Come Book Shopping with Me | Edinburgh Edition | January 2024

[@Elizabeth-Reads]

What beautiful, sweet bookshops, this was so fun to watch! The shop with the fireplace, omg I could live there. I don’t have the energy to go anywhere but doctor appointments these days, so it was nice to live vicariously through you. Great haul, thanks for bringing us along!

[@SavidgeReads]

Glad you came along vicariously with me. I am hoping to take you to more bookshops in the future.

[@Hidinginyourcupboard]

In answer to your question about should you keep a library app of your books - YES! Game changer. I use Libib 👍🏼

[@SavidgeReads]

Storygraph now have the barcode scanning function, game changer.

[@Lynn_Ann_Jackson]

More bookshop videos, please…I so enjoy looking at all the various locations throughout the UK, and their wonderful book selections! My main objective, when going to Barnes & Noble here in the States, or Talking Leaves here in Buffalo, is not to get so easily overwhelmed by all the choices. It’s a lot to take in when you’re only shopping in them about once every three months, or so! I just ordered Annie Nightingale’s book, Hey Hi Hello, from Blackwell’s after learning about her death…I used to listen to her all the time on BBC Radio 1 during my junior year abroad at Loughborough University, and then later after getting married and living in York. I always enjoyed her shows, and will look forward to reading about her career. I love and miss Edinburgh, Simon…thanks for a great video!!❤📚

[@SavidgeReads]

Overwhelm can hit, my tip is spacing them out with refreshment breaks as you go hahaha. I get overwhelmed with my own bookshelves more at the moment, I have had that feeling this very morning! Glad you enjoyed coming to the bookshops of Edinburgh with me, my Edinburgh vlog will be coming soon so more of that joyful city imminently.

[@Arnshal-s7h]

Really need to visit Edinburgh this year 😊 last book I read The singing nun story Life and death of soeur sourire because my brother bought me the single Dominique when i was 5 and i still play it 😊

[@SavidgeReads]

Hope you manage to get to Edinburgh this year, it is such a fab place, no visit ever disappoints.

[@maartjedegroot9598]

So lovely to see all the beautiful bookshops I’ve been to last year whilst visiting Edinburgh. Such a beautiful city.

[@SavidgeReads]

One of my favourite cities in the world. More content from there coming soon.

[@irena7777777]

@@SavidgeReadsToppings is my favourite book shop in Edinburgh. You need to go there next time you’re in Edinburgh. The charity bookshops of Morningside and Stockbridge areas of Edinburgh are also excellent

[@SavidgeReads]

@@irena7777777erm, I did go to Toppings and filmed it in this video 😂

[@irena7777777]

@@SavidgeReads Sorry, I sent that before I got to that part of the video and tried to find my comment to delete it! Great video. I’m glad you love Edinburgh. It’s a beautiful city with some brilliant book shops

[@GregHarness]

"I can't think of the word, but this is that." 🙂 Wonderful video. Thank you, Simon.

[@SavidgeReads]

Haha. Thanks Greg. That quote of me you’ve picked is very, very much me often. Lol.

[@GreenBitterfly]

I'm glad it's not just me who looks for specific editions in charity shops/second hand bookshops, I'm really looking for editions of childrens books that were around when I was younger. I've been thinking I need to log all the books I own, I’ve just finished writing down all the books I own and I need to find a way to log then.

[@SavidgeReads]

I think it adds to the fun of the hunt and the high of the find. Lovely stuff.

[@Howtolivealife123]

Thank you for a lovely nostalgic video, having just moved away from living outside Edinburgh & my every now and again treat was to have a bookshop day in the city. Stockbridge is the best, particularly for used books. Portobello books might be my fav shop ever as I think their curation is excellent. Prob just as well you didn’t get to Lighthouse as I reckon you might have doubled your purchases! Cheers 😀

[@SavidgeReads]

So pleased that you enjoyed it Clare. I love Edinburgh too, it is one of my favourite cities. I'll have to hit Lighthouse Books up next time I go there.

