In the age of reading books electronically, it has never
been more important for me to acknowledge the actual physical booksellers who
enrich my life. You may be able to download a novel to an e-reader, but you
can’t meet the author on it or attend their launch. You may be able to read
reviews on line but there’s nothing like asking the staff in a bookshop to
recommend their own favourite book. Or indeed to ask them to recommend a book
in an area you have little or no knowledge.
For me it’s the personal attention I get in a bookshop that
sets the book-buying experience apart from the on-line one. And it’s fair to
say that I can’t recall ever coming across a grumpy staff member in a bookshop.
Kind of reminds me of the ‘happy librarian’ but that’s for another blog.
I’m one of those people who browse in bookshops, running my eyes along the shelves, stopping at the Australian section, and Indigenous section (if the store is savvy enough to have one) and I also love roaming the kids section too. I search out the authors I have long loved (many Australian) and check out what’s popular to the book-buying public at the time.
It’s important to note though that Australian bookshops don’t
just sell books. They are venues for storytelling sessions, political
discussions, readings, launches, literary cafes. They stock books, music, and
stationery and sometimes groovy t-shirts with appropriate slogans!
I love bookshops not only for all these reasons, but because
they are also cultural venues that you don’t need to dress for, they are open
to all members of society (and free to enter), they are full of likeminded
people (book lovers who appreciate stories and literacy) and I always leave
feeling inspired.
Obviously I have a bias because I love books, I write books,
I read books and I hang out with book lovers – many of them frequent and some
even own bookshops. My dream is to one
day have a bookshop-cum-cafe-slash-venue-for-all-things-arty-and-political of
my own. But that remains a dream at this stage, and as the traditional bookshop
comes under threat as more people buy on-line, I may have to revise that dream in years to
come. In the meantime, I wanted to note the bookshops I am grateful for:
AVID READER: When it comes to being grateful for this West
End icon, I can simply list why: the owners, the staff, the atmosphere, the
support for local writers/readers, the literary program, the fabulous food, the
location, the commitment to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Some may call me biased – after all, I adore owners Fiona
Stager and Kevin and events manager Krissy Knees (pictured with me above) is my deadly tidda – but the
store itself is also enough to keep me going back there.
Aside from launching my books at Avid Reader (including Not Meeting Mr Right, Avoiding Mr Right, Manhattan Dreaming, Paris Dreaming and Am I Black Enough For You?), I’ve seen some of the country’s finest writers talk about books and writing at Avid Reader – this includes but is not limited to - Susan Johnson, Benjamin Law, Charlotte Wood.
GLEEBOOKS: I guess you might say the Sydney version of Avid
Reader is Gleebooks – however there are FIVE Sydney bookstores; they’ve
been four times Australian Bookseller of the Year: 1995, 1997, 1999 & 2000
and was the ABIA 2008 Australian Independent Bookseller of the Year. WOW!
Sydney-siders who haven’t yet ventured to any of their
stores on Glebe Pt Road, or at Dulwich Hill, may have seen them down the wharf
at the Sydney Writers’ Festival, which is always the site of the biggest buzz
each May.
Gleebooks is another browsers paradise and has a fabulous
‘Indigenous section’ and an enviable events program – there’s something on
nearly every night. I’ve launched a number of my books there also, and been
part of NAIDOC readings at their upstairs venue. Another shout out to the store
who are also staunch supporters of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation! (The pic at the top of the page is from my Manhattan Dreaming launch in March of 2010 - one of my best nights ever!)
PAPERCHAIN:
Manuka in Canberra is not only home to fabulous restaurants and some groovy
fashion outlets, but also the wonderful Paperchain Bookstore, which I love so much I wrote into my novel Paris Dreaming. You simply can’t
have a book set in our nation’s capital without mentioning this hub of literary
culture. (Pic above is of staff member Lynda at the launch of Paris Dreaming in 2011).
Why not LIKE Paperchain on Facebook here!
READINGS: In
Melbourne, Readings are fabularse! There are six locations
and I must admit I haven’t been to them all. But seeing as you’re twisting my
arm and asking for a favourite, I’d have to say the Carlton shop. I do like the
latest addition at the State Library of Victoria, and would happily stack
shelves there if a job ever comes up (hint! Hint!).
PAGES & PAGES:
My final shout out today goes to Jon Page and staff at Pages & Pages in Mosman, where I recently enjoyed an
entertaining morning as part of National Bookshop Day (August 11). Pages &
Pages appeared to be another of those ‘community venues’ with locals dropping
in to say hello, buy books and have a yarn. That’s me above with the lovely
Catriona Rowntree (who bought Paris Dreaming for her mum) and locals Pam and
Lucy (who bought Manhattan Dreaming). Another reason I love bookshops is I get
to meet my readers, and new readers, what fun!
Pages & Pages is also a staunch supporter of the
Indigenous Literacy Foundation, so we love them for that also!
Show some love to your own favourite bookseller here, by
letting us know where you go and why?
3 comments:
Thank you Anita. A nice list and well timed :)
Agree with all of those, as well as the remarkable Shearers in Leichhardt, the delightful Oscar & Friends in Surry Hills and Double Bay, Better Read Than Dead in Newtown ... oh, the list goes on!
Hi Jenn - glad you appreciate! :)
Richard - oh yes, the list continues across suburbs, cites and states. Thanks for your additions, which I wholeheartedly second! :) Peace, Anita
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