Love Bookshops
The theme of our programme launch party this year was ‘love bookshops’. In a year when we’ve been hearing quite a lot in the press about bookshops closing, it seems only appropriate to celebrate the many brilliant bookshops which are still resolutely open. And in West Port we’re very lucky to have so many.
We’d also like to extend a warm West Port welcome to a new bookshop on Bread Street, Pulp Fiction, purveyor of exciting genre fiction. Pulp Fiction opens tomorrow. Wohoo!
Here are a few of the reasons we came up with at the launch about why we love bookshops
‘I love bookshops because they allow me to dream.’
‘I love bookshops because they mark the civilised part of town.’
‘I love bookshops because they’re libraries… for keeps!’
‘I love bookshops because I met Hannah in one.’ [Ah, thanks Andrew. I met my husband in Shakespeare & Co., a second-hand bookshop in Paris. HA.]
‘I love bookshops because I love 'em honey, I love 'em.’
‘I love bookshops because they’re great places to pick up girls. Call me.’ [number on application]
‘I love bookshops because I love smelling old books.’
‘I love bookshops because they feel like home.’
‘I love bookshops because books are the insides of people’s heads and bookshops are like the butcher shops of ideation.’
‘I love bookshops because they are like airport lounges for books. But in a good way.’
We also asked people to tweet about why they loved bookshops using the #lovebookshops hashtag. Here are a few of the gems people came up with
chrisdonia Chris Scott:
I #lovebookshops because you meet all sorts of fascinating people in them, and bond over things like @neilhimself and @doctorow writings.
JohnGlenday John Glenday:
@anonpoetry #lovebookshops Discovering all those books you never realised you needed to buy. @wpbookfestival
MrsSandwiches Katie Lee:
Stepping into a book shop is the foreplay to stepping into a book. You’re tickling the nipples of escape. #lovebookshops
alastaircook Alastair Cook:
As a child, my dad dragged me to all manner of bookshops. Mantra: “You can choose one book.” It is now my mantra to my son. #lovebookshops
davepoems Dave Coates:
Bookshop full of drunks / it could almost be Paris / but for shite weather #lovebookshops @wpbookfestival
LizzieN1 Lizzie N:
@ @anonpoetry Love the slow dance of those who browse, unchallenged specialists for just a beat in time #lovebookshops
Why not let us know why you love bookshops…
#lovebookshops
Posted by Hannah on September 28, 2011.