Yesterday I popped down to London for a few hours to meet up with two fellow bloggers, Karen from Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings and Jacqui from Jacqui wine’s Journal. I took the slow train from Birmingham New Street, arriving in London about quarter past twelve. Karen had taken the opportunity to visit an exhibition at Tate Modern in the morning, which you can read about on her blog. We had chosen to meet at Foyles on Charing Cross Road, but as it was lunchtime, we decided to have lunch and a chat before the book shopping commenced. I have met Karen a few times but despite ‘knowing’ Jacqui online for years, it was the first time we had met in person. For me it was an instant meeting of minds, it was so lovely to be able to talk in person, and so we enjoyed a nice relaxed lunch at Pret before heading back to Foyles to start our shopping. Jacqui gave me my first book of the day; Normal People by Sally Rooney, which I think looks very good.
I took the chance to snap the 84 Charing Cross Road plaque – and it inspired one of my book choices.
In Foyles using a gift voucher I had been saving I bought:
The Slaves of Solitude by Patrick Hamilton, since reading Craven House, I have wanted to read more by Hamilton. This seems to be the one every Hamilton fan recommends.
Human Voices by Penelope Fitzgerald – It is too long since I read any Penelope Fitzgerald and I have heard such good things about this one.
The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff, I love Helene Hanff but there are still a couple of books by her I haven’t read. I have meant to read this one for years.
We took a short taxi ride to Judd books which is one of those small second hand book shops with bookcases to the ceiling, every bit of space crammed with books. An Aladdin’s cave indeed. Here we were joined by a friend of Karen’s, naturally she fitted in well with three bloggers shopping for books.
In Judd books I bought:
Reality, Reality by Jackie Kay – I have meant to read more by her since reading her memoir Red Dust Road. This is a collection of stories.
What’s For Dinner by James Schuyler – I was attracted by the nyrb label on the spine – I hadn’t heard of the book. A glance at the blurb and at the contents told me I wanted it.
We took a short walk from Judd books down to Skoob books – another shop wonderfully crammed from floor to ceiling. I was looking for those elusive green spines, most of those spotted I had already. We met a lovely American lady who had just moved over here. She overheard our excited book chatter – and wanted to connect with us online, it was lovely to meet another book enthusiast.
In Skoob books I bought:
Anna Apparent by Nina Bawden – regular readers will know how much I love Bawden – it feels like a while since I read anything by her.
The Way things are by E. M Delafield – I really haven’t read enough by Delafield and I’m really looking forward to this one.
The Optimists Daughter by Eudora Welty. I got off to a bad start with Welty a few years ago – having to give up on Losing Battles – wrong time perhaps. Last year I read Delta Wedding and loved it.
A quick cuppa in a nearby Costa and I headed back to Euston for my train home. I was able to read a few of the short stories in my current read on the train down and up, The Richer, The Poorer a lovely new edition of stories and reminiscences from Dorothy West, sent to me by Virago, I am enjoying it immensely.
So, it was a lovely day, so glad I have finally met Jacqui in person, and exciting to browse the kinds of bookshops we don’t have in Birmingham, which considering the size of the city is a constant moan of mine.
I am really very pleased with the lovely books I bought this time. I know I already have a silly number waiting to be read – but what’s a few more between friends? My only problem now, is wanting to read them all immediately.
[…] (You can read Ali’s post about our day here!) […]
It was such a good day, wasn’t it? So lovely to see you again, and also to meet Jacqui for the first time. I think we all did very well on the book front. And as you say, the only problem is wanting to read them all simultaneously – decisions, decisions! 😀
I spent ages this morning looking through all my new books. I was so shattered last night I just took them out of the bag and took a quick photo.
Thanks Ali. I now have some lovely new books to check out on Audible. I agree with you about the dearth of bookshops in Birmingham.
It’s such a shame, I know so many people in this city who would love more bookshops.
Sounds lovely! I was so upset when Skoob got rid of their green VMC section and distributed them amongst the shelves – I keep hoping they’ll change their minds! I hope you enjoy The Optimists Daughter as much as I did – I thought it was a great read.
Yes, the others were saying that there used to be a dedicated section for vmcs. No longer unfortunately. Glad to hear you enjoyed The Optimists Daughter.
What a lovely day out. Books, friends and lunch: what more could you want?!