[@angiemcdermid4845]

We’re going to Edinburg this autumn. It really helps me to see your favourite shops and Scottish books to keep me from being too overwhelmed. Also to Oxford. Oh my

[@SavidgeReads]

There are some fabulous bookshops in Edinburgh I didn't get to on this trip, well worth looking them up! have a fab time when you go!

[@bookishbron]

Thanks so much for sharing Simon - I love hearing the thought process behind book shopping, as I tend to get overexcited and find myself with an armful of titles very quickly. Also super keen to see any peeks at your trips that you are comfortable sharing - we are planning a trip to the UK in May, including Edinburgh, London, York, Liverpool amongst others, so I'm taking notes!

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh my Edinburgh vlog is incoming. Probably Tuesday. I need to remember to finish editing it tomorrow. York isn’t on my hit list yet but it’s a lovely city. And of course, Liverpool, an utter fav 😉

[@amandarademaker7269]

Hi Simon, I was in Edinburgh last week and had my breakfast at Dishoom. It was delicious. Thanks for the recommendation :)

[@SavidgeReads]

Sooooooo pleased that you loved it! It’s one of my favourites.

[@CosyMidlifeBookNook]

Love this feature especially seeing inside the bookshops. Definitely would like to see this kind of thing again please❤

[@SavidgeReads]

You will have another coming next month, maybe two actually. Though I don't want to make them too regular in case people get bored of them, ha!

[@Nurse_Kathy]

Those bookshops! So very cozy and welcoming! Thank you for taking us shopping with you. My guess is 3-5 books. 📚

[@SavidgeReads]

You weren’t far off Kathleen. Glad you enjoyed coming along with me.

[@gilliansawers4593]

O Caledonia is on my library wish list! Love Toppings, St Andrews is my nearest. Currently reading the Essex Serpent as my prompt read. Thanks for your book tour. 💜

[@SavidgeReads]

Ooh hope you’re enjoying The Essex Serpent. I want to complete the Toppings shoppings. I have St Andrews and Ely to go… I shall be heading to one of those quite soon 😱

[@fozzymup268]

Absolutely yes to more videos like this please Simon! I’ve put House Woman on my list, sounds intriguing. Best Wishes 💕

[@SavidgeReads]

It was quite something when I started it. I will head back... at some point.

[@thelefthandedreader6632]

Yes!! More videos like this, please! This was so much fun.

[@SavidgeReads]

I am going to do another over the next week and a bit when I head to Cambridge and Oxford!

[@thelefthandedreader6632]

@@SavidgeReads , Yay!!

[@Penny-ws4mz]

Honest answer, before you had even mentioned the book shops your were planning to visit, I guessed 3-5 books. Oh me of little faith! I have become better at buying books intentionally, but I do love a good browse every now and then and discover books and authors. Fab yellow jumper! One of my cafetieres is yellow, always cheers me up.

[@SavidgeReads]

Ha. I have previous, as Chris showed, so I understand the lack of faith. Lol. It was sooooo lovely to have a good few solo bookshop wanders. I don’t do that enough.

[@cecilialau_]

What a treat to come along to some absolute ace shops, and what a dreamy trip to a beautiful city. I like the added evaluation of intentional purchases 😁 Interestingly, I found the mint on Pet to be gorgeous, haha. But I for sure know what you mean about covers being a component in the appeal. Last book I got for myself was The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison which I’ve been eyeing for ages but just haven’t prioritised enough - until now! Excited though I fully except I’ll be feeling the stab in the heart from its beauty and terror. - Love the car convo at the end 🤩

[@SavidgeReads]

The extra bonus content seems to have been a hit, will have to try and do that again after Oxford and Cambridge. I really liked the mint cover of Pet too, I just think the black and read is NEXT LEVEL. The Bluest Eye... what a book!

