In praise of independent bookshops

Don’t tell anyone I work with but I don’t actually buy that many books. I used to, when I worked in Waterstone’s, as I a) was constantly surrounded by lots I wanted, b) had a staff discount, and, most crucially of all, c) couldn’t get them for free like I can often do now. 

When I do buy books, though, I like to try and do it from an independent. Yes, it’s more expensive as you usually pay full price but I find the experience quite edifying, mainly for the fact that it feels like everyone else in the transaction is getting maximum benefit: writer, publisher and, of course and perhaps most importantly, the bookseller. But to a few people I’ve told this to, including many friends, it seems a confusing choice: apart from 

feeling like a good egg/self-important, what do I get out of it? Call me starry-eyed but nothing less than a lovely, life-affirming experience, an experience typified by two brilliant independent bookshops in Bath: Topping & Co and Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights. I visited them both with Nick Hornby recently, who read at Topping, and they both manage to be utterly charming yet completely different. Topping does fantastic events and the shop is full-to-bursting with signed first editions; they think of themselves as being a ‘year-round literary festival’ and Nick’s event, in the shop itself, was gloriously old-fashioned: people peering out from behind bookshelves, crammed into corners and surrounded by books of all kinds. Between listening to Nick read I found myself browsing the shelves and making mental notes of books I wanted.

Mr B’s takes the idea of browsing and shopping in comfort to a whole new level for bookshops. They have a ‘reading booth’, within which are a comfy armchair, some biscuits and a ledge to hold your cup of tea. You shut the door and just sit there and read. Imagine! A man apparently shut his dog in there recently and couldn’t get it out, so I guess it’s not quite fool-proof. But they have also started what I think is a brilliant initiative. It’s called a Reading Spa: for £55 a person gets an hour of undivided attention from one of their extremely nice and knowledgeable booksellers. You sit and have tea and cake and talk about what you like, what you don’t like; they talk about what’s come out recently, what’s selling well. Based on this, they then go away and come back with a pile of books. £40 of that £55 goes towards these books, plus of course any extra you want to spend. So far they’re doing at least one a week and one chap spent an extra £400 a couple of weeks ago.

Great independents don’t exist everywhere, of course, and you can’t always get to one, but if you do happen to have one near you, I urge you to go in and have a browse. It’s the best atmosphere for book-buying, in my opinion.

Do you have a favourite independent bookshop? Why don’t you write them a little puff-piece in the comments below and provide a link to their website? They’ll thank you for it, and you’ll sleep well because of it.

Joe The Publicist

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Comments

[Betty]

I'm a massive fan of Daunt's on Marylebone High Street which is near where I work. They always have an excellently edited selection of titles, often ones you haven't seen elsewhere. Honorable mentions also for the Owl Bookshop in Kentish Town and Queen's Park Books.

[twitter.com/TamsynTweetie]

My favourite is The Newham Bookshop, near to West Ham's stadium in East London. Everyone who works there is very knowledgeable and they are super supportive of new writers.

[Don Lafferty]

I can't pick my favorite yet because I still have so many to check out.

Next stop is Womrath's in Tenafly. Hope to see you there.

[Vikki Rose]

One for the good folk of Oxfordshire http://www.mostly-books.co.uk/. The fantastic Mostly Books in Abingdon, lots of local events & knowledgable staff and they even serve coffee :-)

[twitter.com/JAHeinlein]

I am on the "other side of the pond"... but, am def a kindred spirit as related to loving the independents!

-and excerpt from a recent blog post.

"Great Indie Bookstores Going Away? ...no and NO!!!" http://bit.ly/3HS2S8

"...the "Things that Make Indies Great 'Will Still Be There'." It is a part of our heritage - "worth fighting for"...
I spent a weekend in Martha's Vineyard awhile back...to "get away." And, while riding about the island on a bicycle and camping out, I stopped in at every little book shop and wonderful indie bookstore that I could find... the charm and character of the old indies are simply irresistible....
-grew up in the NW. Elliot Bay Books in Seattle and Powell's Books in Portland got me hooked...
I got started in the book industry as a "road rep" in the NE -and enjoyed the good fortune to actually "get paid to visit" many of the indies, Univ Bkstrs, dealers, distributors, etc in 8 states... good times and rich memories indeed!
-when I lived in Nashville, there was Davis-Kidd ...and, we have a terrific indie here in the Denver area - Tattered Cover.

[twitter.com/BOOKSA]

Cape Town's beloved Book Lounge just got a website - now indie bookshop lovers can check it out from afar:

http://www.booklounge.co.za

[Ludo]

Open Book in Richmond is pretty amazing. Fantastic range and excellent service. See also, Wimbledon Village book shop.

[twitter.com/buffysquirrel]

I would love to praise our independent book shops. Unfortunately, they're all gone.

[Pete]

I'd really love there to be an independent in Newcastle, it's a big enough city to have one but I've yet to find one if there is. Barter Books is in Alnwick but it's quite a way to go!

[JoethePublicist]

Some great recommendations above, thanks to all so far!

I can't believe I forgot to mention these guys, Amuti, who specialise in rare, signed, art and things-they-like. One of the best-looking indies, certainly:

http://www.amutionline.com/index.html

[Annabel]

I endorse what Vicky Rose says. Mostly Books in Abingdon, http://www.mostly-books.co.uk/ is like a second home to me. The staff are wonderful, friendly and knowledgeable, and the events are great. They are managing to create quite a literary vibe in Abingdon which is fabulous, considering all the literary events that go on in nearby Oxford.

[Carolyn Jewel]

I ADORE my local independent, Copperfield's in lovely Petaluma California http://copperfieldsbooks.com/
They have a fantastic children's/YA section and lots of other interesting things to look at. The staff is wonderful and I always spend time looking at their personal recommendations.

They bring in lots of great authors (George RR Martin!! Jonathan Stroud, Diana Gabaldon) The staff knows their books and they are finally (yay!!) expanding their romance section from none to some.

So, the next time you come to the States, you should visit. Only 50 north of San Francisco in the wine country.

[Jenny]

Donlon Books in Bethnal Green:
http://www.donlonbooks.co.uk
They specialise in art books. So much more than just a bookshop. Beautiful books, interesting zines and ‘precious things' in glass cabinets. Perfect.

[David H]

There are no independent bookshops near me, unfortunately; so I'll have to go with one that's several hours' ravel away and which I haven't visited for years...

The Orchard Bookshop in Denby Dale: http://www.orchardbookshop.co.uk/

[twitter.com/jakemessenger]

Has to be the Hungerford Bookshop - http://www.hungerfordbooks.co.uk/

It won Independent Bookshop of the Year this year, and is a lovely, friendly small shop with a strong children’s section, second-hand books in the basement, and a selection built on a passion for bookselling from the owners Emma and Alex. And a coffee shop next door!

[Helen]

I am big Mr B's fan and have had a couple of book spas there. I can't rate them highly enough, great service, great atmosphere and great knowledge of all things bookish!

[stujallen]

hi ,
unfortunately our local indepentdent closed last year ,the nearest is one in matlock .Have note the ones you recommend
cheer
stujallen

[Megan]

You're right--there's nothing like spending an hour browsing around a snug independent bookstore. One of my favorites is on N. Broadway in Chicago, Unabridged Books. The staff writes reviews on index cards and places them on the shelves next to the books. Charming and helpful!
http://www.unabridgedbookstore.com/

[iamtheangel.com]

I'm over here in America but there's a great place here in Long Island, New York called Book Review. Barne & Noble and Borders pretty much have a stranglehold on the market, but this place has managed to actually prosper and remains a major presence in the region:
http://www.bookrevue.com/

[Carotine]

The Edinburgh Bookshop in Bruntsfield is newly opened and great, friendly and with a good range of interesting books.

[Sarah]

We've just opened one in Lancaster - The Poetry Bookcase, run by Lancaster's Litfest. We're focusing on contemporary poetry - books and magazines. And are very happy to chat, recommend or leave you in peace as you browse.
www.litfest.org

[james jameson]

Ya,ya, ya, all very positive. But you know some times I find my local book shop a bit pooky and also there is a woman there who follows me with her eyes as if i am about to pocket the most expensive hardback in the store. But there you go! I still go there as sometimes you can pick up a real gem and because the shelves are not over packed you can see and read the titles.

[sell books]

yes ofcourse, such independant bookshops really give great environment to read and enjoy for a good time. When we are surrounded among interesting book titles along with calm environment then who wants to go away.. :)