While I should be writing

I felt slightly apprehensive, when we entered the posh part of Chelsea. After all, what kind of bookshop could they possibly have? ‘They’ of course being the faceless mass of the rich.

Well, they have John Sandoe.

It is charming, friendly, and stacked with books. One of those shops that need sliding bookshelves to be able to store them all; and beautiful bookshelves they were too. There was even a desk up there among them. I felt very strongly that this would be an excellent place to write a book in. John Sandoe – if you’re reading this, think about it. It would be perfect! Your very own inhouse writer – sort of like a library cat, although perhaps not quite as cute. I could even try to look serious and literary when customer walked buy, or earn my keep by rearranging your bookshelves, carrying piles of books around, asking anyone who passes by if the need any help. And no matter how bad my writing is going, I promise never to harrass the customers looking for advice.

I have already tried to convince them about this on Twitter, and I think I had some success:

@katarinabivald @LandRBookshop We’ve had actors learning lines here before

— John Sandoe (Books) (@JohnSandoe) February 18, 2015

That was unfortunately the last I heard from them, but I’m sure they’re thinking about it as we speak.

Their book recommendation? Maxim Leo’s Red Love – The Story of an East German Family

I had a bad feeling about Slightly Foxed from the moment I looked at their window and noticed a sign that said Second -hand Book sale 50% off.

This will never end well, I thought, but it turned out that I could, and did, stick to the one-book-rule. And a bag, but I never have been able to resist Mr Darcy.

“I’ve seen that one as a play!” is at least slightly better than having seen a book as a movie. The Master and Marguerite was Nomad books recommendation for me, and it happens to be the favorite book of a friend om mine. My friend doesn’t really share my all-consuming passion for books. He reads some, when commuting, perhaps, and some non-fiction, but it is always a struggle to recommend books to him. I always try, of course. With people like that, who doesn’t read much, I always feel a sort of admiration for their favorite books; like they have succeeded where I’ve failed.

Louise also loved the small, hand-written signs recommending different books, and I immediately bought a bonus-book with one in it. “See, they worked on you”, she said delighted, and I didn’t really have the heart to tell her that when it comes to books, anything works on me.

Love the little hand written recommendations @nomadbooks – worked a treat on @katarinabivald @ChattoBooks pic.twitter.com/4tKLxY0Klv

— Louise Court (@louisecc) February 18, 2015