[@cecilialau_]

@@SavidgeReads😍

[@rhiannoncameron7165]

We’re so lucky to have such wonderful bookshops in Edinburgh 😊 I’ve also never seen any of them so quiet, lucky you 😂 would you go to/have you ever been to Bloody Scotland festival? I’m hoping to go this year! 😊

[@SavidgeReads]

You are sooooo lucky. I haven't been to Bloody Scotland but I have heard it is a hoot.

[@jenniferfyffe6949]

You have visited some of my favourite bookstores in Edinburgh…I love Rare Birds and the Golden Hare.

[@SavidgeReads]

The indies I visited are some of my favs full stop. Hahaha.

[@janethansen9612]

What lovely bookshops. I do fancy a couple of those books, particularly House Woman and also Mothers' Instinct which I'd never heard of. The last book I bought was The Other Side of Mrs Wood and I bought it on your recommendation several videos ago and it sounded right up my alley. I had thought it not available here but there it was front and centre at a local bookstore so there you have it.

[@SavidgeReads]

House Woman I have some initial thoughts on in my previous video about some most anticipated books. It started with something I wasn’t expecting which made me have a certain reaction. Hope you enjoy The Other Side of Mrs Wood, I thought it was brilliant romp.

[@sonjatonnesen8619]

Oh I get it with beautiful bookcovers. I get aesthetic migraine if I don’t like the cover. I got that classical editions of Miss Pettigrew. It looks like a lollipop on my bookshelf

[@sonjatonnesen8619]

And the last book I bought is the new Emily Wilde. (Beautiful it is)

[@SavidgeReads]

Ha. I’ve not heard of aesthetic migraines, that tickled me. Thankfully I don’t get those, I get enough migraines with my chronic illness

[@sonjatonnesen8619]

@@SavidgeReads oh, I get migraines as well- it’s not fun! That’s why I can joke with it. As I have to

[@emmavd]

Thanks, Simon🌷I loved this video! Dat’s Love (I’m also intrigued by the rest of the title: Black Britain Writing Back) has joined my wishlist, as I would like to read more short stories this year. This collection sounds like something completely different (and the cover is amazing😍). The last book I bought is The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert to accompany my listening to Juliet Stevenson’s narration on audible. I’m one third in: great book, great narrator!

[@SavidgeReads]

I also need to get to more of the Black Britain Writing Back books, I have a few of them on my shelves but have only read one of the novels, oops. There's some fab sounding non fiction ones too.

[@whatsthetemma1308]

Loved the Edinburgh bookshop spree. Was paying attention to your filming to see how accessible it is for wheelchair users. Lots of high shelves but I appreciate seeing what you picked and it looked so much fun. Yes big case next time.

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh I hadn’t thought about the accessibility. I need to think about that when I next make one of these. I’m doing a big project around library accessibility soon, though can’t say more than that now 😉 I’m actually glad I didn’t have a big case, it helped me focus on my buying intentions.

[@whatsthetemma1308]

@@SavidgeReads often bookshops have to much cramped in which makes it really difficult to get round to. Keep showing the door ways I've found it really helpful. Persephone books is not accessible at all.

[@sbeale276]

Yes please more bookshop content! Loved it 😊 i recently bought Loot by Tania James as it has a tiger on the front and is about a musical tiger! What’s not to like, plus there is a heist too!

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh I have a proof of Loot on the shelves. I love the UK tiger... but have you seen the US one?!? Oh my!

[@sbeale276]

@@SavidgeReads i went and looked at the us version and your right it is rather nice!! 😊just watched your video on your anticipated and saw Loot is on the list too.

[@cindyhaiken5644]

This was the perfect video to get me even more excited for my upcoming trip to Edinburgh. Those bookshops look wonderful. I am astonished that you only bought six books. I would have been more in Chris’ range (but that miss on Miss Pettigrew is painful. Love that book). The last book I bought was I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman because it came up often in a certain book club meeting. Got it from Blackwell’s, where so many of my books come from these days. Yes please do this again when you are in Oxford and Cambridge!!!

