#BookstoreoftheWeek – X Marks the Bökship

Our #BookstoreoftheWeek is, in their own words, ‘like a bookshop, but not’, it’s X Marks the Bökship!

X Marks the Bökship is a bookshop and project space for independent publishers in London. Born and raised sharing a space with Donlon Books, X Marks the Bökship grew up and moved to Cambridge Heath Road from 2008 – 2014 before finding it’s current home at Matt’s Gallery in Mile End.

They specialise in works by indie publishers,works and projects by artists and designers, journals and discourse. They promote contemporary publishing activity through book launches, events and production resources that bring together individual practitioners to create a local publishing community. A treasure trove for the rare, the beautiful and the ‘I don’t know how I ever lived without this book’ book. All of which you can buy on their online shop.

The bookshop host I’VE NEVER READ HER, an amazing bookshop focusing on short fiction & essays by women, every second Wednesday of the month. Everybody welcome, just bring a bottle (or not) and your thoughts. This incredible club also host screenings and events around the texts that they read.

Interesting alternative bookshop, with a lot on offer. Give them a visit!

X Marks the Bökship

^ Matt’s Gallery

42 – 44 Copperfield Road
Mile End
London E3 4RR

https://twitter.com/MattsGallery

https://twitter.com/Bokship

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Bookstore of the Week – London Review Bookshop

This week we are celebrating a gem in the heart of London; the London Review Bookshop.

Nestled in Bloomsbury, a (Rosetta) stones throw from The British Museum it is a peaceful place for book lovers to meet, browse a multitude of titles and snack on delicious tea and cake. Oh, the cakes! When you visit make sure you leave time for a cup of tea and room for a slice of their Flourless Chocolate Cake.

This store may be but a baby by London standards, opening it’s doors in 2003, but it’s all the better for not fitting the Dickensian mould. London Review Bookshop was included in the Independent’s Ten Best Bookshops in the world for providing endless nourishment for London’s minds and waistlines. Founded by the magazine of the same name, the London Review Bookshop fills its two floors with fiction, non-fiction and rare edition books; a treasure trove for book lovers. The lovely staff can not be faulted and will help you find your way around characters, clothbounds, criticism and cake. The London Review Bookshop is your best bet for books that can’t be found elsewhere, their sections are comprehensive and crammed with diverse and interesting subjects and titles. It really is all about the books and you’ll feel like Belle from Beauty and the Beast as you can grab a stepladder to reach something wonderful from the top shelves. The café and bookshop atmosphere is great for studying, catching up on emails or writing the next great British novel. Although, if you write it in the London Review Bookshop, the next great British novel will be about carrot cake.

Whether they come for the books and stay for the cake, or come for the cake and stay for the books, the London Review Bookshop have built up a loyal customer base, who can tell you why it is more than worthy to be our #BookstoreoftheWeek much better than we can:

Now that you are convinced, take a look for yourself, find them at:

• 14 Bury Place, London, WC1A 2JL
• +44 (0) 20 7269 9030
• bookshop@londonreviewbookshop.co.uk

And on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

 

London Calling

Redecoration inspiration!

Let Ida Magntorn‘s Home Style By City inspire, whether she is simply inspiring interior dreams for that flat you WILL one day own, or helping you make something of the little space you do have.

Home Style By City captures the essence of five design-forward cities and showcases beautiful homes from each that reflect the local style. Part tour and part design resource Home Style By City is an electric collection that offers a refreshing perspective on five must visit cities and innovative design.

So how about injecting a little bit of classic London attitude to your life?

“The soul of London is eccentric, full of exaggeration and humor…A bit dreamlike, with mismatched proportions and clashes of style…The secret: there are no boundaries.”

(Pssst…If you can’t afford to redecorate, find the London buzz with Ida’s London Playlist!)

What’s your style? Mad-cap Alice In Wonderland London or maybe a New York City unfailing sense of simple style?

Images © Ida Magntorn 

Magma – #BookstoreoftheWeek

Oh happy day!!

It is time for Bookstore of the Week! Today we are taking a peek inside Magma.

This dynamic bookstore has three locations, two in London and one in Manchester (you lucky things.) We could be a little biased, but, we have a soft-spot for their Clerkenwell store… *pictures are from this location*

Magma is a story of two disheartened book lovers who wanted more than 3 for 2’s and floors upon floors of books. Although that is the dream for some, Marc and Montse wished for something more…Inspiring.

Something more…Vibrant.

Something more…Niche.

Something more…well, just MORE…

The small space they began with (they started their venture in Covent Garden back in 2000) forced them to be selective about their products & although they have expanded through their two other stores, and their range of titles along with it, their selectivity remains. Meaning Magma is a collection of handpicked books & gifts (and t-shirts!) that can’t help but enthuse. A haven for design savvy, Magma, is engaging and open. Plus, we love them because they love our books!

Magma, thank you for following your dream & for getting over the fight about Bjork *you’ve gotta read their biography to get that joke…http://www.magmabooks.com/content/service/biography.asp*We think you are champs. Three cheers for Magma!

Hip Hip, Hooray!

http://www.magmabooks.com/

Magma Clerkenwell
117-119 Clerkenwell Road
London EC1R 5BY
United Kingdom

T +44 (0)20 7242 9503

enquiries@magmabooks.com

London’s Most Iconic Indie Bookstore.

Is there a more iconic Indie bookstore in London than Foyles?

From humble beginnings in 1903 with two brothers re-selling their textbooks, the opening of their first premises in 1906 at 135 Charing Cross Road, the big move in 1929 to the present day & the exquisite new flagship store, Foyles has fulfilled our book needs for decades. Even amidst the dark years of Christina Foyle’s reign – ‘if Kafka had been a bookseller, Foyles would have been the result’ – the doors remained open. (Read more about the history of Foyles on their website.)

This bookstore mogul with it’s passionate, friendly staff who are full of advice and recommendations epitomizes everything we love about bookstores. Get lost in the shelves, discover something new. Fall in love with reading again.

Named UK Bookseller of the Year two years in a row (2012 & 2013) this Indie giant is this week’s Bookstore hero.

Foyles we hope your doors stay open for another 111 years!

Tales On Moon Lane.

Tales On Moon Lane may already be the winner of the Walker Children’s Independent of the Year and have been voted one of London’s Top Five Bookshops by timeoutlondon, but NOW it is A&CB’s bookstore of the week!

This incredible little shop in the heart of Herne Hill has window displays publishers fight over and events that knock the socks of authors, parents and, most importantly, kids!

Their website is a source of inspiration for parents with recommendations for all ages – from two year old’s to Teens. Our very own Michael Buckley’s Sisters Grimm Series has the privilege of being named in their essential reading list for 7 to 10 years.

This little space is PACKED with personality and we LOVE them. Go and take a look for yourself!

A South London Gem.

 

We, at A&CB headquarters, have been thinking, long and hard, about our favourite bookstores and have come to the conclusion we simply CANNOT pick just one.

To overcome this difficult, yet beautiful, conundrum we are going to spend the rest of the summer showing off our favourite bookstore of the week!

If you have a bookstore (or library!) that you love send us your suggestions, we are ALWAYS looking for a new book haven!

What is your pick this week I hear you cry! Well of course it is the WONDERFUL Ottie and the Bea. We LOVE this little treasure in South London for it’s charm, book clubs AND the fact it WON the ivy & Bean window display competition a few years ago.

Ottie and the Bea we SALUTE YOU!