Tag Archives: book shops

Scriptum, Oxford

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Scriptum, Oxford

 

I was introduced to this little shop on the weekend, and I could have spent years in here. It’s an amazing treasure trove of wax seals, leather journals, quills and assorted oddities. If I could have bought the entire shop, I would have. They don’t really sell reading books, the only books on display were some very expensive folio editions (cheaper to become a devoted member of the Folio Society and purchase heavily for a time) but if I ever win the lottery I will be going back to stock up my desks. I can see me now writing in a leather-bound tome with gold engraving, writing in an elegant script with a peacock feather quill and rainbow coloured inks. The perfect place to act out your Romantic/Gothic/Medieval/Harry Potter fantasy.

I came away with some vintage look postcards showing animals on vintage maps. There were two of each so I will have one to frame and another to send to lucky recipients. I will have to go back soon though. I’m sure that come pay-day I can justify my new-found need for a magnifying glass, butterfly patterned sticky notes and a few pretty marbled notebooks. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the Oxford area, their website is http://www.scriptum.co.uk/

Christmas Book Haul

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I mentioned here that I had planned my Christmas book presents for the boyfriend and the family. They have arrived and look so lovely that I had to show someone.

The Book Haul

My favourite has to be Audrey Niffenegger’s graphic novel The Night Bookmobile. It is beautifully illustrated, as you can see in the strory below, and manages to capture her haunting, lovely style in only a few pages. I loved it, and if my sister doesn’t then I will have it instead!

Cover View

Interior View

Some reviewers on Amazon slated this book because it isn’t a novel. Ah, Amazon, home of the well crafted review… I’m not sure that I’d want to trust the recommendation of someone who sees the words “Graphic Novel” and expects a wordy tome like The Time Traveller’s Wife. That might just be and my prejudices, but I suspect not.

The Parliamentary Book Shop

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I was in Westminster for work the other day, and wasn’t quite sure where the street I needed to be on actually was. So I popped into The Parliamentary Book Shop for directions. I didn’t end up buying anything, but the man was very helpful and found me a map on his computer.

I’ve since found out the book shop is run by The House of Commons. So I may well be one of the few people who the government has actually assisted recently. How’s that for a sweeping statement?