[@SavidgeReads]

I could feature the Blackwells mothership when I go to Oxford though it’s lost a little of the magic for me now it’s part of another bookshop chain. Sighs. There are some fab charity bookshops (great for Persephone’s) and indies there.

[@cindyhaiken5644]

@@SavidgeReads The envy is real! I plan to visit the Blackwell’s branch in Edinburgh in May, which at least will be like a cousin to the mothership!

[@deeannmurphy5198]

I loved this little shopping spree!!

[@SavidgeReads]

Hooray, so pleased you did.

[@mradcaqbdb]

After You’d Gone arrived in the post just yesterday! Was that for February bookclub? The last book I bought, ten minutes ago while watching this lovely video, was Columba’s Bones by David Greig! I have the first three in the Darkland Tales series and didn’t even know the fourth had come out! So, thank you for that! Now, I must get on to reading them! Yes, to more of these videos! Especially in Oxford and Cambridge! Wiener dog pillow! 💜

[@SavidgeReads]

Yes. February’s pick will be After You’d Gone though we won’t discuss it till the first week of March. Hope you enjoy the Grieg. I think I’ll try and do this again in Cambridge (not very many bookshops weirdly) and Oxford.

[@peakypeabody]

Youll have to share your amazon wishlist with us!!

[@SavidgeReads]

I do in most videos, I didn't with this one because I was celebrating indie bookshops so didn't want to promote anything else, ha! Ooh it is complicated. It is here though if you are interested www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/AO5I95QBVPB?ref_=wl_

[@janepeacock3704]

OMG - I purchased that version of Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day yesterday in a local - fabulous - Oxfam Books/Music Shop (for £2.99) 🤗

[@janepeacock3704]

Those blushing cheeks ☺️

[@SavidgeReads]

Well found!

[@janepeacock3704]

Guess what ?! You started off my interest in these classics 🤗😘

[@dianedickson6366]

gorgeous bookshops - I have only been to Edinburgh three times but I do like it very much. It features in my one and only romance and it was great fun finding my way around on Google Earth - Waverly Station is on my bucket list to visit irl. I also love a good cemetery. Have you been to the one in Stratford with the tree from the Garden of Gethsemane? Isn't it great that things are mostly wrapped in paper nowadays instead of horrible plastic. Some interesting books there. Seems that you exercised great control.

[@SavidgeReads]

I did exercise some serious control when I was in Edinburgh... that has not been the case since and I have had to have a word with myself.

[@bookquilteraz]

More of these videos please! I love getting glimpses of the bookstores as well as what you buy vs. what you intend to buy. I wasn't going to buy any books this month - but so much for that. I picked up Cold by Drew Hayden Taylor ( saw it at Munro's books instagram ) and Stolen by Ann-Helén Laestadius which I have seen a few places now. Reading books set outside of the US as much as possible these days.

[@SavidgeReads]

I can’t do a book buying ban, luckily I currently have no reason to though. I shall hopefully bring a few more of these over the coming weeks and months!

[@lomazowr1]

What a treat going book shopping with you.I guessed ten books.when is Chris starting his cooking shows again?

[@SavidgeReads]

They won’t be coming back I don’t think. He doesn’t mind the occasional vlog apppearance but isn’t so keen on hosting a whole video which is completely fair enough.

[@Georgesmomsu]

All those bookshops were beautiful. The only thing better than a fireplace would have been a cat. That cover of Pet is so much more sinister looking than the green. I love it! Last book I bought was Infinite Country 😬.

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh I have to read Infinite Country soon 😉 Isn’t that new colour combo cover of Pet brilliant. How does a colour change do that!

[@chockycake1]

I’m with you on book covers..it shouldn’t but it makes a huge difference 😂 love Edinburgh, just a teeny bit jealous 😉

[@SavidgeReads]

Ooh don’t be jealous. Just set a goal to go back at some point.

