🕯 come book shopping in oxford with me! (+ big book haul!)

hey besties, today we're going on a little exploration of oxford's bookstores as i basically fall in love with the city and buy way too many books - but that's the life of every bookworm! i hope you enjoy the video, and let me know what you'd like to see more of in the future!
with love,
joel 🗡
- help the world, friends!
✨ do the right thing | dotherightthing.carrd.co/
✊🏽 black lives matter | blacklivesmatters.carrd.co
🙅🏽 stop asian hate | anti-asianviolenceresources.c...
🇺🇦 information on ukraine | ukrainewar.carrd.co/
- things mentioned
✨ my tiktok | / fictionalfates
- books mentioned
📖 sherlock holmes
📖 the iliad
📖 the odyssey
📖 racism not race
📖 the dance tree
📖 the tale of genji (which i actually got from waterstones dksjfjsf)
📖 the shadow of the gods
📖 macbeth
📖 an arrow to the moon
📖 brit(ish)
📖 confronting the classics
📖 let's make ramen
📖 witchlight
📖 king arthur's avalon
📖 castle of wizardry
📖 rebel skies
📖 the merciless ones
📖 the problem with my n***** penis
📖 portable magic
+ 1 blind date book
- social links
🐦 twitter | / joelrochesterr
📸 bookstagram | / fictionalfates
⏰ tiktok | / fictionalfates
📚 goodreads | / joelrochesterr
📖 storygraph | app.thestorygraph.com/profile...
📌 pinterest | pinterest.co.uk/joelrochesterr
☕ ko-fi | ko-fi.com/joelrochesterr
- music credits
🎼 namoo nara - back in time | thmatc.co/?l=AAD418C5
🎵 louie zong | louiezong.bandcamp.com
🎵 prod. riddiman | / prodriddiman
🎵 lukrembo - this is for you | • lukrembo - this is for...
🎼 synae - wild world | thmatc.co/?l=21E731DF
- business enquires
✉️ partnership + commercial enquiries: [e-mail]
✉️ publishing + review enquiries: [e-mail]
- disclaimer
🌻 This video is not sponsored.

[@jack_edwards]

this is the comfort video i needed today

[@fictionalfates]

omg fancy seeing you here bestie

[@lucasmusker4625]

Omg same haha 🤣

[@babettedejong2975]

Same!

[@anastasiafg2672]

these bookstores are sooo cool, my local bookstore could never 🥲 this was a fun & cozy trip btw, thanks for taking us with you! 🦦

[@grff_]

This video is EVERYTHING! I was craving another book shopping vlog and i recently went to the UK and oxford was one of the places i visited, but our visit was short :( I wish i could've seen more, would def go back!

[@hfollman98]

YESSS FINALLY SOMEONE PUTTING RESPECT ON EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY CLASSICS EDITIONS!!

[@katielouisee03]

perfect video to repair the horror that was my gcse maths exam, congrats on two years joel

[@maryamjuma1704]

congrats on your second anniversary! i remember watching your first video; as a black british girl there isn’t many ppl like me in booktuber spaces, so watching your videos really widened my love for reading, i hope amazing and wonderful things come your way 💕

[@goodspaghettee]

I always appreciate your hauls and reading lists as someone who finds trying to find new books (and not solely rely on what's megapopular) quite hard and also that you read a wide variety of genres! Thanks for the book haul!! I'm def adding some of these to my TBR

[@Emi-mc3dg]

In every single one of your videos you make me more inspired to read more, it’s reminded me of how much I genuinely love reading and it’s led me to by more books and I’ve really enjoyed them! Thank you for doing what you do and I love your content! (Also you seem like such a kind and friendly person and I would adore being your friend sm)

[@megankazz8371]

I've only read the Illiad and the Odyssey out of the haul you've gotten, and I enjoyed them, despite them being readings for a class I took years ago. I'm definitely interested in picking up a different translation to see what changes.

