visit here was a quick one as there were two chilly children outside in a double buggy that wouldn’t have navigated the door, let alone the shop’s many corners, but it would repay careful browsing and I did manage snag a copy of Stephen Kelman’s ‘Pigeon English’ that I’m looking forward to reading.
Finally, Oxford is home to many excellent bookshops but last time I was there I enjoyed visiting Albion Beatnik (though it had a different name at the time):
Disclaimer: the happy lady in this picture is my friend Sarah W.
Note the piles of books EVERYWHERE. And the Other Random Stuff. If I owned a bookshop, it would look something like this, except probably more chaotic. A lot more chaotic. Anyway, there’s a little cafe, masses of new and second hand books and (last time I was there) enough space to park a pushchair. If you’re in Jericho, this is well worth a visit and I do hope to return without the kiddies one day soon so I can browse properly.
Which bookshops do you particularly enjoy visiting? Do you prefer shops to be ordered and neat or messy treasure troves? Is it good to have a cafe or is coffee just a distraction from the real delights of browsing books?