[@amandarademaker7269]

Well done on your intentional shopping! Was it very difficult?! It was lovely to pop into Edinburgh bookshops with you. Yesterday I bought Babel by R. F. Kuang. My purchase justification: 4 stars on Goodreads, a lot of booktubers I watch recommend it, magic, language and Oxford. The glittery sprayed edges were the icing on the cake. Did I intend to buy it when I went into the shop? Absolutely not. I have already purchased 5 second-hand books in January. It looks like I'm only clearing 1 off my shelf this month. Oops!

[@SavidgeReads]

It wasn't too difficult, I mooched and veered off track a little, which was fine. I seem to have completely lost the intentional shopping vibe since though as you will see in my next wrap up! Whoops. Who could resist glittery sprayed edges hahaha.

[@amandarademaker7269]

I couldn’t even have intentionally shopped on one book-shopping trip so respect for that. Books are just too pretty!!!

[@polly2900]

My book shopping intentions are only buy books that aren't available at my library. That could mean the library doesn't have a book or there is a long wait list. For Rachel Hawkins,The Heiress a 184 people are on the wait list.

[@SavidgeReads]

That's a great intention!

[@RovingReader]

I love going on reading vacations! I have one in a few weeks :) I'm also traveling this summer and the first part of the trip will be to Bath for a reading vacation :) I was thinking 15 before you gave choices hahaha! Loved seeing what you picked up. The covers were great too! Ohhhh I'm going to Cambridge on my trip too but only for such a short time. I'll arrive in the late afternoon to meet up with a friend and leave the next morning to head to Norwich for another friend. "There's no such thing as book shopping worseness." We need that on a shirt or maybe a wallet haha!

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahaha imagine if I did a line of t-shirts with my random bookish quotes. Chris thought around 15 so you are not alone, hahaha. Cambridge isn't as boozy as you would expect as I have been discovering, Norwich - booky delight! Bath is utter bookish JOY!

[@RovingReader]

@@SavidgeReads YESSS! Now I'm even more excited. I was in Norwich last year and loved it! I stay with Sarah from Your True Shelf when I go. LOVE hanging out with her :)

[@SavidgeReads]

Awwww how lovely. She’s ace. I am going to Norwich in March. I need to remember to try and catch up with her!

[@ReadBecca]

I can't be bothered with the mass scanning or logging a huge collection, but my workaround is keeping an album with pics of my shelves on my phone so I can quickly run thru as needed when I'm out book shopping.

[@SavidgeReads]

See not all of my books are in alphabetical order so pictures would be chaos, I feel a scanning spree coming on. Lol!

[@ReadBecca]

@@SavidgeReads Hehe none of mine are, but they are only kind of logically grouped as far as my brain goes. I would guess you have a lot more than I do at just around 1000 and more constant influx of new stuff though, so I can understand not being able keep up... To the scans you go 😄

[@donkeirstade5304]

My guess was 6 books when you fist asked the question of how many books early in the video. Loved the bit with Chris at the end of the video 😅

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahaha. You guessed correct. Congrats lol

[@janepeacock3704]

Oh yes definitely the same again when you go to Cambridge/Oxford (& other places) 📚🤗 As well as the Persephone Classic mentioned earlier, I purchased (from the same Oxfam shop) a very old copy of MacBeth & an equally old copy of W. Somerset Maugham’s Collected Short Stories Volume 1 (having just read The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng 😌👏🏻) I guessed you’d purchased 9 books lol 🤓 X

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahahaha not nine, but not far off hahaha. I shall be doing another one of these when I go to Cambridge later this week and Oxford next week. Oxfam bookshops are great for finding gems. I have two lined up for Oxford actually, hahaha. I almost picked up a Somerset Maugham in Hull this week... but the FONT!!!!

[@janepeacock3704]

Was the font tiny or ?!?! 🤓😂📖

[@susprime7018]

Loved After You'd Gone and at the moment enjoying The Marriage Portrait. Did you give up on the idea of decorating a bedroom with Persephone gray covers? I enjoyed The Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day movie.😊

[@SavidgeReads]

We have a Persephone themed spare room, it’s more themed around the bookshop though. It’s also not quite finished but when it is… I may just share it.

