A Bookish Trip to London
I just returned from our anniversary trip to London. We made a quick detour to Manchester to watch United play Chelsea in Old Trafford Stadium (yes, I have other obsessions too) but today I am sharing all the bookish joy I experienced.
The St. Pancras Christmas Tree
Many of you have seen this tree on the internet and I mentioned it in November’s newsletter. I loved seeing it in person, as it draws a continual stream of visitors. I sat on a bench and listen to one of the Penguin Audio segments for a bit and have now added that title to my TBR. I heard later that Rod Stewart played an impromptu concert near the tree the day after we visited so I was a bit sad to miss that, but I am forever thankful to see this tree.
Daunt Books
We visited the flagship Daunt Books in Marylebone. This beautiful bookstore is housed in a building with gorgeous architectural details. Even though the shop is narrow, it is three stories and has lots of nooks and crannies to explore. Daunt carries all types of books but is known for how it organizes its books. About two- thirds of the store is sorted by region and country regardless of the type of book. I bought one crime novel from the Austrialian section because those are typically hard to get in the US.
Public Libraries
We walked through the John Ryland’s Library in Manchester, an active research library housed in a remarkable neo-gothic building. Privately built and funded by Enriqueta Rylands in honor of her husband, it was opened in 1900 and is now part of the University of Manchester. It feels like a church for books. Entry is free, they have special displays on exhibit. We saw a fragment of the Gospel of John dated in the 2nd century AD. As well as being beautiful, the library is filled with students studying. I love that such an impressive building is filled with so much activity. Check out this article to read more.
We visited The British Library which is also stunning and totally different. The huge modern building has a stunning visual centerpiece - The Kings Library. Six-stories of glass and bronze dominate the entrance hall, reminding visitors at all times “it’s all about the books”. Note: The British Library experienced a cyber attack in late November that has impacted its web presence and digital catalog and halted the usability of the collection. This article explains the impact and implications of this attack.
Books and Art
Before traveling, I usually read something set in the location where I am going. I didn’t this time because I am familiar with London and I have read many books set in the city. But serendipity happened. I downloaded a book from my kindle for the plane ride called Thunderclap by bestselling author Laura Cumming. Did I remember what this book was about? No. But I jumped in knowing I had seen it recommended somewhere recently (but again, no idea where). Thunderclap is a memoir about Dutch painter Carel Fabritius, who was killed in the 1654 Delft Thunderclap before he could leave much of a legacy in the art world. But what he did leave behind is stunning. Cumming introduces the book by describing a painting that has captivated her for years on display at the National Gallery. The what? My favorite place in London that we never miss? So of course we had to go visit this painting, and all the wonderful Dutch art at the gallery.
He believed that all children could draw. Drawing was universal. We draw on walls, on the backs of our hands, on bus windows. We draw to pass the time, to catch the moment, to remind ourselves what we saw, felt or thought. We draw to see how life appears in two dimensions. We draw to show something to somebody else – here, this is what it looked like. We draw to make a map, send a message, show the police what we witnessed; to give each other something particular, something special, to say something that cannot otherwise be said. We all do it. And we do it from the first.
- from Thunderclap.
Fantasy on Display
While at the British Library we visited a special exhibit on Fantasy. Fantasy is a genre I can have trouble getting into. I am very literal and struggle with world-building, but this exhibit gave me a new appreciation for this genre. For as long as there have been stories, there has been myth and fantasy. This exhibit crossed stories, cultures, and milenia. It brought together many early manuscripts and original illustrations created by authors. It didn’t just focus on older books and manuscripts but also current books that we are reading right now. Both my husband and I loved this exhibit.
Fantasy uses weird environments and uncanny presences to unsettle, but also to raise questions. Worlds, gods and monsters sometimes remain mysterious, but often turn out to be disturbingly familiar.
General Bookish Observations
British love books about their land, wildlife, habitat and conservancy. This too has been a popular theme at Middleburg Books. And crime. So many crime novels.
Waterstones is the Barnes and Noble of the UK. Actually, Waterstones bought Barnes and Noble in 2019. These bookstores are large by European standards and there are many locations throughout London. It is a great place to see what titles are selling, what the UK covers look like, and to view current book trends.
The Shortlist of books nominated to be Book of the Year by Waterstones. Their shortlist definitely has some crossover with the biggest books of the year in the US (Fourth Wing, The Wager, Tom Lake, The Creative Act) but also a few I titles I am not familiar with. The Waterstones book of the year is Alice Winn’s debut In Memoriam, about two young men, their intimate friendship, and the secrets they kept during World War 1.
While riding the tube, I love to see what people are reading. Next to me a woman reads Richard Osman’s latest novel from The Thursday Murder Club series, while a young woman across from me is reading Much Ado About Nothing, and an old man reads Harry Potter in Spanish.
Thank you for going on this bookish tour of London. I plan to be back around the new year with a summary of some of my favorite books of 2023, as well as what I am planning for in my reading life in 2024. I love my time at Middleburg Books and am gaining so much insight into the type of books people are looking for. I love hand selling my favorite titles and picking up recommendations from customers.
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday and hope you have time to curl up on a couch with a great book.
How wonderful. Thanks for sharing!
This is a particularly delightful update. Thank you for sharing your photos and stories! (OMG, Daunt Books. Just the best.)