[@fictionalfates]

I’ve read extracts of both through my degree, but I’m excited to read both in their entirety! I know Emily Wilson’s translations are regarded highly so I might start with hers 👀

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

Okay but the book shopping outfit is *chef’s kiss

[@radiosilence3657]

OMG, THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESS HAS RETURNED! Istg, your book shopping vlogs are the most aesthetic things I've ever seen, idk how you make everything so pretty and comforting. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I'm currently reading "Here the Whole Time" and absolutely LOVING IT. The fat representation is absolutely wonderful and I just feel so seen by both Felipe and Rebeca. I missed you a lot. Love ya! ✌️

[@bryonyapril6925]

Oxford is my home, so I absolutely love watching people take in the city, I’m so glad you enjoyed yourself. Blackwells is my comfort place, I love that they even stamp the book if you ask them so you remember where you got it from! super excited for babel, I have it on pre order. Thank you for a wonderfully comforting video :)

[@Li6doe]

Okay I literally live that you include welsh in your videos! DWI’N DIOLCHGAR IAWN ❤️❤️

[@Anna-og9rj]

Your videos are always so well put together and give me the motivation to read when I'm tired of it, thank you so much! This video is beautiful!

[@softandcosy]

saving all these bookshops down omg!! 😳 have you been to Shakespeare & Co in Paris? I think you'd like it, it's like all vintage wooden interiors and comfy reading nooks upstairs (with a bookshop cat) and they stamp your books when you buy them

[@emma-lj3ig]

I will now be calling books ‘portable magic’

[@quill8943]

Congrats on 2 years. Your channel is so fun and calming and always seems to make me happy. 😊

[@BooksNest]

Last time I went to Oxford Gulp Fiction was still being stocked, so I'm very excited to visit it when I'm back this weekend! Great vlog too, very cosy vibes!

[@fictionalfates]

ahhh i hope you have a great time in oxford!!

[@MarietteLalire]

Hi Joel! Could you explain how the "We are the granddaughters of the witches you couldn't burn" quote is problematic? I've loved that quote but want to stop using it if it's harmful... thank you xx

[@pipsix]

It's crazy stormy outside and this is perfection. Also congratulations on two years!

[@marianacasement]

This was lovely and so calming. It was especially nice for me to see Oxford and how it and its bookshops have changed in the 8 years since I left haha Hopefully, I'll be going back to England soon and might be able to revisit all these lovely bookshops!

[@phoebegrace]

there’s nothing more i love than videos like this

[@GracewithBooks]

*adds all of these to bookstore bucket list locations*

[@maxy9540]

couldn't relate more to "the price??? im no longer invested"

[@gemmapearce8957]

The David Eddings series were given to me (in those covers) by my grandad when I was a child and they are definitely the reason I love fantasy novels. So scared to reread in case they do not live up to my high expectations anymore.

[@samantharose1001]

omgg those events sound amazing !! and congratulations on two years of YT 🥳🤩 love your channel

[@erinsbooks]

I normally don't care about the covers on books, but all those book covers are stunning; I was hypnotize there for a minute. Green is also my favorite color.

[@carolinegiron]

i also love those everyman classics editions!!! i started collecting all of jane austen's novels in them!

[@kirstein6272]

discovered your channel from this video today and now you have a new subscriber! love how comforting this video is

[@lacy_day_reads6214]

This was so comforting and beautiful! Loved this video 💛

[@afiasubah6326]

Your love for books makes me fall in love with books more and more !!

[@rosebreeds5057]

I live fairly close to Oxford, and go there regularly. If you ever go back, I’d recommend going to the daunt books down in summertown. It’s less than 10 mins from the city centre by bus, and buses are very regular (up to every 10-15 mins). Also, the norrington room is absolutely mesmerising. I love it down there

[@vampirekeeley]

I loved The Gilded Ones so I’ve been looking forward to The Merciless Ones for so long!

[@fictionalfates]

Ahhh I’m so glad it’s finally here for you!

[@sandrahinton6220]

Absolutely love your book haul so interesting to watch

[@iJamieM]

Love videos like these!! Especially because all the comments too are likely to be filled with other recommendations for stores, and hidden gems for shops with amazing selections and pricing that not many people know about! Need to save this to watch later now so when I'm back in London I can check it out!

[@ginaslibrary]

Oxford looks SO beautiful 😍 Great video!

[@Toffrox]

I went book shopping in Oxford last week too! Such a fun, bookish city! Thanks for this lovely, wholesome video :)

[@kaliontherocks]

I'm from Spain and buy online from Blackwell's most of the time (here English titles are *way* more expensive than Spanish ones). I loved loved loved seeing the actual bookstore in the video ❤️

[@Lindsay820]

Such a relaxing video to watch! I wish I could go to those bookshops!

