Saturday 27th October is New Zealand Bookshop Day. Hurrah for the bookshop! There will be events, great deals on books and competitions too.
Events
Scorpio Books
What: Author talks and readings, as well as an evening literary quiz.
Author talk with Dr Simon Pollard at 10.30am (Simon is a spider biologist and award-winning author of The Genius of Bugs). Free event, activity sheets provided.
The Great Scorpio Lit Quiz at 6.30pm ($80 per table, bookings required).
When: Check Scorpio's events page
Scorpio Books will also be running a campaign to encourage customers who make a purchase on NZ Bookshop Day to nominate a Christchurch school of their choice. Nominated schools will receive a copy of Aotearoa, Gavin Bishop’s multiple-award-winning, richly illustrated visual history of New Zealand. Scorpio Books will be donating 15% of their sales on the day towards this campaign. All nominated schools will also go in the draw to win a prize pack of New Zealand children’s books, specially selected by Scorpio staff. With support from RDU98.5FM.
Piccadilly Books
What: Childrens Book Reading
When: Saturday 27 October, 11am to 11.30am, 2pm to 2.30pm
All about NZ Bookshop Day
- Like NZ Bookshop Day on Facebook.
- Follow BooksellersNZ on Twitter.
- Follow the hashtag #NZBookshopDay
Now I love working in a library. For just under forty hours a week I am surrounded by books: what more could a bibliophile want? Books have existed in one form or another since the advent of the written word. These were the days of the clay tablet, in the 3000's BC. And we have them in abundance (books, not clay tablets).
A History of the Book in 100 Books
So it follows that I also have a tender spot for the old bookshop. For whilst I relish bringing books home from the library, there are some that I don't much want to take back. The library may frown upon me keeping their books indefinitely, but if I've really fallen for one, I simply must own my own copy. I put this down to nostalgia, wanting to show off to house guests how well read I am and financial impulsivity...I'm woman so naturally when that magical word 'SALE' pops up out comes the credit card. That week when Scorpio Books upped sticks and had their big moving sale was a good week for me and my bookshelf.
Thankfully we do have plenty of exceptional, local, well established bookshops here in Christchurch. They come in all sorts. Old, modern, cosy, expansive, dusty, sterile...
There are the chain bookshops (seem more like gift shops to me), the independent and specialist bookshops, and of course the beloved secondhand bookshops where you can find all manner of out-of-print, sentimental gems. I still cherish my older editions of Enid Blyton's Famous Five; I get a lot more enjoyment from seeing them on my bookshelf than if they were sparkling and new (or, god forbid, those treacherous 21st Century-ified editions). Oh, and there's the online bookshop too. A bottomless pit where a person like me can inexplicably lose hours of life.
Aside: There was one aforementioned chain bookshop I did very much enjoy spending time in - Borders - but we know how that turned out. I could spend hours in Borders with my dad, perusing the ancient history/mythology section. Alas.
Mythology offering: witty Stephen Fry's latest, Mythos
Canterbury Bookshops
Here are a few of the local Canterbury bookshops - new and secondhand - where you might just find your inner peace, and something to add to your permanent collection.
Local Christchurch Bookshops
- Scorpio Books - after residing on Riccarton Road for a while, plus a stint at the container mall, they have now settled at the BNZ Centre in the CBD. They are a friendly bunch, and if they don't have exactly what you're after then they seem happy enough to order it in. Scorpio Books is a place where I must always take my time. Great range!
- UBS - University of Canterbury Bookshop. Anyone can shop here! They have a good selection of books, at surprisingly palatable prices (excluding textbooks, eek). While you are there, be sure to visit one of the University libraries. They are trialing free membership to Canterbury residents until the end of the year (and hopefully beyond).
- Piccadilly Books - situated in Avonhead Mall, they have an impressive magazine selection and friendly staff.
- Christian Superstore - oh boy, I might need a good dousing in holy water before stepping here. They are a large bookshop with an expansive array of Christian material. They supply churches around the country and in the Cook Islands too.
Secondhand Bookshops That are Far From Second Rate
- Smith's Bookshop - Their old shop was destroyed in the earthquakes but they have a new permanent home in the Tannery (a very hip place where, by the way, you may also find some amazing pastries). They stock rare books; antiquarian books; secondhand books; new books; magazines and art supplies! My kind of place. Here you will find plenty of local content and first editions. Just you try not to sneeze.
- Dove Bookshop - in Bishopdale Mall, New Brighton Mall and Harewood Road. I have unearthed some nice pre-loved finds in here.
Chertsey Book Barn pic.twitter.com/SCuGPh4khZ
— Donna (@kebabette) April 26, 2018
- The Chertsey Bookbarn - it's a bookshop in a barn and it's in the middle of nowhere...well in Chertsey, just after the Rakaia River and right before you hit Ashburton. But you will not regret the petrol spent. Imagine: you arrive to find a dimly lit, relatively secluded barn. You step inside - tall shelves tower above, brimming with books- and as you move forward the narrow passage closes in and you find yourself amidst a veritable labyrinth...of books. Where was the exit again? You don't know and don't care. Are those footsteps you hear from behind? Is it a scene from a horror film? A dream?
My Pick of the Online Bookshops
- The Children's Bookshop - a smaller online bookstore with material aimed at children and young adults. There is also a handy learning resources section with books on foreign languages, te reo, language, vocabulary and maths.
- Mighty Ape - a NZ owned online bookshop operating out of their distribution centre in Auckland, with really fast shipping (same day shipping offered to most of the major cities).
- Bookhaven - another NZ online bookshop, selling used books. They do have a small shop in Wellington but most of their stock is contained in warehouses around the country.
- Abebooks - but you must be patient. Sourced from somewhat further afield, your order will likely be coming from the US or UK! Abebooks searches the catalogues of independent bookshops worldwide, to find great deals. I have often found exactly what I want on here, and at good prices too. They list both new and used titles, and some shops offer free shipping. In fact this is a great place to get textbooks from, just be somewhat organised about it and don't wait until the last minute.
- Book Depository - an international online bookshop, with free delivery and oftentimes great discounts.
And should all else fail, your local library could probably get a copy 😉
Digital Images
Here are some photographs of Christchurch bookshops gone by, for reminiscences.
These images are from Kete Christchurch, our online local history resource.
Books About Bookshops
Are there any Christchurch bookshops you love that I have missed? Any online book-shopping secrets you wish to divulge? Happy NZ Bookshop Day!
Read #nzbookshopday tweets.
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