[@tanyam6197]

Bonus Chris content!

[@SavidgeReads]

Just a snippet, he might make a few appearances in vlogs incoming from next month.

[@sallyandbooks545]

I bought As Long As The Lemon Tree Grows by Zoulfa Katouh from a charity shop this afternoon. It's one I maintaining year good things about ❤

[@SavidgeReads]

I’ve heard some incredible things about that book.

[@lightscamerasashley.]

makes me feel not so alone for impulsively buying and overpaying for books at the airport the other day.. 😅 I'm usually a bit more intentional with my purchases, but sometimes buying books feels like a form of therapy. looks like you've selected some great choices 💖

[@SavidgeReads]

The airport bookshops can get you, I have to avoid them now. Hahaha.

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

It depends on which bookshop I'm at if I have intentions. If it's a chain bookstore than I will have intentions since I'm spending more money, but it's a used bookstore than I might browse. The last books I bought were Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, Dance with Dragons by George RR Martin, Nicholas and Alexandra by Richard K. Massie, and The Museum of Abandoned Secrets by Oksana Zabuzhko, translated by Nina Shevchuk-Murray.

[@SavidgeReads]

Yes I think I have that more. I’d rather buy from an indie with intention, then a chain, and mooch around a second hand/charity bookshop.

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

Secondhand shops are fun to browse in. You never know what you’ll find, so not only is it cheaper, it’s an adventure,

[@angelafraser4572]

The last book I bought was The Power Broker by Robert Caro, because the 99% invisible podcast is doing a read along of it. I've chosen 'Monster, She Wrote: The Women Who Pioneered Horror and Speculative Fiction' by Melanie R. Anderson for the 'snake on the cover' prompt

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh hope you enjoy your 🐍 book!

[@MJ-in-Canada]

Happy Burns Night!

[@SavidgeReads]

And to you!!! I didn’t realise it was such a well timed video. Should have done my Edinburgh vlog really.

[@mary-annmaronski2521]

6-10 books would have been me in that situation 😂

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahahaha. I was very restrained, ha.

[@Miche-ws2gn]

My guess was 13 🥳

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahaha, close to Chris' guess.

[@BeckyPoleninja]

Watch my jazz hands wave!!

[@SavidgeReads]

?!?

[@BeckyPoleninja]

@@SavidgeReads when you asked for hands up on how many books you bought

[@traceynicholson9611]

Try looking on the world of books

[@SavidgeReads]

I’ve had a bumpy relationship with WOB. I’ve ordered three and all of them were described as very good… two were most definitely were not very good or even good.

[@bookbarmy6426]

I’m sure there is no such thing as’ it could’ve gone worse ‘with bookshops

[@SavidgeReads]

Worse would have been not buying any, hahaha.

[@sarareads9185]

6-10

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahaha. You weren’t far wrong from the final number 😉

[@katiehallett9501]

8 books total???😅

[@SavidgeReads]

Ooooh…

[@sophiaz.1083]

god i loved edinburgh's bookshops. have to come back at some point and check out the ones you are sharing. but for now i am going to enjoy this video! 🫶

[@SavidgeReads]

They’re fabulous aren’t they. I’m planning on a trip to Edinburgh every January.

[@MJ-in-Canada]

Simon does Scotland! I absolutely love visiting book shops that I might never have the opportunity to visit so thank you and bring it on. Do your trains have a baggage weight limit?🧳We have very strict weight limits here which is frustrating for book lovers. If we overstep the weight limit, we have to pay a lot extra. The only good part is that I can say to friends and family, “Sorry, no souvenirs. It would have exceeded the weight limit.”😄

[@SavidgeReads]

Ha. Well Simon did Edinburgh. I’m doing a few more places in Scotland in March which I’m really looking forward to. No weight limits on trains here. Just planes. I just took a tiny bag lol.

[@deemarie8647]

6-10

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahaha. You were right, by the end 😉