This is dedicated to the (bookshop) I love. The Albion Beatnik.

OK
so today my heart goes out, wrapped in brown paper and scented with coffee to the bookshop I love, which more people should love too. I am sure there are already quite a lot of people who love this bookshop- but I need more people. Armies of book lovers, pilgrims...dedicated to the independent's of our here and now.

The Albion Beatnik is a bookshop I adore. Not only because I work there...oh no! This is a mere, slight detail.  It sings to you...

you walk in the door, and are greeted by a number of incredibly beautiful staff (yes, myself thoroughly included...I will *always* try and help you find what you are looking for. I might try and flirt with you. I might not always find what you are looking for, but hopefully you will leave with something else, or failing that-my number and/or a smile).

Then there are the BOOKS, of which there are many- uniquely categorised, and especially fine Jazz and poetry sections.  A trifling trove of rare, hard to find beauties, a second hand section so full of bargains you might have to bring a wheelbarrow,  and of course all the usual suspects- a weighty travel section, philosophy/anthropology, American and European sections, popular contemporary fiction and my personal favourite- the 1900's and UP section...

I KNOW this sounds like an ad. Maybe it is. I suppose I am trying to sell this to you.  But hear this...

I've lived in Oxford for a while now (ok, six/seven years or so) and have seen independent after independent fall like dominoes. First to bring a tear to my eye was Thorntons on Broad Street...God know's how long that had been there, but you could not help but get beautifully lost and sold over to forgetting the clock whilst there-creeping staircases and romance in every step.

Then the rest...one in Jericho, one recently on High Street, empty innards-all swept out, suddenly.

A brave and passionate man set up the Albion Beatnik. He did it because he loves books, he loves music, he loves the independent seller-the unique, the brilliant.

I cannot stand the thought of all this courage and vision going to waste...along with the rest, too easily turned into yet another deli, or god FORBID, another mobile phone retailer. YUK and gross and it breaks my heart.

Go and buy some books! FUCK Amazon. At long last Borders has burned...so go and do a great bookshop a favour Oxford people - USE IT, even abuse it if you have to- bring your sandwiches to go with your cafetiere* get crumbs everywhere, get that copy of 'A to B and back again' oiled and eggy...as long as you buy it (and you really should- it's proper good like)...

*Yes-we serve fresh coffee and loose tea in teapots...and you get to pick your own cup!)

Yeah.

Come on.

Come in.

Buy a book. Support your independents and make a girl and a man with loopy hair smile?


LOVE
L dog.

The Albion Beatnik Bookshop/ Bookstore
34 A Walton Street,
Oxford
OX2 6AA

01865 511345

(Lovely little blog about our shop)

http://beedrunken.blogspot.com/2009/06/oxford-bookstore-fantasies.html 

JOIN the Albion Beatnik on Facebook to keep up to date with all upcoming events and news:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=128240240400&v=info