tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post7125254162575674602..comments2023-10-22T14:27:21.241+01:00Comments on From the Desk of Bee Drunken: Oxford: Bookstore fantasiesBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375981493145612394noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-77455605144136334942009-09-09T19:32:30.732+01:002009-09-09T19:32:30.732+01:00Hey, I've come to this 3 months out of date, s...Hey, I've come to this 3 months out of date, so no one's reading, but I just wanted to say what an amzing place The Albion Beatnik is. I wrote a paean to it in my lastest blog, and it's the ONLY bookstore in Oxford I've asked to stock my new book, I love it so much in there. They're even throwing an evening reading with wine (I'm providing music). It's a place where authors, writers, and people who love culture in general (especially - as I rather awkwardly phrased it in my book - "acoustic jazz covers of Kraftwerk") can get together and get excited about books.<br /><br />Dan Holloway (Songs from the Other Side of the Wall)<br />www.danholloway.wordpress.comAgnieszkas Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07831763071877082489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-25095302550469404412009-06-14T04:02:41.341+01:002009-06-14T04:02:41.341+01:00I love love bookstores. I never go downtown withou...I love love bookstores. I never go downtown without hitting Logos or Bookshop, and usually both!<br /><br />But I have the sneaking suspicion the ones in England have all these extra neat treasures tucked in cubbyholes, that we mere colonials have failed to either produce or squirrel away.dogimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01278980067086209626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-31635309686634960292009-06-12T10:31:53.375+01:002009-06-12T10:31:53.375+01:00Dave - Perhaps the economy IS looking up? (this i...Dave - Perhaps the economy IS looking up? (this is a new venture)<br /><br />Tessa - I'm glad you are back!<br /><br />Lucy - I use Amazon, too; especially for out-of-print things. But it doesn't compare to the pleasure of finding something that you didn't know that you wanted!Beehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02375981493145612394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-56226368035601224582009-06-12T10:23:53.731+01:002009-06-12T10:23:53.731+01:00It is something I miss; I look longingly at nice b...It is something I miss; I look longingly at nice bookshops here, but I know there's little point in buying many French books, they take me too long to read, aren't as much fun for me, and the writing goes the wrong way on the spine. <br /><br />For people like us, Amazon and other online sources are a boon, but I do hope they don't destroy the small bookshops. And you simply can't browse on-line in the same way, which is why the recommendations, especially reviews like yours, are even more important.<br /><br />I love that painting. Everyone else seems to know it, but I don't...Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09764296105901909328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-90175999473116987162009-06-11T21:25:31.787+01:002009-06-11T21:25:31.787+01:00Long may they all continue - and they will if we s...Long may they all continue - and they will if we support them.Tessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05233122532137654099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-86153552235447687002009-06-11T16:38:03.740+01:002009-06-11T16:38:03.740+01:00Of course you needed four new books. Nice to know ...Of course you needed four new books. Nice to know that Oxford still has book shops.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-17923146730116604952009-06-11T14:03:50.115+01:002009-06-11T14:03:50.115+01:00Thanks, everyone, for meeting visiting me while I ...Thanks, everyone, for meeting visiting me while I was off in Devon. By the way, fellow book-lovers, if you are in Devon this summer make sure you check out The Harbour Bookshop in Kingsbridge. They had an excellent selection (albeit not quite so eclectic and literary as Albion Beatnik's) AND beautiful cards from local artists. Cards are another weakness of mine, also mentioned here . . .<br /><br />Nimble - Oh, definitely fall or spring for Oxford -- with September and May being the absolute ideal. I guess that the tourists come in the summer, but I've never been overly aware of them.Beehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02375981493145612394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-71776155697955888422009-06-10T18:46:40.870+01:002009-06-10T18:46:40.870+01:00I'm all for independent book stores as well. T...I'm all for independent book stores as well. The owners hand on it ensures a distinct identity. <br /><br />What a lovely train landscape. <br /><br />Hope there'll be pictures shot through the train window to share.Anil Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02422187314611747278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-16029479869189426422009-06-10T17:58:19.734+01:002009-06-10T17:58:19.734+01:00Wow, what a wonderful bookshop, Bee! Jazz books, t...Wow, what a wonderful bookshop, Bee! Jazz books, the Beats and Bloomsbury too. I'm currently reading the new Frances Partridge biog (excellent) so I must get myself down the map a bit and then left for a look. Thanks for the word on Albion Beatnik.<br /><br />I remember train compartments like the one in the Ravillious pic (which, coincidentally, I have tucked into the corner of a picture frame above where I'm typing now.)Dickhttp://patteran.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-37256048691616371662009-06-10T14:24:14.459+01:002009-06-10T14:24:14.459+01:00One of my most enjoyable blog meet ups took place ...One of my most enjoyable blog meet ups took place at Kramerbooks and Afterwords. CDP and I could have spent hours and hours looking through the titles.