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So for my spring vacation I headed off to Europe, specifically the U.K. and Poland, for some family matters however, while I’m so used to going there, this time I looked out for book related stuff. Because you know..book! <3
So near my little house by Manchester Airport, is a Waterstone’s in Wilmslow which is so adorable and very modern!
I love visiting Waterstone’s and seeing all of the absolutely beautiful books, wonderfully organized displays, and it’s all so perfect there. Of course, I do love bookstores that are cluttered and smaller as well as they ave a more home-like feel, however Waterstone’s is very European and it’s know for being so precise.
Additionally, England has this store called John Lewis. It’s kind of like a Lord and Taylor in America or an up-market clothing store, however they also sell things from furniture to cups, wallpaper and more! One thing they sell is this beautiful mug. It says “HURRAY! TIME FOR HOT CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOWS AND A GOOD BOOK.” You can purchase it here. I’m hoping to get it soon as it’s really big and so perfect!
And what’s better than after shopping at Marks and Spencer (another clothing place) than going for tea and coffee and other yummy treats?
Finally, when in Poland I stayed at the Hotel Na Polboru, which is a beautiful hotel outside of Sieradz, Poland. I do recommend checking it out if you ever are in that area. the food is fantastic. They also have this bookcase there, which I am assuming, you can borrow books from to go and read. Either way, it was a nice focal point.
Also, there was a small bookstore in a shopping mall that had a nice selection of books. It was quite interesting to see all of your favorite book covers in other languages!
And finally, my small home in the U.K. has a room stuffed with books which is always so much fun to go and pursue through. I always seem to find something new. My goal next time I’m there is to go through them all! And also reorganize as it’s a little messy xD
Overall, while there are many similarities between book shops in the U.S. and around the world, there are subtle changes that make each countries book niche unique.
When I head off to Japan this summer, I’m going to be stopping by one of the most famous book shops in Japan (which is just around the corner from where I will be staying), so that will be such an experience. I’ll also be trying to find other shops that sell books and hope to, over time, see many book places around the world and see how ever shop is unique.
(Question of the day) QOTD: What’s the most interesting book place you have visited, and why?
I really need that hot chocolate mug!
Edinburgh has always been my favorite bookish city. I’m pretty sure that there’s a statistic out there saying that it has the highest ratio of bookshops to people: my kind of town! I lived there for about a year and really miss all those bookstores. It’s got such a rich literary history too!
It has been too long since I was in a really interesting bookish place. There are too many of those generic book shops around. However, one of my favorite places is the Metropolitan Museum of Art ‘s room of illustrated manuscripts. Beautiful and uplifting they are such detailed reminders of how lightly we take books today and the supreme effort that occurred in times past to create these. Well worth the visit, but I think I need to go to Edinburgh!