Weird and wonderful bookshops

[Courtenay]

A lot of it is just repeated laments about how bad and unfunny the books are and how atrocious it is that the publishers, just because their parent company owns Enid's trademarks, can get away with putting her signature on books she didn't write!!

[Boatbuilder]

It doesn't seem right to me, it almost looks as though they and the author are committing fraud by selling books that people might believe, on looking at the covers in bookshops, are actually written by Enid Blyton.

[Courtenay]

There have actually been cases (at least one is discussed in the thread) where unsuspecting adults have bought them for children, thinking they were real Enid Blyton books, only to be shocked when they realise the truth...

[Boatbuilder]

I think that reinforces what I have said then, Courtenay.

[Courtenay]

Yes. Mind you, the "adult" FF books don't seem to be nearly as prominent now as they were a year or two ago — back then they seemed to be on display just about everywhere that sold books or gifts, but now I don't see them nearly as often. I suspect they've run their course and the novelty has worn off and a lot of people who bought them initially will have realised they aren't very good.

[Daisy]

Let us hope so! I agree they do not seem to be "everywhere" as they were last year.

[Courtenay]

I was just reading this article from the BBC and thought this thread might be a place to put it, as I"m sure others here will enjoy reading it too: The booming trade in second-hand books

Here's an excerpt, with a remarkable little story from Australia...

There are no official statistics for the size of the second-hand book market. But a survey by Statista found that in both the UK and the US more than half of us are choosing to buy more books second-hand than we buy new.

And Patrik Oqvist from World of Books, the UK's largest second-hand book retailer, estimates the market is growing by 8-10% a year.

"There's no stigma to buying second-hand now," says Mr Oqvist. "We take them to the beach and spill coffee on them, but they don't stop working because of that." Then there's the lower price, and the fact that you're recycling.

But there's also the chance of finding something unique. World of Books had a call last year from a grandmother in Australia who had ordered an annual that she remembered owning as a child, full of quizzes, mazes and puzzles. When it arrived, she found it was her own original copy, complete with the inscription from her parents to her.

[Anita Bensoussane]

Love the story of the grandmother and the annual. Her face must have been a picture when she opened it!

[Lucky Star]

A great story. I have several times imagined the same thing happening to me but of course it never has. I bet that lady was glad she decided to purchase that book.

[Courtenay]

Yes, I thought that was just remarkable too. I've bought a number of second hand books with inscriptions in them (and often wondered what happened to the original owner), but I think I still own all or most of my own books with inscriptions for me, precisely because they were gifts and I couldn't bear to part with them. Amazing to hear of one that came full circle!

[floragord]

I'm delighted to hear independent bookshops are on the rise again after some years in the doldrums, just setting out to visit one in Cardigan which was sold by raffle last year, it'll be interesting to see what changes are afoot.

[Boatbuilder]

That's obviously the one which is now in the hands of the Dutch and Icelandic men as reported earlier in this topic, Floragord.

[floragord]

Absolutely, Boatbuilder, we hadn't visited Cardigan since they took over and were interested to see how things had changed. They have instituted open evenings which sound nice, and I liked the new sign in the shop which says I AM A READER NOT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A LIFE, BUT BECAUSE I CHOOSE TO HAVE MANY! They're thinking of creating a small coffee area to sip whilst you browse, which sounds lovely - meanwhile there's an attractive café in the old castle which is always special to visit.

[Courtenay]

I liked the new sign in the shop which says I AM A READER NOT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A LIFE, BUT BECAUSE I CHOOSE TO HAVE MANY!

Brilliant! A cafe sounds like a great idea too.

I'm planning a short trip to Wales at the end of this month, incidentally — can only fit in a couple of full days there and I mainly want to have a quiet time enjoying the atmosphere (I'll be in a lovely country area in southern Monmouthshire), not driving about too much, but I may head up towards Hay-on-Wye, which I know is also famous for bookshops, if I have time. Ceredigion will have to wait for another trip, but I'll get there some day! Glad you're enjoying yourself over there, Floragord.

[floragord]

Cheers, we love it to bits here, Courtenay! Have a lovely break - I envy you Hay if its your first visit, do hope you get there - have a fabulous time and if you can tear yourself away from the bookshops recommend a lovely café called THE GRANARY, they have a fabulous log fire and its worth getting there early to bag a table close to it whilst you inspect your latest book acquisitions!