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Book Towns
Book Towns: Forty Five Paradises of the Printed Word | Alex Johnson
29 posts | 9 read | 1 reading | 43 to read
The so-called Book Towns of the world are dedicated havens of literature, and the ultimate dream of book lovers everywhere. Book Towns takes readers on a richly illustrated tour of the 40 semi-officially recognized literary towns around the world and outlines the history and development of each community, and offers practical travel advice. Many Book Towns have emerged in areas of marked attraction, such as Urea in Spain or Fjaerland in Norway, where bookshops have been set up in buildings including former ferry waiting rooms and banks. While the UK has the best-known examples at Hay, Wigtown and Sedbergh, the book has a broad international appeal, featuring locations such as Jimbochu in Japan, College Street in Calcutta, and major unofficial book cities such as Buenos Aires.
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booklover3258
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Pickpick

Really cool photo of Mary Poppins!

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/wdZZyIIRISM

Enjoy!

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Jen2
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Pickpick

Beautiful photos!

89 likes6 stack adds
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LeahBergen
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I‘m still travelling and having SO much fun. This place was super-high on my “bucket list” (and it didn‘t disappoint!). ❤️❤️

vivastory Have fun! One day I will make the pilgrimage! 5y
Mitch Oh my goodness didn‘t know you was in Hay! Hope you‘ve had ice cream at Shepherds and cake at the Electric! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 5y
merelybookish Wow! Excited to hear about it! 5y
See All 22 Comments
Leftcoastzen On my bucket list!Have fun! 5y
underground_bks My husband and I have a savings account started for this trip! 5y
Cathythoughts Enjoy 😊 5y
JillR Were staying nearby next week and hoping to visit Hay if we have time 😊 5y
Tamra Book shopping! 👏🏾👏🏾 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
Kalalalatja Yay you! 5y
Ruthiella It‘s on my list too! Hopefully some day I‘ll make it over there!😀 5y
Hamlet I love that town! I saw it on a walking trip through Wales (& had to mail home a few boxes of books). 5y
rubyslippersreads You‘re going to need a bigger suitcase! 😂 5y
HardcoverHearts I want to go so badly!! 5y
batsy Oooh, so jealous! ❤️ Enjoy! 5y
ValerieAndBooks Jealous 😍! But you deserve this fun 💖! 5y
saresmoore Oh, I just got goosebumps! I‘m so happy for you! 5y
Suet624 So happy for you 5y
Amiable Oh, I‘m so excited for you! This is on my bucket list too! 5y
TrishB You‘re having a great trip 👍🏻 5y
britt_brooke Hope you‘re having the best time!! 5y
Mdargusch This is on my bucket list too! 5y
107 likes22 comments
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Mitch
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Bye bye Hay - it was great! I didn‘t get to see all the bookshops - which is great as it means a return trip is a must!

Leftcoastzen Dreaming of going there! 5y
Mitch @Leftcoastzen we‘ve had a fab weekend. Highly recommend it! 5y
squirrelbrain Just having a look if there‘s any nice campsites nearby.... I‘m sure my husband won‘t mind..! 😁 5y
Mitch @squirrelbrain you‘d need the van to carry your #bookhaul home! 🤣 5y
94 likes4 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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Thank you so much, @Avanders , for this unexpected and utterly perfect early birthday gift! I love the book —so many pretty bookish places— and the syrup is my favorite (yum!) 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜🥰

PS we didn‘t look at the cards initially and both @WanderingBookaneer and I thought the other had ordered from Amazon! (I didn‘t believe her when she denied it 😂😂😂)

Avanders Lol that‘s awesome 😆😆 And you‘re welcome and Happy Early Birthday! 🌺♥️🌺♥️ (edited) 5y
113 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Victoria_Clyne
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My book haul from Clunes Booktown. Only went for a day this year, it was a lovely day.

