Wherever I go I like to track down a bookshop. Not a Waterstone or a Smith but a secondhand bookshop. Much though I love new books wandering into a shop where they have the latest paperbacks and three for two offers is pretty boring. Why? Because you know what you are going to get and there are no surprises. With tatty, crowded, tiny little haunts there is always the chance you will find a treasure, not in monetary terms (the bookseller will already have spotted those), but a treasure that you have even seeking for some time.
Years ago before Persephone started to publish Dorothy Whipple and thank goodness they have done the lot, I was in a junk shop in Penzance. And boy was it junk! I honed in on a smalll bookcase in the corner crammed with books that were really falling apart. And in the corner I found a book called The Priory by an author I had never heard of, Dorothy Whipple, opened it up, read the first page and bought it – for the princely sum of 5p. Though I now have the Persephone edition on my shelves it is cheek by jowl with that 5p edition.
So before going to Norfolk for a week I did my research. I visited two National Trust properties, Blickling and Felbrigg. Both wonderful places to visit and I have featured them here on Random. As well as the usual NT gift shop and tea rooms many of their properties now boast a book shop. Some better than others. When I visited Greenway earlier this year I checked their shop out. Not madly impressed. The usual paperback stuff you can find in any charity shop the length and breadth of the UK (Shades of Grey anyone?). Felbrigg was the same.
Blickling had a more interesting collection, and more room, which makes a difference. Loads of wall to wall fantasy, crime, chick lit which did not interest me, but the music and biography section was excellent, also the history. I came away with a few titles including this Elizabeth Von Arnim. I have this in a battered old Virago edition but could not resist this one
Two bookshops in Cromer were visited – Much Binding and Bookworms
Much Binding has been the one I have enjoyed visiting most this Norfolk week. Cramped and confined, heaps of books all over the place, the proprietor squeezed into a corner behind an ancient till (all second hand bookshops have such tills) and the chance of finding something interesting. I came across these.
I have read a couple of titles by Frances Beeding an author of whom I knew nothing, last year after I had read Martin Edwards wonderful Classic Crime in 100 books which is my bible.
I enjoyed them very much but not many are in print so was delighted to spot this one – and I love the cover.
Then a Bellairs. I know this author well now having discovered him a couple of years ago and since then the British Library have reprinted some of this titles. Loads more are available for your Kindle as well which is wonderful. I actually brought the new BL title with me so it was serendipity to find this one too.
And then a Miss Silver book which I did not know and which I have just finished and thoroughly enjoyed.
And the best thing about discoveries of this kind are the covers. Aren’t they wonderful?
We also visited a bookshop in Sheringham where, quite frankly, Health and Safety would have a field day. I have never been in such a cramped, rickety and dangerous place like this – ever. You could not see half the books for the boxes in front of the shelves. In order to check out a shelf I was interested in I had to shift a couple of these boxes which were very heavy and then split showering the books all over the floor where they landed on top of another heap which had obviously been there for some time. I came away with a pile of fantastic 1960 style paperbacks of historical writers I used to read when I was a teenager. More of them in another blog.
Half the shelves had collapsed and were on the slant with books teetering on the edge. There were steps you could use but very difficult to do so as there was not enough room on the floor to open them properly. Shelves up to the ceiling and above doors holding books which were mouldering and falling apart and had clearly been there years. The shop is in a tiny terraced house in a residential street and is totally inadequate for its use. After fifteen minutes when I was sneezing and spluttering and suffering from claustrophobia I had to get out. I dread to think what would happen if there was a fire.
I doubt if I will visit again. I am sure there are gems to be unearthed but unearthed is the right word.
I went to Norfolk with loads to read on my Kindle and also four physical books. I came back with eighteen though most of these, once read, will be passed on to the charity shop of the local book fair for later in the year.
I know Ratty said “there is nothing like messing about in boats”. Substitute bookshop for boats and I think he has it about right.
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