On Friday I went with the school Librarian to Cottage Bookshop in Penn, High Wycombe to see if we could get some useful books for the library (mainly to re-stock missing titles we have in some series). It sells second hand and antiquarian books from an 18th century cottage (tres cute, but a little chilly!) and will buys books from you for a small amount if they think they'll be useful. They only accept good copies - no stained, peeling pages here - and from the minute you walk in you can't see from one end of the shop to the other. There's books piled right up to the ceiling on shelves that tower over you and create little mazes for you to become totally lost in.
(PICTURES TAKEN FROM THEIR WEBSITE)
There is, however, method to this madness. It's organised roughly by genre - the rest is up to you. If you ask them if they have a certain book, it may be a case of "yes of course, I'll go and get it" or, more likely, 'Um, if you wait here I will go and see". You almost feel like you should be attached by a rope to the front door so you can make your way out again. Kendal mint cake, head torch and all the rest. But it's so fun in there! You don't know what you'll find, and most of the books are so cheap! We bought about thirty-ish books for about sixty-ish quid. £60 would buy you, maybe, six or seven books anywhere else. If you aren't put off by masses and masses of titles and the notion of emerging several hours later blinking in the sunlight then it's the place for you too.
(PICTURES TAKEN FROM THEIR WEBSITE)
Then, on the Saturday, JJ and I visited London. I wanted to visit Hatchards. Founded in 1797 it claims to be London's oldest bookshop, and some say the oldest bookshop in the UK. Sadly, I think it's owned by Waterstones now - I have nothing against Waterstones at all, but it seemed a little sad that it was no longer independent.
Taken by yours truly. (On my phone so the quality is not brilliant!)
Hatchards was totally different to The Cottage Bookshop in every sense of the word. Organised, with helpful, very pretty floor descriptions so you knew exactly which books were on each floor. There were lots of signed copies (including Maddadam by Margaret Atwood- something I really wanted to buy, but have already asked my parents for for Christmas!) and a specific Folio collection.
Sweet, pretty, expensive books...
In terms of selection and quality, of course it was going to be fabulous. Especially good to buy presents for book lovers - as you're sure to find a nice copy, perhaps signed, to buy for someone. Staff were helpful and the store was beautiful - still keeping a lot of the old features, with lots of sofa's to rest on. Well worth a visit if you're in the area.
My personal favourite has to be The Cottage Bookshop - I'm not sure if it's my bank account talking (you can't go wrong with £2 for a book) - or if it's the 'Alice' in me. It's like a bookish wonderland in there. Well worth escaping to for an afternoon and I can't wait to go back!
The Cottage Bookshop is open from Tues to Sat: 10am - 1pm and 2.15pm - 5pm.
| http://www.cottagebookshop.co.uk/ It's address is: Elm Road, Penn, High Wycombe, HP10 8LB | |
| and the telephone number is: 01494 812 632 Hatchards is open Mon-Sat 9:00am-19:00pm and Sun 12:00pm-18:00pm http://www.hatchards.co.uk/ It's address is 187 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LE and the telephone number is 020 7439 9921 |
Over and out.
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