Suet624 So fun to have a stack of new books. 😊 6y
Victoria_Clyne I know @Suet624 And I don't do it very often but I always make the most of Booktown. 6y
20 likes2 comments
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Shadowfat
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Pickpick

This is a cute little book about cute little book towns. Most of the towns are a little off the beaten path but I'd be tempted to visit some of them 😎

28 likes2 stack adds
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neet_reads
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Book stall at the local shops was selling everything for $3 each! 😍

27 likes1 stack add
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Sarah83
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I think I found a book or two 💓😍😏

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Sarah83
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The weather won't be like in September, when I drive to my favourite book town in a couple of minutes, but I will enjoy it anyway. 😏 Is there any book a following Litten wants to have? I can have a look at the second hand bookshops. 💓💕🎉

julesG Don't forget to have a look at some German books. Julia @ju.ca.no is still looking for the Lemony Snicket books. 6y
julesG Enjoy! Hope the weather is better than it is here. 6y
Sarah83 @julesG don't think the weather will be better there... There is only one bookshop, which sells German books and it was closed the last two times, I visited the booktown. 😑 6y
See All 26 Comments
julesG Have fun anyway! 6y
Sarah83 @julesG thank you 😍 6y
Kalalalatja It is sweet of you to offer, but I have so many books at the moment, so I need to get through some of them first 😅 (edited) 6y
ephemeralwaltz How lovely! Have fun :) 6y
GatheringBooks so thoughtful and kind of you! enjoy book hunting!! 6y
cobwebmoth Hope you have a lovely day!🤗❤ 6y
IamIamIam Enjoy your day, Sarah!!! That looks like a perfect way to end the year!!! 🤗😘 6y
CrowCAH @Sarah83 well, you already know of my Pride and Prejudice quest, so any I don‘t already have would be great if you could pick up. But don‘t worry, if there are no new ones. The collection is growing, thanks to efforts of people like you!!! 6y
ju.ca.no @julesG thanks for thinking about me😘 6y
ju.ca.no Enjoy your day🤗🤗 6y
julesG @ju.ca.no 😘 6y
rubyslippersreads I can‘t think of anything, but have fun book hunting! 😊 6y
Sarah83 @ju.ca.no I found something for you. Even if it isn't the one I looked for. 😏 @julesG for you I also got some books. 😏 6y
Sarah83 @rubyslippersreads I found something for you. 💓 6y
julesG What?! I'm stunned! 😘 6y
ju.ca.no @Sarah83 ooh I‘m curious😍😍 6y
Sarah83 @julesG I told you, I will send you a 'Carepaket' after Christmas, so I must have bought books for you. 😉 @ju.ca.no just a little surprise. Is it ok, if I put it in the next envelope for our readalong? @rubyslippersreads 💕 6y
julesG 😘 6y
ju.ca.no @Sarah83 of course😍😘😘 6y
LeahBergen It looks like you had so much fun!! 😍😍 6y
Sarah83 @LeahBergen it was so wonderful 💕 6y
91 likes26 comments
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Sarah83
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.... And the other books

Sarah83 @vivastory do you know this Agatha Christie book? 😊 6y
vivastory I'm not familiar with it. Sounds interesting, adding to my TBR! 6y
Sarah83 @vivastory I thought you might interest in it. 🎉 6y
Lcsmcat Lemony Snicket! 6y
63 likes4 comments
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Sarah83
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Some more pictures... 😍🎉💖

LeahBergen 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
65 likes2 comments
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Sarah83
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Visiting my favourite town again 😊💖✌️💘🛍️🌞🎉📚

BarbaraBB Is it Germany or the Netherlands? 6y
Sarah83 @BarbaraBB Netherlands. The town you asked for last time. 😊 6y
LeahBergen Lovely photo! ❤️ 6y
See All 6 Comments
Sarah83 @LeahBergen thank you 😍 6y
BarbaraBB Oh sorry, I know you visited last year too but I forgot where it is. I guess it is because I still don‘t know the place. But I will remember now! 6y
Sarah83 @BarbaraBB no problem. 😊 You should visit it some day. 😊 For you there are more bookshops than for me. 😊 Most of them sell Dutch books. 🎉 There is one English and one German bookshop and the other have only a few English or German books, but the atmosphere is wonderful. 😍 6y
64 likes6 comments
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ofclumsywords
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First book haul in what seems like forever. But I think its ok to throw your book buying ban out the window during vacation... well at least that is my excuse 🤣

