FT readers choose their favourite bookshops

I’ve spent a whole lot of time at Strand Bookstore and would take out-of-town visitors there once they wished to purchase their favorite books in English, or once I would purchase books for kids as birthday and Christmas presents. They’ve some wonderful uncommon and first-edition books. 

— Neline Choose, through FT Books Café

John Sandoe, simply off the Kings Highway. Years in the past, wandering in earlier than a vacation on the lookout for one thing good to learn, they really useful “The Wilder Shores of Love”. I liked it and some months later, once I began relationship a lady who’s now my spouse, my enthusiasm for this e book was one of many first issues she famous about me. 

— James

Ike’s Books is tucked away in a peeling colonial bungalow, its rambling partitions graffitied by a long time of thinkers, writers and resistance fighters who’ve discovered shelter there for the reason that Seventies. I might have sworn I noticed Chris Hani’s and Coetzee’s signatures. So many fond (and cloudy!) recollections as a grad pupil of pinotage-fuelled late nights spent on the balcony debating sociology with a rotating solid of defrocked professors, radical poets, worldwide vagrants, ANC provocateurs and native “personalities”. Bibliophile proprietor Jo Rushby has succeeded in preserving its integrity, gonzo spirit and subversive edge towards the percentages, via all of the tumult going through the nation. Miss that place!

— Ibi5

A really modest-sized bookshop situated within the coronary heart of Kuala Lumpur, Tintabudi sells fastidiously curated books. Its rule of curation is easy: it solely sells titles that the proprietor himself would need to learn. However meaning a boggling selection and numerous number of works and authors (think about promoting the Catholic thinker Josef Pieper’s works to a Malay Muslim group and really have them offered off!) that are so distinctive given the demography of Malaysia. Am personally impacted by it because it has actually influenced the genres and sorts of books that I learn. Notable figures like Hamza Yusuf (probably the most influential Muslim within the West) and Anwar Ibrahim (Malaysia’s present Chief of Opposition) have been amongst those that have been right here.

— muhd_abdmajid

As its identify suggests, No Alibis shares an enormous assortment of crime fiction nevertheless it additionally has a superb basic fiction part, in addition to a properly curated poetry choice and works by native writers. I first visited the store once I returned to Belfast to look after my late father. I occurred to say in passing to the proprietor that I’d learn the Inspector Barlach mysteries by Dürrenmatt once I studied for a German A-level a few years beforehand. On my subsequent go to, I famous it was now in inventory so fortunately purchased it. My No Alibis purchases helped to maintain me sane throughout a troublesome time and I am wanting ahead to visiting once more put up lifting of Covid restrictions. 

— Scallions

Horizon Books is the downtown anchor of Traverse Metropolis, Michigan. The workers is pleasant and useful. They know their books and authors and clearly have learn and loved a lot of them. It has nice espresso and meals on the primary flooring, with loads of tables. It’s open from 7am to 11pm day by day — with espresso prepared at 7! The home windows within the again (the place I like to take a seat with my espresso) overlook the Boardman River and Grand Traverse Bay with its sailboats and paddleboarders. The homeowners, Ann Reynolds and Vic Herman, made Horizon what it’s right this moment via a long time of decided, public-minded work. I’m a retired professor, and, like many professors, have spent primarily years in quite a few bookstores and occasional outlets, and I fee this one one of the best.

— Mark Feldman

Nomad has been a function of this stretch of the Fulham Highway for many years. Initially a journey e book specialist, enabling guests to move themselves to far-flung and unique places with out leaving the consolation of one of many in-store armchairs. Many generations of kids within the space have been delighted by the kids’s nook the place they have been free to assist themselves to books previous and new. Nomad will need to have lit the flame of studying in 1000’s and is an absolute deal with for any e book lover. Critiques are handwritten by workers, no request is simply too unusual or troublesome. Their store has been decreased to half its unique dimension and I dwell in concern that at some point it can shrink away utterly courtesy of the ferocious onslaught of Amazon. Will probably be a tragic day if it comes.

— Sue Youngman

Saint George’s English Bookstore in Berlin has an unimaginable choice, together with plenty of educational titles, in addition to classics of fiction, “up to date” fiction and poetry. The workers may be very educated and approachable — they’re completely satisfied to order issues for you if they do not have what you are on the lookout for in inventory and it tends to reach in a short time. I used to be all the time impressed, too, that they’d the correct editions of every e book. Anglophone books are categorically of inferior high quality to their French or German counterparts. Regardless of this, Saint George’s all the time had the editions of a e book that almost all approximated the continental customary.

— okjoij

I normally purchase books at La Central del Raval, a ravishing bookshop arrange partly inside an previous church in one in every of Barcelona’s previous quarters. It’s very near the Athenaeum of Barcelona (Ateneu Barcelonès) of which I’m a member. Which means that typically I am going to the bookshop first after which I head to the Athenaeum library to learn peacefully. One of many issues I love to do in a bookshop is speaking with the individuals answerable for the gross sales within the totally different sections of the store, particularly those who have essays. Contact with actual individuals when shopping for a e book is of nice significance to me.

— Joan-Enric Torrent

Jazzhole bookshop on Lagos Island has a terrific combine of recent and second-hand books to learn and browse. Extra importantly it has a thriving café and hang- out area. You by no means know who you may meet: vacationers, teachers, visiting writers — the proprietor most of the time holding courtroom and being a part of the dialog. With night music gigs generally for good measure. My “go to” bookshop in sizzling and vibrant Lagos

— OllyUduks

David’s in Letchworth Backyard Metropolis. {That a} city of a mere 33,000 individuals — with no college and no large inflow of seasonal vacationers — can help an unbiased bookshop is startling. In reality, to have a thriving unbiased bookshop is nothing in need of a miracle. They do it by distinctive relationships with clients and the area people. By having a terrific vary of recent, second-hand and antiquarian books; and a terrific service to search out what you’re after if it’s not of their inventory. A café which pre-Covid was the place to satisfy and organize native occasions (and listen to writer talks). A music and movie retailer is a part of the identical bookshop, and there’s now a superb board video games part too.

— Hilary Kemp

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