Every book I bought in London!

[@circleofleaves2676]

I'm Australian and I also definitely tend to prefer the UK book covers over the US covers. UK cover design tends to use more art/illustration and interesting graphics, and US often uses more photographs, usually of people. I especially love a lot of the Vintage and Virago book covers from the 90's.

[@sweetestaphrodite]

Same here. Us Aussies are sold the UK covers, so gratefully we don’t have to go far to get them

[@joychalaby]

Yes 😊

[@tamzinlittle5295]

Hi Carolyn! Just to let you know, Hatchards are unfortunately not an independent bookshop, as they are owned by Waterstones. Below it’s quaint, beautiful exterior Waterstones unfortunately has the habit of quite discreetly buying out independent book shops and smaller book chains without the consumer knowing and living off the fact that people think that they are supporting a smaller book shop when they are actually supporting Waterstones.

[@brandygoebel7652]

Next time you're in London be sure to check out Word on the Water, a very cool little book barge. My daughter and I book shopped our way through Iceland, London, Rye, Brighton, and Paris. Dream come true. 💜

[@rich_in_paradise]

Foyles is another huge bookshop in central london, but it was relocated in 2014 and now is a pretty similar experience to Waterstones. The old Foyles was a real experience - a family run store that had expanded into adjoining buildings over the years. It was strawling with mismatched bookshelves and uneven floors and most importantly, lots of stock that had been there for years. I think there's a real difference between a shops like Waterstones where all the stock is 'current' and ones where they have interesting books from maybe 10 years ago. Anyway, not really a recommendation because the store I'm talking about doesn't exist any more, but a story about bookshops I guess.

[@carolinsa11]

I love these stores! I went to all of those as well:) In case you didn’t know, Hatchard’s is actually the oldest book store in the UK and holds three royal warrants (I think that means they are the official supplier to the royal family). If you ever find yourself in London again, I’d totally recommend Judd bookstore, Skoob books, and word on the water(literally a bookstore on a boat!). Judd especially is great though because you get essentially new books for very cheap:) I wish I’ve spend more time in waterstones Piccadilly though!! That’s such a sweet story:)

[@circleofleaves2676]

I was in Lisbon, Portugal many many years ago, and am kicking myself now that I didn't visit the oldest bookshop in the world, which is in Lisbon. So that's something to check out if you're ever there!

[@EricKarlAnderson]

That cover of London stories is beautiful! Love how it's easy to get lost for hours in the Waterstones Piccadilly. The Virago modern classics are gorgeous as well. So glad you got to make this trip! 💫

[@wouldyoukindly144]

After reading Jamaica Inn, you'll have to plan your next holiday to Cornwall! Lovely video xx

[@chelleandpoppy6379]

Watching outside with my neighborhood cat friend on my lap and reaching peak happiness 🥲

[@kseniyasbooknook4172]

So glad you had such a great trip, the bookworms dream! I've also noticed that UK editions are better designed often times but until I saw your video, didn't really pay attention to just how much!! thank you for sharing !

[@neliaaa]

Penguin are re-releasing "The Machine Stops" next year as part of the Penguin English Library series. I'm also a big "editions" nerd & are on-and-off fan of the PEL series. Ito buying books as souvenirs, I'm 100% in that boat! I'm trying to convince my parents to buy me a book (or two) from Shakespeare and Company when they're going to the Rugby World Cup in France later this year 😂

[@cassiopeiathew7406]

Agh, I’m envious! I just went to London but I wasn’t able to squeeze any book shopping into my schedule.

[@aquaviolin07]

I also went on a bit of a bookstore crawl in London, and visited Shakespeare and Company in Paris. In Waterstones Piccadilly, I got Small Island. In Shakespeare..., I got Madame de Pompadour. (Fit with my trip to Versailles.)

[@johnridenour1345]

Beautifully decorated books are a piece of art, even without the words inside

[@KaeliB1]

I’m a new subscriber of yours and I read completely different genres than you but you and Emma are my comfort channels. You guys both give off wonderful cozy vibes and I love watching you both!

[@martinelanglois3158]

So happy for you!! Book shopping in London with all these beautiful editions!😍 One doesn't have enough of 2 eyes to take it all in! Thank you for taking us with you, specially when there is no one in the store. Magical I'm sure. 💫

[@bujobyfilo]

Totally agree with you on the US vs UK covers. I wonder why it's so different, bc you would think it's a question of different tastes, but then we hear US booktubers praising the UK covers all the time. I also loved Rebeca and My cousin Rachel and also have Jamaica Inn on my tbr, there are a few amazing covers of this one and I can't wait to read it!

[@JasonBillamTravel]

It's really cool to hear you describe many of my favourite London bookshops from a first time perspective!

[@denisefreitas6727]

I love the UK book covers too, Carolyn! Love the books you picked in London! The tote bags are lovely as well. Your videos are always a joy! 💖

[@MartinDSmith]

There's a store in my hometown that was primarily a bookstore which now occupies the ground floor and basement section.Once I brought some Italian friends visiting inside and one of them was blown away when we took the escalator to the first floor as he wasn't expecting to see it entirely dedicated to stationery,gift cards and art products and accessories.Not to mention Tower is on the second(top)floor so your music and TV/Movie needs are catered for!

