Calling Booklovers Everywhere

  "84, Charing Cross Road"....The very name stirs something in the breast of all bibliophiles, doesn't
it? This book was mentioned today on the Armchair Travelling list to which I belong, in the context of clearing out and discarding books (gasp). The very thought makes me feel faint, for as hard as I try, I find it
extraordinarily difficult to do a "book sort".

I often try to do this, and oh, my intentions are noble enough when I
sit down to carry out the task. But two hours later, and with a
pathetically small pile of books beside me that I can actually manage to
"let go", I usually admit defeat, and I am afraid that all the other
books go back onto the already bulging shelves. No wonder we have both
moved house and bought the house next door mostly to accommodate our
growing collections of books!

And it doesn't stop me buying more. Oh, no - they are usually the main
things I return home with wherever I travel. There is no nicer time
spent than that looking around, and sometimes positively excavating, a
cosy, untidy, coal fire heated, musky scented bookshop on a winter's
afternoon. (How DOES one describe, exactly, the glorious smell of old,
leather bound books?).

There are not many of those types of old bookshops left now - so it is
with pleasure that I share with you these photographs and text, taken
from a book in my possession - "The London Bookshop", printed in 1977, but now difficult to find.
Here is Mr. Marks himself...and the enticing interior of "Marks & Co. - 84, Charing Cross Road -
Established in 1904".

Finally, the sad epitaph for this most beloved of all emporia to a whole
generation of book lovers......

Comments

[Britt-Arnhild]

I posted a comment earlier, but it seems to have disappeared into nowhere. I love your 84 Charing Cross Road post Roz. from another book lover :-)

[Britt-Arnhild]

Call from a fellow booklover :-) What a great blog Roz. I haven't written a "booktalk from Norway" in a long time, but you inspired me to write one tonight.

[endment]

Really appreciate the Marks & Co. post and pictures.

Thanks for sharing.

[Terri]

Roz, I remember the book and the movie. I like to walk into a book store, big or small, and just stand there to listen to the books. I always feel like I am getting a big hug or a cheery hello from them. Almost like something out of Harry Potter or Mary Poppins.

Terri

[Nancy]

A great post Roz. I love bookstores too. We had an old one here that closed a few years back. The building is gone now and I'm always sad when I go by there.

Now as for eliminating books (or anything else). The ONLY way I can do that is to do it a little at a time. And do it regularly.

[daphne sayed]

Roz what a wonderful blog. Every year I read 84.It's wonderful. I love the smell of old bookshops and I've noticed that when I enter my house a smell of books greets one.Like you I sort pathetically. Then those I'm not reselling I take to Oxfam and most times buy something there so come home with more books.Hopeless.

[Steve Maggs]

You may care to visit 84 Charing Cross Road - Revisited at http://www.84charingcrossroad.co.uk

The site attempts to chronicle the history of Marks & Co and was launched in March 2003.