[@booksandbargains]

I'm soooo behind on my watch later but this video is soooo comforting 🥰 I think me and Victoria could have spent all day in that blackwells.

[@emroyka]

Thank you so much for taking us book shopping with you! Great pics, hope you enjoy all of them! I got the Waterstones edition of The Merciless Ones as well, it is lovely... Good luck reading The Tale Of Genji; I recommend reading along with others whom you can convince to do so, it makes the journey so much more meaningful and fun!

[@impala2215]

hi ! I'm in oxford for a few days and this is a very useful guide, thank you ! I wondered where the nice nature path/walk along the water was, it looks lovely and id love to go there ! 😊

[@crimebrulee]

Oxford is beautiful. And omg thank you for looking under the dust jackets!

[@tinabecica878]

These bookstores look so amazing. You are living my dream! :D

[@ReadingNymph]

Portable Magic sounds so good! Amazing haul 👌🏻👌🏻

[@maddisondeans]

Next time you go to oxford I definitely recommend popping into the Book Stop by the waterstones. It's a quaint little shop and I think it's independently run bc I've only ever seen the one woman in there. The books are all discounted and you get a little brown paper bag when you leave :)

[@caleba9648]

When I saw you reach toward company of liars by Karen Maitland and the video cut away, I screamed. It's one of my favorite fantasy novels and I'm dying to hear someone else's opinion on it haha. Excellent video!

[@theroamingbookworm]

I'm going to Oxford this December! Thank you for making this. So excited!!

[@Khushi_Kishore]

Literally just got shadow of the gods and rebel skies. So excited to try them!!

[@kaitlynnicolereads]

i didn’t know i needed to go book shopping in oxford… now i do!

[@charlesrapasky4548]

HI I ENJOYED YOUR OXFORD BOOK SHOPPING VIDEOS,I love bookstore and library’s

[@ashblack6342]

i'm really interested in Rebel Skies - definitely adding it to my TBR!!

[@teresaharris-travelbybooks5564]

Gorgeous video. You're so lucky just to be able to walk around in Oxford. I also like your aesthetic; wearing the tweed blazer over the tee.

[@user-qu8zs7vs1x]

Love your bookstore tours! I think it'd be fantastic if you did voiceovers when you show the bookstores - even just reading the captions. It'd make it more entertaining :)

[@Hippolyta.]

I will definitely be revisiting this video when I visit Oxford in October!

[@AninaySanchez]

Ugh I loved The Shadow of the Gods & The Hunger of the Gods! 🥰 My favorite books so far & can't wait for the third book! 🐺🐲🗡 Great video 💞 I love your content!

[@readingfcdec]

I feel so lucky to live and work in oxford. Blackwell's may be the best book shop in the country

[@bookishspider9602]

The pure joy of seeing the comic book style cookbook you got! I checked out the second one, Let's Make Dumplings, and it was so fun! It's such an interesting mashup. You got so many amazing books and I'm so jealous 🥺

[@TheSassyLibraryFox]

Wow! You celebrated your two years BookTube anniversary?! Congrats! 💜 Also I was horrified when you dropped that expensive book! AHH! This is exactly the kind of situation you never want to get caught in. *lol*

[@Carinaisabelle]

Used to live in Oxford, and this is making me homesick in the best kind of way

[@pauieeepau]

Ooh, I'm still trying to get Gilded Ones in paperback. And hopefully complete the series.

[@toiletteregina]

PLEEEEEK WHEN THE BOOK FELL IN THE FIRST BOOKSHOP I CHOKED

[@floydandtotoro]

the Stardew Valley Board Game is a lot of fun! Root is amazing too… if you enjoy video games and D&D, I’m sure you could fall into the magic realm of modern board gaming! 💕 I feel more and more that playing a board game is like writing a short story with you fellow players 😊

[@nora-lx4hk]

very random...but I'm currently learning Welsh and it made my day that I understood the Welsh sentence in your video. Love to see it!