Absolutely, the best kind of day.
Delafield was one of my mother’s favourite authors but I haven’t thought about her for such a long time. Thank you for reminding me about her. And I envy you having The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street to read for the first time. I do wish Hanff has written more.
I’m so looking forward to The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street. I can’t think why I haven’t read it before.
What fun! There’s nothing like getting together with bookish friends. I’m so happy you found The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street as it is one of my favorite Hanff titles (and a quick read). I also really liked The Slaves of Solitude and Human Voices and The Way Things Are. A lovely selection of books. I’ll be in London later this month and will also be book shopping. Grier
Oh excellent, I’m glad to hear you enjoyed The Slaves of Solitude, The Way Things Are, and Human Voices. I really hope you enjoy your visit to London.
What a lovely day it sounds! And what a brilliant pile of books. The Hamilton and Welty have appeared on my end-of-year favourites before, and I bought that Schuyler a few years ago after reading Alfred and Guinevere by him. I am also in London, and went to Second Shelf and a little secondhand bookshop near Marylebone.
It was a lovely day. Looking forward to hearing about your trip to The Second Shelf.
What a marvelous day you had. And such great book finds. I wish I could have been there.
Aww you would have been among friends. It was a lovely day.
Hopefully some day . . .
Ah, this is such a lovely, lovely post. A very fitting summary of a wonderful day – lunch, bookish chat and plenty of book shopping – what could possibly be better than that? It was such a pleasure to finally meet you both in person – as you say, a definite meeting of minds. It was just like catching up with a couple of longstanding friends, all nattering about our favourite publishers and authors and lots more besides.
I do hope you enjoy your books, you’ve got some real beauties there! I feel very envious of you coming the The Slaves of Solitude for the first time. It really is a brilliant book, so perfectly observed – I ought to re-read it sometime, maybe with my book group. 🙂
Thanks Jacqui. It was a lovely day. It was definitely your enthusiasm for Hamilton that made me read him in the first place.
A lovely day – I’m so pleased, and some lovelies to come home with! I haven’t been to Judd Books so need to check that out next time I’m down.
Oh yes, you must. It’s a great little shop.
Envious! Both of the meeting and the books. Mind you, my son took me through a trawl of bookshops in Norwich today, so I’ve trained him well.
Ooh lovely, are there good bookshops in Norwich? I have only been there once, several years ago.
Thank you for being so friendly despite my shameless eavesdropping! Looking forward to reading your reviews of your purchases.
It was great to meet you. I’m so glad you spoke to us.
How nice to meet fellow bloggers IRL. Sounds like a perfect day.
Meeting up with fellow book enthusiasts is always fun.
Friends with similar and sympathetic interest, multiple bookstores and lovely book finds sounds like one of the best days ever. I just got that same Delafield and am looking forward to it, but the purchase was a boring Amazon order instead of a fun bookstore discovery.
I often have to buy things online, especially given the lack of second hand bookshops in Birmingham. Where would we be without online sellers?
What a lovely day you had. Not surprised that you were shattered today.
Yes, I’m glad to have had a lazy one today.
I’m very, very jealous.
I did well didn’t I? 😊
I have been to London only twice (from the U.S.) and last time I stopped at Persephone Books, which was like making a pilgrimage! Some day I would like to make a trip just for bookstore browsing. Enjoy your books! I loved The Duchess of Bloomsbury although I think Hanff would have been a bit intimidating in person.
Oh the Persephone shop is wonderful, I was last there in November. It always feels like a pilgrimage. I agree about Helene Hanff, definitely intimidating.
Gosh, actually meeting in real life! Sounds like a lovely day. I think I enjoyed The Duchess of Bloomsbury more (well at least just as much) as 84 Charing Cross Rd. I hope you love it too.
It was a lovely day. I am so looking forward to The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street that I might read it quite soon.
I very much enjoyed your day out in London. Enjoy your new books and look forward to hearing about them.🤠🐧
Ali, sounds like you had a wonderful day. It is such a good idea to meet up and book shop in London. Not living far from Birmingham myself, I also bemoan the lack of proper bookshops. Although I do like a trip to Lichfield as there are two good charity bookshops there.
It was a lovely day thank you. Lichfield is lovely, I remember the market there is quite good too (though perhaps not for books).
Yes, the market is a nice one – sometimes there is a book stall on it.