Books / Gloucester Road Books
A day in the life of Gloucester Road Books
The shutter is raised, lights switched on and the door is opened. Customers start to wander in. A soon-to-be-three-year-old is after a book for her unicorn; what are all the unicorns reading these days? A couple of new parents buy a stash of books to augment the bedtime routine of their four-month-old and try to avoid eye contact with the numerous tempting books they’d like for themselves.
Someone asks for the new Kevin Barry, which Joe absolutely loved. A customer asks for recommendations for their next book club meeting – nothing too long, please, I’ve left it quite late!
The day’s delivery arrives. We unpack and shelve everything. Our rep from a supplier rings to ask Tom whether the delivery issues we had been experiencing are still ongoing (somewhat). Someone strides into the shop laden with well-loved books she’s collected from neighbours to donate to the Children’s Book Project, a charity organisation that passes on books to those who don’t have them.
is needed now More than ever
Gloucester Road Books owner Tom Robinson
All three booksellers discuss options for next month’s Fiction Subscription title. Leah has just finished a book she absolutely adores. She’s very persuasive – an order is placed, and we’re able to secure copies of the beautiful indie exclusive edition for our subscribers. Someone buys a copy of Kairos, the winner of this year’s Booker International Prize. We read it for our translated literature book club last week; it’s an intense experience.
We look at re-ordering books sold thus far throughout the day. Some will be back and others will not – making space for some of the hundreds of thousands of new books published each year. Eventually book sales slow down for the day and it’s time to set up for our event in the evening.
Bookshop interior
Folding chairs are brought up from the basement along with bottles of wine and glasses. Writer, and friend of the shop, Lily Dunn arrives (she’s doing the interviewing for us this evening) followed shortly by Noreen Masud who will be discussing her memoir A Flat Place. It’s a book we’ve been excited about since we first received a proof copy from the publisher a couple of years ago, so this event has been a long time coming and we’re all looking forward to it. The audience gradually arrives, Tom introduces the speakers and the talk begins. Noreen and Lily are insightful, generous and fascinating.
Afterwards the audience asks some questions and then Noreen signs books and there is a general milling around and chatting. We always enjoy this moment post-talk, there’s a shared sense of having been present for something significant. There’s still an energy in the air but everyone is relaxed now too. It’s a lovely way to end an evening.
Authors Noreen Masud and Lily Dunn
For more information about Gloucester Road Books and an updated literary events calendar, visit www.gloucesterroadbooks.com.
All photos: Gloucester Road Books
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