[@bookwormdystopian]

Love your vlogs

[@catsith91]

Wow, Amazingly beautiful bookshops :D I would love to visit Oxford one day. What an amazing book haul you've got there :D

[@angelsm9223]

Loved this video! I put myself on a book buying ban and this was very satisfying to watch (although i am a little jealous). Also I wanted to say PLEASE read the Sword of Kaigen! I watched your old reading vlogs and i know you loved the Poppy War series and this book is just like that. It has the darkness of the Poppy War mixed in with the elemental magic of Avatar the Last Airbender. It’s one of my all time favorites and I hope you get the chance to read it as well!💖

[@RoryPlaystheSims]

I end up buying every book that you talk about or recommend! :)

[@bibrarian9729]

I was already hooked and then I looked slightly right and saw The Adventure Zone graphic novels. Yes!

[@mistertulney3291]

yes to 'portals to different worlds'

[@FireFr0ggy]

If you are looking for a manga rec, I highly recommend Blue Period. It's a contemporary coming of age story about a boy trying to get into Tokyo University of Arts. The author features real artworks from Japanese artists. And does explain art to the reader.

[@SamGaleFilms]

NOOOO the video ended! Was enjoying it.

[@finsfables]

ooh i was waiting for this one

[@fictionalfates]

eeeee i hope it delivers!

[@bawling]

oooh i have not heard of The Dance Tree before now, and I actually lived in Strasbourg for a while. intrigued 🧐

[@LittlePiscesReading]

What lovely shops! ❤️❤️

[@spacemono5419]

AHH is that a rina sawayama shirtttt with the blazer, so cute

[@fictionalfates]

it was a serve, it is a moment

[@nikkisick221]

I really want a book shelf tour 🥺

[@katie-ej1ko]

a sawayama fan? we have to stan. 😭💖

[@zeinareads4978]

absolutely living the dream of shopping in Oxford ❤ Canadians can only dream

[@fictionalfates]

One day 🥺

[@PinkiePie7hpdw]

i love oxford so much

[@zuko803]

20 books in one time! Very interesting buys

[@moonbook12]

At 11:36 omg that so cool

[@pineandsprucebooks]

Knocking a book off a bookshelf triggers my fight or flight response. The guilt. The shame 😩

[@fictionalfates]

pls i felt both!!

[@hollyludlow2460]

I’m going Oxford next month !!!!

[@pollenphobia]

Ah, you're my inspiration. Im planning to make a book-ish channel as well

[@fairsuns]

The instant hesitation to get the books because of the price lmao same

[@moumitareads3738]

Babel 😱😱😭😭

[@craftyreads]

I love how chill this vlog is 🙌🏼 Bestie you should definitely try to read Spy x Family or watch the anime! It is incredible my friend!!

[@schmorie]

That outfit is 😱💯!

[@TalentedTeensOf1998]

I love your videos. They're just so calming for me. Also, maybe I just missed something, why did you not like the "we are the granddaughters..." poster? I didn't know it was problematic.

[@sunflowersandstorms5608]

Joel saying the Shakespeare play's name over and over again was giving me anxiety not gonna lie. Also, question how do you travel to these places? Is it by train? taking notes so I can explore one day.

[@fernandapaveltchuk2068]

omg is that a Babel pin??? where did you purchase it? :O

[@babettedejong2975]

A very specific question: does that edition of The Tale of Genji mention whether it's abridged or unabridged? I'm looking for an unabridged edition, and online information on that specific edition is unclear, unfortunately. Would very much appreciate it if you could check the book for me! Thank you in advance.

[@theahegwood]

Can you do a video about all the books you read for your masters?? Also the tale of genji is weird and scary. It’s upsetting and I hate the main character. I had to read it for my East Asian history class and damn I hate genji 😩

[@moonbook12]

Omg two years

[@AliceFlorand]

Tell us what was that blind date book! I rly want know sfaioufaga

[@laurenbrender3671]

If you like Arthurian legen, Stephen Lawhead writes Arthurian inspired fantasy

[@pavlinazitkova]

☺☺👏👏

[@jiminvogue1223]

Wow you're rich. I would love to get that much books one day

[@agenttheater5]

Sometimes I like being frugal and contain how much money I spend and when. Sometimes I realise I should be more frugal and should be more careful with money. Sometimes I hate having a frugal 'be careful how much you spend' instinct - like when I go to bookstores in big cities.