The moment I stepped into the doors of Toppings & Co in Bath, I realized I had as much chance of buying just one book as … well, of running a marathon.

The walls are lined floor to ceiling with bookshelves, and the bookshelves are stacked with books. A person could spend days there and still find new treasures. Or years:

@katarinabivald Imagine what it's like working here, it's difficult not to spend all our pay on books!

— Topping & Company (@ToppingsBath) March 2, 2015

And I hadn’t even seen their Arts room then.

Their recommendation: A Double Sorrow.

Bonus buys: