Any second hand bookshop addicts here?

Any second hand bookshop addicts here?

Author
Discussion

Flip Martian

Original Poster:

19,674 posts

190 months

Friday 20th October 2017
quotequote all
Perseverant said:
We're in the throes of moving house for the first time in 34 years, so are getting rid of quite a few books as well as packing up lots. I'd forgotten how heavy masses of books can be. Thankfully the new crib is plenty big enough for books so I look forward to indulging in secondhand books again to make the numbers up again. I got into the habit as a kid over 50 years ago and had "Biggles" and "William" stories which I picked up for pennies, not to mention some old comic annuals. I was saddened to discover after leaving home that my mother gave the lot to a church sale! Both my wife and I read a lot and as English teachers could have the excuse that it was all for work when in-laws muttered about the "library". Both retired now so have plenty of time to read! (Not to mention me fixing cars and so on as the new house has a garage, though not as good as the one I've got.)
My Mum did likewise with some of mine - or they got recycled to my younger siblings after I left home. I did find a few things in the loft though, after she passed. I think my hoarding of books was for plenty to read when I have the time. But although I took redundancy this year and might not actually be well enough to work again, it has also meant I can't actually ready for long periods at the moment which is a bit ironic, really...

Flip Martian

Original Poster:

19,674 posts

190 months

Friday 20th October 2017
quotequote all
Gary29 said:
We visited a delightful little place in Callander in Scotland, was enchanting, little old lady sitting in there with a cat asleep on her lap, floor to ceiling second hand books, she even fell asleep as we were browsing and my good lady had to gently wake her to buy what she'd picked.

Can't remember the name of the place but it's on the high street and easy to spot, lovely!
That sounds a cool little place. Perhaps King's Bookshop listed here:
http://www.inprint.co.uk/thebookguide/shops/county...

Perseverant

439 posts

111 months

Saturday 21st October 2017
quotequote all
The shop in Callander sounds intriguing. Some of the shops I was remembering had books in a box outside -Kendal and Ambleside are two places- and an honesty box for money.

Flip Martian

Original Poster:

19,674 posts

190 months

Saturday 21st October 2017
quotequote all
Perseverant said:
The shop in Callander sounds intriguing. Some of the shops I was remembering had books in a box outside -Kendal and Ambleside are two places- and an honesty box for money.
There's one spot under the castle in Hay on Wye which is all open stalls and an honesty box. A bit open to the elements though. Fine if you like your paperbacks damp and curled...

p1doc

3,117 posts

184 months

Monday 23rd October 2017
quotequote all
my local shop better read books in ellon had scifi/fantasy sale over weekend with local artists inc my oldest daughter-got bizarre mix of books novelization of zardoz mythago wood to name a couple and think there is local book fair in Aberdeen this coming weekend

p1doc

3,117 posts

184 months

Tuesday 7th November 2017
quotequote all
had a very enjoyable afternoon in Edinburgh at armchair books Edinburgh books cabaret and peter bell books-only 1 bag of books bought though lol

Justin Case

2,195 posts

134 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
This is off the beaten track, although not all that far from Ludlow:

http://www.aardvark-books.com/aardvark-books-good-...

Not only a good selection of new and secondhand books, including children's books, but it is also the only bookshop I know of that holds English Civil War re-enactments. :O

If you are interested in transport books, most preserved railways and transport museums have a decent bookshop, the Severn Valley Railway one at Kidderminster Station is one of the best. I pick up far too many at Aldridge Transport Museum where I am a volunteer, but I am exposed to temptation rather too much smile

Eyersey1234

2,898 posts

79 months

Thursday 23rd November 2017
quotequote all
Book shops are one of the few shops I could spend all day in mooching round.

Flip Martian

Original Poster:

19,674 posts

190 months

Friday 24th November 2017
quotequote all
Same here...

Aardvark - seem to have them on my google map saved but not been close enough yet to call in. Sounds an interesting place.

Derek Smith

45,659 posts

248 months

Friday 24th November 2017
quotequote all
I found a couple of books that I was looking for in Kims Bookshop in Arundel. It is always worth a browse. One massive point in its favour is that the books are arranged in type. Those who run it know the value of books, as one would assume, so there are few bargains.

We have a s/h bookshop in Burgess Hill run by the Rotary Club and that has a steady turnover. It's like a library as a number of the books are bought and then reappear on the shelves a while later. As people die, I assume, the NoK take books to the shop and whole collections are spontaneously available. A real treat.

I moved a few years ago and gained a large loft which has easy access. After Xmas I'm erecting shelves, supposedly to 'tidy up the loft' but I've realised that I'll be able to store so many more up there as there will be no complaints.


Flip Martian

Original Poster:

19,674 posts

190 months

Friday 24th November 2017
quotequote all
Nice idea, that. Although I like having the books around the house and visible. Does give you an excuse to disappear into the loft regularly though!

Eyersey1234

2,898 posts

79 months

Friday 29th December 2017
quotequote all
Flip Martian said:
I can't seem to pass a charity shop without going in to check out their bookshelves, even if its just a couple of shelves. Point me at a second hand bookshop and I'll happily be there for ages, just leafing through old volumes (and invariably buying a few). Sometimes I think acquiring these books is more important than reading them; my "not yet read" pile gets ever higher.

Is it just me?
No it's not just you I'm the same, whereas Mrs Eyersey1234 and SD can spend hours going round clothes shops or Boots etc looking at make up I'm much happier in a book shop

Eyersey1234

2,898 posts

79 months

Friday 29th December 2017
quotequote all
Has anyone mentioned Barters Books in the old railway station at Alnwick? Excellent shop with lots of stock and good service

Flip Martian

Original Poster:

19,674 posts

190 months

Saturday 30th December 2017
quotequote all
Certainly heard of that. Not got up to that part of the world yet so still to visit. Its on my list though.

Perseverant

439 posts

111 months

Friday 26th January 2018
quotequote all
Great fun to read all this. After our move which I mentioned in an earlier post we've fallen into bad habits again, my wife buying on line and me in Edinburgh. Need to keep unpacking and sort out bookshelves though!