<br /><br />Now that I've scaled back blogging to allow more time for book reading, I'm going to watch for your reviews.lisahgoldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11158660223296807317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-77203723321529574562009-06-10T11:34:48.077+01:002009-06-10T11:34:48.077+01:00I also want to run a little independent book store...I also want to run a little independent book store one day. One that would also sell coffee, of course. <br /><br />Your book recommendations look interesting. <br /><br />I'll have to look this bookshop up next time I'm in Oxford.Pollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10085905065734027788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-79463752104550704922009-06-10T07:54:28.341+01:002009-06-10T07:54:28.341+01:00I could spend days in a bookstore like that. Hope ...I could spend days in a bookstore like that. Hope your train ride went well.Barriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04678698296265168217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-31789170710598430762009-06-09T17:50:25.940+01:002009-06-09T17:50:25.940+01:00After a youth wasted reading English novels, Oxfor...After a youth wasted reading English novels, Oxford looms large in my imagination. How do you like the city? Is it too touristy? Better in summer or fall? Sigh.Nimblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16426446791363667887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-34692191584853578902009-06-09T15:54:56.575+01:002009-06-09T15:54:56.575+01:00Independent bookstores are the shining jewels in t...Independent bookstores are the shining jewels in the world of brick and mortar bookstores. It's where you find the unusual, rather than the run of the mill. It's like independent film vs. big Hollywood. Diversity flourishes.Stacy Nyikoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07830844058919457619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-85685441796636800872009-06-09T00:40:17.407+01:002009-06-09T00:40:17.407+01:00I love that bookshop, it's fairly new and I al...I love that bookshop, it's fairly new and I always worry that it's not going to last in this economy, so I obviously have to buy something every time I'm in the neighbourhood, which is pretty much every day! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04371082850268120153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-14521564425928189662009-06-09T00:09:07.604+01:002009-06-09T00:09:07.604+01:00I hope you live to see your fantasy come true. Our...I hope you live to see your fantasy come true. Our local independent bookstore, Kramerbooks, is just like what you describe: no trash, not too many books, and yet the books that they do offer are the best. Their buyers are excellent.<br /><br />Enjoy your train ride! Happy reading.Reya Mellickerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13076092659507965666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-8455516798394423612009-06-08T21:55:02.050+01:002009-06-08T21:55:02.050+01:00Ahh old book stores are brilliant places to lose m...Ahh old book stores are brilliant places to lose money on books you think you've always wanted to embody. I like to go find a hidden lost shelf and pick a book off of there thinking I've found something long forgotten. But that is probably what everybody does huh?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14309385609809902693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-66753843829686410762009-06-08T21:31:11.692+01:002009-06-08T21:31:11.692+01:00i love independent bookstores too..prairie lights ...i love independent bookstores too..prairie lights in iowa city is a fave, as is the seminary co-op bookstores in hyde park (chicago). sigh. you make me want to go there now...<br /><br />must look for that balkan trilogy book...just bought <i>pride and prejudice and zombies</i> this evening in oslo. probably not really going to fulfill my jane austen...julochkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10884096685015570257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-30887842384879314972009-06-08T20:59:25.651+01:002009-06-08T20:59:25.651+01:00Thanks for mentioning this interesting looking boo...Thanks for mentioning this interesting looking bookshop. I'll look for it next time I'm in Oxford. The city has lost quite a few of its good book places. I still regret the loss of Thorntons (secondhand) in Broad St which is now -yes, you guessed - a tourist shopJenny Woolfhttp://www.jabberwock.co.uk/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-76735650348915915742009-06-08T19:35:37.556+01:002009-06-08T19:35:37.556+01:00Bee hey books are great, but you know with the blo...Bee hey books are great, but you know with the blogging and 1 year old, reading is nearly impossible. I think I been reading DaVinci Code for a year now, lol. But you are right it is a pleasure and fun to browse bookstores. Anna :)myonlyphotohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07324578791902437827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-31271540156955823822009-06-08T18:36:10.529+01:002009-06-08T18:36:10.529+01:00I love the name and concept. I don't recall s...I love the name and concept. I don't recall seeing this bookstore when I was living in Oxford. Is it new? I was happy just with Blackwell's but this one looks fun and quirky. I could see you owning a bookshop like this one day. <br /><br />Have a lovely time in Devon. I hope the weather improves.Sarah Laurencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00423008641739156182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-35628731563182337442009-06-08T17:38:07.988+01:002009-06-08T17:38:07.988+01:00How lucky you are to have those bookstores! Enjoy ...How lucky you are to have those bookstores! Enjoy your trip. Isn't train travel wonderful? <br />I'm enjoying 'Strapless' very much. Thanks, Bee.<br />Catherineceeceehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15962254736526651858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-12189199961548631432009-06-08T15:37:55.648+01:002009-06-08T15:37:55.648+01:00Hooray independent bookstores! And hooray train ri...Hooray independent bookstores! And hooray train rides through the country! There's a distinct lack of very good independent bookstores in this area. We have one, and it's good, but not great. I should explore SF more in this area. I know of a very good French bookstore, but that's it--and after at least ten years, I'm not even sure if it's still there. <br /><br />I hope you enjoy your train trip to Devon, and the company of your friends! I do miss the convenience of day trips by train, and the fun of taking a journey by train with friendly companions.Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07338782102030629262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-47379765469795007252009-06-08T14:56:54.182+01:002009-06-08T14:56:54.182+01:00The bookshop sounds really interesting, the kind o...The bookshop sounds really interesting, the kind of place one could get lost in for hours. Enjoy your train journey:)Bronwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14567013362478256267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-484915268092812945.post-37195831639544099132009-06-08T13:29:42.147+01:002009-06-08T13:29:42.147+01:00Maybe I could work at your bookshop and chat to th...Maybe I could work at your bookshop and chat to the customers?<br />Excellent resume:<br />Blackwell's Antiquarian Bookshop: 1968<br />Harrods Bookshop: 1969<br />Liberty's Bookshop: 1970<br />some specialist art bookshop in St.James whose name I do not recall 1972........<br />skills somewhat rusty but could be polished.....<br />Enjoy Devon.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03964291132366262298noreply@blogger.com