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Post by ohthehorror on Jun 21, 2015 20:34:39 GMT
Being a Brit living in rural Ireland I tend not to get to many really good second-hand bookshops very often, so I thought I'd ask the 'Intelligentsia' here what your favourite/must-see/not-to-be-missed second hand bookshops are, specifically in London since whenever I'm back home I'm only a 40 minute train ride from there, and also because I've noticed a couple of you mention shops around London that you've picked stuff up in.
Since it's likely to be Christmas time before I'm over there again, there's no great rush on this but it would be extremely handy for me have a little list of London's finest at hand for future reference.
Thanks in advance.
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Post by mattofthespurs on Jun 22, 2015 7:45:15 GMT
I used to love Murder inc but now it's gone. Don't really go into London anymore. Most of my purchases are over the internet. When, on the rare occasion, I do go into the big smoke I generally stick to Charing Cross or go when they have one of those paperback fairs.
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Post by dem bones on Jun 22, 2015 8:16:40 GMT
Sadly, this thread just serves as a reminder of all the great hangouts we've lost in recent years - Type, the annual pulp & paperback fair, Fantasy Centre, the notorious Lovejoys sleaze emporium .... What's left? Not much that I'm aware of. Book Bargains on Charing X Road and it's immediate neighbours Quinto & Francis Edwards have served pulphack & self well. The Notting Hill Comics & Book Exchange was good, but haven't been for a few years (presume its still going?). Otherwise it's hitting every charity shop you come across on off-chance you'll find anything remotely of interest. I visit Sclater Street off Brick Lane most Sundays, but wouldn't advise that anybody travel any great distance to do so. Some weeks the-back-of-the-van-man arrives book-handed and there's some great stuff to be had, others it will be all DVD's, or posters, or whatever else he's laid his hands on.
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Post by pulphack on Jun 22, 2015 11:58:48 GMT
I have to concur with Dem on this - Charing X Rd is well worth a visit still for those three, but it's slim pickings compared with even a decade ago. Also, it's not really paperback territory, with the basement of Any Amount/Bargain (I hate they have a signage name and an on-line AKA) being great for old stuff in hardback if you want more than horror/fantasy (it's light on this).
As it goes, I haven't been to Notting Hill for a few years either - are any of those Exchange shops still there, or has on-line trading killed them? The music ones at Berwick St market and Greenwich are still operative, so I would assume so, but check first when you come over.
The Oxfam bookshop in Marylebone High St is one of the best Oxfam bookshops I've come across, and might be worth a detour if you're in Central London. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'm an on-line buyer now - even charity shops can be dispiriting after a while.
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Post by ohthehorror on Jun 22, 2015 13:11:09 GMT
Ah, fair enough. I asked this same question on one of the Irish forums before my Dublin trip and got much the same reply here too. I did venture into Colchester last time I was over with the intention of visiting the Castle bookshop which was apparently very well regarded, only to find it had turned into a 'Sound and Vision Centre' a year previously so I resorted to the charity shops on that occasion too, of which there are a surprising quantity in Colchester it has to be said. I must have found a dozen of them. Trouble with charity shops though, is that they tend to prioritise the newer or more popular books which I'd simply be able to walk into any new bookshop and buy anyway.
I shall take note of your suggestions anyway. Much appreciated. Thanks chaps.
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Jun 22, 2015 14:34:40 GMT
Ah, fair enough. I asked this same question on one of the Irish forums before my Dublin trip and got much the same reply here too. I did venture into Colchester last time I was over with the intention of visiting the Castle bookshop which was apparently very well regarded, only to find it had turned into a 'Sound and Vision Centre' a year previously so I resorted to the charity shops on that occasion too, of which there are a surprising quantity in Colchester it has to be said. I must have found a dozen of them. Trouble with charity shops though, is that they tend to prioritise the newer or more popular books which I'd simply be able to walk into any new bookshop and buy anyway. I shall take note of your suggestions anyway. Much appreciated. Thanks chaps. Somewhere on here I outlined the fall of the Dublin bookshop - going down from about thirty when I was fist over in the 1990's to one on my last trip. Very sad.
