We stayed in London and took two day trips, one to Oxford and a second one to Paris. But let's talk about the bookstores I visited.
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| photographs & collage by me |
The first bookstore I visited was Daunt Books near Baker Street and the land where everything is named after Sherlock Holmes. The store specializes in travel books but also has a solid collection of other genres— especially Vintage Classics and a whole shelf of beautifully vintage looking Agatha Christie reprints. If money and suitcase space was no object, I would have had a field day. I resigned myself to just purchasing the Vintage Classics edition of Persuasion by Jane Austen. Though I was sorely tempted by that cover for The Great Gatsby. Be still my cover loving heart.
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| photographs & collage by me |
During my day trip to Paris, I visited this iconic bookstore that has been on my bucket list ever since I first learned about it in a picture book about Paris when I was little. It is just how you imagine a bookshop in Paris should be. Narrow passages and a winding staircase leading to an upstairs filled with more books. Sadly, photography isn't allowed inside. I did not actually buy a book here (shocking, I know, but I wanted to ensure I had enough money for food), so I bought a tote bag instead. Must say I do not regret buying that tote bag. Best purchase ever. (Side note: London is like California. Grocery stores expect you to bring your own grocery bag.)
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| photograph & collage by me |
I ended my day trip to Oxford by visiting this massive bookstore and purchasing a Penguin Little Black Classics edition of Lady Susan by Jane Austen. Browsing through all those gloriously gorgeous British covers could very easily have become a new hobby for me. It was such a treat to be able to see them in person instead of browsing through them on Book Depository or Instagram.
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| photographs & collage by me |
Like every sensible human being who has read 84, Charing Cross Road I made a pilgrimage to that beautiful street— and stumbled my way through London Fashion Week while doing so. While, horror of horrors, I was too pressed for time to find that famed address, I did get to visit two still open secondhand bookstores on the street: Any Amount of Books and Quinto & Francis Edwards Booksellers. I acquired a vintage edition of Georgette Hyer's The Grand Sophy at Any Amount of Books for only a pound! They were having a basement sale where everything was one pound.
Have any of you been to these bookstores or cities? What are some of the bookstores you have visited on your travels?
That sounds so fun! Daunt Books and Shakespeare and Co. are both very high on the list of bookstores I want to go to some day. I agree about the British book covers: with some exceptions, they're almost always prettier than the same book in America.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling Shakespeare and Co. is the bookstore of your dreams. It is the atmospheric type of bookshop you always imagine being in Paris.
DeleteWow, what an amazing trip! All the bookshops sound amazing. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was amazing! :)
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