First off, I would be remiss to not mention the world renowned booktown in Wales: Hay-On-Wye. It’s an entire town filled with book shops (so my dream), and book festivals (obsessed), as well as music and art and pretty much everything you could ask for in a town. While I’m excited to explore the entire town, I’m mostly excited to visit the Hay Cinema Bookshop, Green Ink Booksellers, and Bookshop 451.
Hay Cinema Bookshop is a secondhand, remainder, and bargain bookshop made from a redundant cinema. They also have the world’s largest open-air bookshop in front of the cinema and a large range of books, and while I’m not in a position to own rare books—I sure can look at them. The only thing I take as seriously as reading is my love of movies and cinema. I’m so excited to see and feel the history seeped into these walls and books.
“‘You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.’ – James Baldwin”
This quote is at the center of Green Ink’s website, and I think it perfectly encapsulates the beauty of Green Ink Booksellers—to connect people, history, and humanity. My entire mentality when it comes to literature is exactly this idea, so I’m so excited to walk the light and welcoming halls of this second-hand bookshop.
Bookshop 451 is dedicated to Sci-Fi and Fantasy with a smattering of horror, all things I absolutely love. The idea of a whole shop dedicated to these genres is super appealing to me, and I can’t wait to see how it’s organized and what new titles I can pick up. And of course, the iconic connection to Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is peak.
Of course, I’ll be traveling all over Europe, so there are several other bookshops on my list, all over Europe.
Located right on the Seine, opposite Notre-Dame, Shakespeare and Company is a historic bookshop where you can read, write, and live in the history of French bookselling. One of the coolest parts about this bookshop is that artists, readers, and everyone in between can spend the night amongst the shelves. I’d love to experience this shop in its entirety. Especially as a writer, this shop is going to change my life.
Also in Paris, Ler Devagar has the atmosphere of a large bookstore, but the heart of a small shop. They are all about friends, readers, and responding to culture itself. It looks like an experience of a bookstore—from the books, to the art, to the exhibits. The importance of integrity towards books and the art of reading is something I’m looking forward to experiencing.
Of course, I can only take so many books to and from England, so I will definitely be finding a home away from home at the British Library. Their catalog is over 170 million items (aka more books than I can even dream about), and has a warm and cozy atmosphere. Furthermore, the priority on culture, history, and beauty is exactly why I’m going to Europe.
I’m so excited for this trip, and the more I research these bookstores, the more I’m excited about all the potential new reads, the beautiful atmospheres, and life-changing experiences. And don’t worry, y’all, there will definitely be another post about all the great books I’ll read over there.
Hayley Bigelow, Pine Reads Review Writer