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Post by dem bones on Jun 22, 2015 16:37:05 GMT
It would probably be for the best if you ask again nearer your visit, mr horror, as much can change in six months and sadly, where second hand bookshops are concerned, it's rarely for the better. As pulphack says, even Charing X Road is a pale shadow of its former glories.
Am hopeful of fitting in at least a few excursions to pastures new-ish between now and December so will add to thread should any interesting outlets pop up along the way.
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Post by ohthehorror on Jun 22, 2015 16:57:27 GMT
Thanks Craig, I shall take a look at that when I get more time. Thanks.
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Post by ohthehorror on Jun 22, 2015 17:01:29 GMT
It would probably be for the best if you ask again nearer your visit, mr horror, as much can change in six months and sadly, where second hand bookshops are concerned, it's rarely for the better. As pulphack says, even Charing X Road is a pale shadow of its former glories. Am hopeful of fitting in at least a few excursions to pastures new-ish between now and December so will add to thread should any interesting outlets pop up along the way. Yes, you're undoubtedly right, and thanks for that, I appreciate the help.
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Post by mattofthespurs on Jun 24, 2015 8:02:31 GMT
Has anyone visited a large second hand book shop just around the corner from Putney Bridge underground station. You come out of the station and stay left and it's just around the corner.
It's a bit out of my way and the only time I have seen it is when Spurs have played Fulham at Craven Cottage and it's always closed then.
Looks great from the outside. It's called Hurlingham Books.
A quick google and it's in Ranelagh Gardens.
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Post by ohthehorror on Jun 24, 2015 10:09:17 GMT
Ah, fair enough. I asked this same question on one of the Irish forums before my Dublin trip and got much the same reply here too. I did venture into Colchester last time I was over with the intention of visiting the Castle bookshop which was apparently very well regarded, only to find it had turned into a 'Sound and Vision Centre' a year previously so I resorted to the charity shops on that occasion too, of which there are a surprising quantity in Colchester it has to be said. I must have found a dozen of them. Trouble with charity shops though, is that they tend to prioritise the newer or more popular books which I'd simply be able to walk into any new bookshop and buy anyway. I shall take note of your suggestions anyway. Much appreciated. Thanks chaps. Somewhere on here I outlined the fall of the Dublin bookshop - going down from about thirty when I was fist over in the 1990's to one on my last trip. Very sad.I hunted for this last night but I'm afraid I've been defeated. Can't seem to find it.
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Post by dem bones on Jun 24, 2015 14:05:47 GMT
I hunted for this last night but I'm afraid I've been defeated. Can't seem to find it. I think it might have been this thread, although Craig may also have commented about the same situation elsewhere on the board. Why libraries ... etc
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Post by ripper on Jun 24, 2015 17:38:56 GMT
Apart from W.H. Smith's, there are no bookshops around here, whether selling new or used books. There are some charity shops that sell books, but it is almost always the usual suspects that they have on display, and there is usually nothing of interest to me. I miss those remainder shops that you used to see dotted around. I've picked up some bargains from them, but, alas, they are now long gone.
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Post by ohthehorror on Jun 24, 2015 17:56:45 GMT
I hunted for this last night but I'm afraid I've been defeated. Can't seem to find it. I think it might have been this thread, although Craig may also have commented about the same situation elsewhere on the board. Why libraries ... etc
Thanks dem. Very funny thread, sad too, but funny.
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Post by dem bones on Jun 25, 2015 8:54:49 GMT
A related item, concerning charity shop policy. Not to be read when you're feeling down as it won't make you feel any better .... Live from the charity shopMatt, thanks for tip. Rarely stray out that far , but will check out Hurlingham Books should the opportunity arise. Have now learned that Two Jays in Edgware, a real fixture of the scene going back to the 'seventies, closed two years ago ....
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