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Sarah83
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@jmofo awwwwww Jessie you did a great job for your first swap. so many lovely items and so many surprises... I really love everything and can't decide what do read first. The jigsaw is a great idea, I love puzzling. 😊 Thank you so much. I hope you love your parcel aswell. Thank you for organising this @Avanders #fffs

Librariana Book Towns looks really interesting! 6y
CouronneDhiver Excellent! 👍🏽 6y
Avanders ❤️🧡💛🎃🍁🍂😍 Nicely curated! (edited) 6y
87 likes3 comments
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RowReads1
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I wish there were pictures of the insides of these odd little bookshops. Torup Denmark.

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RowReads1
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Montereggio Italy

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RowReads1
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💕

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RowReads1
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I need to get this back to the library🤫.

47 likes1 stack add
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Sarah83
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Heaven on earth 😍😍😍💖💖💖

Vbrrgirl Where is this @Sarah83? Headed to Germany in December- a store or library? 6y
Sarah83 @Vbrrgirl no it isn't in Germany. It's in the Netherlands. A little book town called Breedevoort. 😊 6y
LeahBergen 😍😍 6y
84 likes3 comments
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Sarah83
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Once again and one of my favourite bags is with me.... 😍 @cobwebmoth

Libby1 I love it! 6y
Mitch Very cute! 6y
cobwebmoth 😊❤ 6y
81 likes3 comments
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Eyelit
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I‘m off until Monday and I‘m going to use my ample free time to catch up on my reading - starting with my recent #libraryhaul

I‘m pretty excited to get started 😁

Annl Enjoy your time off! 6y
75 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Lizpixie
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#BookMail Pt13 is this enchanting addition to my books about books collection.This lovely book is about 45 towns all over the world that are dedicated to the printed word.There‘s the well known ones like Hay & Wigtown in the UK,but there‘s also more obscure ones like Jimbochu in Japan, College St in Calcutta & even Australia‘s Bowral,location of a large writers festival. With beautiful photos & info on each town, it‘s my kind of coffee table book.

ReadZenRites Nice!💕📚💕 6y
Kalalalatja Ooooooh 😍😍 6y
LeahBergen I want this one! 6y
72 likes6 stack adds3 comments
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Linsy
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Pickpick

This book is my new bucket list.

Book Towns are apparently a thing and they‘re all over the world! This beautiful book gives you practical advice if you actually plan on visiting these literary destinations, but also beautiful pics and bite-sized stories if, like me, you lack the funds to visit yourself. A must-read — or at least flip through — for crazy book lovers like us!

#netgalleytbrattack #netgalley #arc #bookreview

Leftcoastzen Want to go there! 6y
Linsy @Leftcoastzen Me too!!! 😍 6y
ReadZenRites That place looks amazing. That book is going on my TBR! 6y
KateFulfordAuthor Interesting book concept! 6y
105 likes11 stack adds4 comments
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Victoria_Clyne
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My mini bookhaul from Clunes Booktown. My kids faired better than I did.

Joanne1 Ooh I looked at seven killings. You'll have to let me know how it is. 7y
Victoria_Clyne You realise that you will be waiting a very long time. However you can borrow it. 7y
12 likes2 comments
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Victoria_Clyne
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Managed to make it to Clunes today for Booktown. My bookclub goes every year for the weekend, but with my new little one I opted for a day trip. Such glorious Autumn weather.

ChamomileAndCupcakes Looks like a beautiful day for it :) 7y
22 likes2 comments
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Oryx
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ElleSkel Thanks for this! It‘s super interesting! 7y
wanderinglynn No, but I want to! Bookish road trip! 7y
86 likes2 comments
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RowReads1
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Congratulations on those big numbers! @Librarybelle Paris could easily have been my pick too. Hay on Wye it is then, even though I‘ve never actually been there. 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚. #paris75kgiveaway

Librarybelle Thank you so much! That sounds like a good choice too! 7y
38 likes1 comment