Exploring Bookshops in London
Bookshops are a majestical place. Despite it being the stories themselves that transport you to distant lands and new experiences, I often find meticulously plodding the aisles in a bookshop to be an escape in itself. There is a tonic in silently floating past rows and rows of titles, different colours, fonts, sizes, languages. It is the same mysterious quality that the air in a museum takes up. Everyone is quiet, reduced to acting with just their eyes, occasionally pulling a book from a shelf and silently flicking through its pages. There is an element of respect that bookshops pump out into their air. The world slows down, takes on a different shape, and allows you to wander away from the weight of the world, and simply exist.
Books have always been special to me. Since I can remember there has been a book on the go in my life. More than one at times. I fell in love with the escapism that losing myself in the pages of a book can do. There’s a well known saying that collecting books and reading books are two different hobbies, and I will tend to agree with it. For me though, the two have always been heavily intertwined. I collect the books I want to read. As I’ve grown up, and I have limited shelf space, and the books I buy come out of my budget, I think that has become even more true.
I now have a habit of going into bookshops, having a wander round, the slow stalk across the floor, scanning the shelves and picking up new titles, reading the blurb, flirting with the first few paragraphs, and then deciding if I’d like it. In an attempt to slow down the pace of life, and to reduce bad decisions and wasting money, I’ll often take a photo of the books that catch my eye. If I keep thinking about them, keep coming across them, then I’ll later bite the bullet and make the purchase.
This isn’t just about owning and acquiring and spending. It’s about being intentional. Intentional decision making, intentional use of space on a shelf, and intentionally supporting small bookshops. Not to mention, the intentional curriculum of books to read. I typically spend a few weeks or even months reading a book, so I’m spending my time with that story, with that author, with that writing style, and with those themes. It needs to be appropriate, it needs to be a good use of time, energy, attention. This does feel somewhat controlling and over-caring, but ultimately it’s about building a curriculum.
When I read, I want to pull on thoughts I haven’t before. I want to revisit threads that look a little different now. I want to examine the way writing changes, I want to look into what reading does to me. I want to read stories and writing techniques that teach me something, that ask me something. I want to read what serves me. I love it when a book makes me think of another book. I like to take my time when choosing what to read, and sometimes I will leave a book unfinished, and revisit it when it feels more appropriate. I typically read around 12 books a year, so whatever I am reading, largely dictates the lasting energy of that year.
This all sounds very arranged and organised. In truth, there is a lot more spontaneity involved. I am careful about the books I add to my home library, but once they’re there, it’s anyone’s guess. I will be pulled to my shelves, and whichever book is talking to me at that time, is the one I will take off and begin. It’s about making sure I have the right ingredients in the kitchen, to be able to pull together a delicious meal.
With all that said, which was a delicious exercise into examining my own habits and thought processes, I have begun exploring bookshops in London in order to adventure out into the city I now call home. There are many I have visited before moving here, and I have been working my way round more since.
Skoob, Bloomsbury
Judd Books, Bloomsbury
Daunt Books, Hampstead Heath
Camden Town Bookshop, Camden
Word on the Water, Regents Canal / Coal Drops Yard
Skoob
Skoob (books backwards) is a scruffy little book paradise that had me squatting and rifling through shelves for wonders. It’s an underground second hand shop that really feels like you’re digging through a cave of special books. Lots of different genres hiding around corners. It’s small but it’s quiet and respectful. The nearest tube stop is Russell Square. I picked a few books from here - a revisit to the literary criticism days of lives past, and I’m so excited to get stuck in.I will definitely be returning here for a reasonably priced selection of books.
Judd Books
Another stop along from Russell Square is Judd Books, which has shelves from floor to ceiling of books old and new on a multitude of topics and I could have spent hours in there. In fact, at one point I sat down to read the beginnings of the books I kept piling up and lost track of where I was and who I am. Spread over two floors, stacked high at every opportunity, books are everywhere. A selection of fiction and non-fiction, organised by genre, it’s a wonderful space to peruse and browse. I picked up a few fiction and a few non-fiction (who am i?) here.
Daunt Books
I have visited the Daunt Books in Marylebone before, but had never made it to the one in Hampstead before. After a visit to Highgate Cemetery, and a wander across Hampstead Heath, I spent my time perusing the shelves in this Daunt Books. Much like its sister store, the shelves are organised by country/ region, so you can find fiction and non-fiction based on where it’s set. Max followed me round and I handed him book after book to hold for me while I explored.
Camden Town Bookshop
Along the high street from Camden Town underground, painted blue, lies Camden Town Bookshop. This shop is split into two essentially, with fiction on one side, and non-fiction on the other. The shop had a mostly quiet and peaceful atmosphere which I enjoyed while wandering the shelves reading all the titles, but it did start getting a little busy which was good for the shop but less for me. I found a few gems I’ve added to my TBR and will definitely come back for. They even had some blind dates with a book which is such a sweet idea (but a slightly too terrifying a commitment for me) and some gorgeous little bookish gift ideas. Amongst the new books were some glorious editions of classics, both ones I've seen before and ones I've never laid my eyes on, including a very sexy copy of Dracula that I can't stop thinking about.
Word on the Water
A rain-soaked me wandered along Regent’s Canal to this softly-lit haven of books on board a narrowboat not far from King’s Cross. A fact that's easy to forget once you're inside, until you feel yourself tilting as someone disembarks. The boat houses a number of books, and looks like it even showcases some outside when it isn’t raining heavily. They had so much variety for such a small spot, and I picked up a copy of Emma to continue my foray into the classics once more (and it matches the style of my copy of Sense and Sensibility I got from Judd Books!) This was a sweet little stop in what can be an insanely busy part of the city and all the more welcoming because of it. What a gorgeous idea!
I will continue updating this as I see more of the bookshops across London.
Comments
Post a Comment