[@cherriejanel]

I’m so happy for you ! Someday I hope I can go to Europe too

[@joannewilks9049]

What a delightful video of your trip to London, love your enthusiasm and joy with your book haul.

[@sherrirabinowitz4618]

I am so glad you had fun in London, I went a long time ago but I'm still full of wonderful memories. i also went to Salsbury, Stonehenge, Stratford on Avon and Bath. Did you get to go outside of London? Did you go to all the sites in London? My favorites was the National Gallery and Albert Hall. Did you see any plays. I was only there 10 days so I just wondered, 2 and half weeks give you a lot more time to explore. Did you check out the Harrods book section? They have a very big one.

[@kurlykaitlyn]

Those books are so pretty!! I visited the UK for three weeks last year but was backpacking through with my husband. We stayed in air b n b but often were carrying packs on our back and so I didn’t buy books. I cannot wait to go back though! Both of us miss London, brighton, and Scotland! Hyde park is now one of my favorite places!

[@amolove24]

I’m going to London to visit my cousin next month and I’m so excited to go to some bookshops there. Also if you’re ever in LA I really recommend the last bookstore, they have new, used, and vintage books as well as a small art gallery and is overall just a really cool place to visit!

[@estherhobbel8691]

We love Waterstones Piccadilly as well. I was in London with my 2 daughters last May (we are from the Netherlands). Even my youngest could not help herself and bought a book… And we had the tote bag of course and a Agathie Christie mug. Hatchards is for the next time. In Maastricht there is a bookshop in an old church, it ‘s lovely…

[@carolewatson2113]

Foyles in Charing Cross Rd is amazing too

[@reubensmart1757]

Thankfully the books you got weren't region locked :)

[@MadeyesJoJo]

Jamaica Inn is SO GOOOD, perfect for autumn reading specifically

[@sophiaisabelle01]

We will always support you. Keep working hard

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Thank you so much! I will 😊

[@readiculousreads4164]

I'm currently wearing Ana Luisa's Hannah necklace right now! Also, it's co-designed with Hannah from A Clockwork Reader! 😊

[@tade91]

Love the mini modern classic series and that particular E M Forster one is where the idea began. If I recall correctly there were 40 in the series and they were the predecessor to the little black classics and the newer green mini modern classics. There was a short 4 or 5 part documentary on KZbin about the process that birthed the concept of them at Penguin which I would recommend as they do little interviews with so many people involved. Glad to see you enjoyed London, I deliberately stayed away from bookstores for the most part on my visit a few years back so I didn't go crazy (and I live in NZ which gets the same editions). If you ever end up in NZ I would recommend Unity Books, which can be found in either Auckland or Wellington

[@miyuk9905]

I really love classics in UK edition too. They are so beautiful. I am Japanese so have some difficulties reading in English, but cannot stop buying them😂 I liked Shakespeare and Company in Paris as a classic reader. It wasn’t a big bookshop but they had everything we need!!

[@lostingothicmusic]

A couple of book shop recommendations: my favourite local bookshop - Toppings & Co, in Bath and also Mr B's Emporium in Bath. Pretty much anything in Hay-on-Wye (where there is a literary festival every year). In Venice - Aqua Alta bookshop In Melbourne - Readings / Readings Kids, (Lygon st), Hill of Content ( Bourke St in the CBD) and the big Dymocks on Collins St. I was in Melbourne in December and bought books in all 3 of these 🤩

[@AthynVixen]

Fun fact you might not know Hatchards is owned by Waterstones, it isn't independent at all.. so you just went to another branch of it. Do Love Daunt though.If you come again I highly recommend Foyles on Charing Cross Road a family owned chain.

[@jamesduggan7200]

The eight-fifty a.m. Waterstone's anecdote sounds like the beginning of a novel, where you and your boyfriend are transported to a magical world of unicorns and leprechauns and rainbows. And when it was time to leave you knew it wasn't a dream when you exited onto Picadilly. BTW: I saw a short story on TV based on The Lottery, which begins with a gambler purchasing several dozen tickets - much to the amazement of the locals.

[@Lynn_Ann_Jackson]

One of your best videos , Carolyn…I absolutely loved it. With the odd exception, the UK covers definitely win, hands down.📚📖♥️

[@GypsyRoSesx]

What a wonderful holiday, Carolyn ✨

[@beatricemkhambe3091]

Thank you so much for the video. I recently bought this novel ‘Jamilia’ written by Chingiz Aïtmatov. It is the most beautiful love story I’ve ever read and I highly recommend it to everyone.

[@tundeszabo8220]

Being locked in a bookstore is my dream adventure. 😄 You bought beautiful books, and the tote bags are lovely (especially the small one). ❤

[@myhandle321]

Carolyn, I was thinking of you when I was in Dolomites, Italy. I recommend this place highly for your next Europe tour. And honestly, I cannot wait until I go back there just like you. :D Awesome video. I think I need one full day for each of those bookstores. I can feel how happy you had been there.

[@monikatabak9474]

I loved this video ❤; I am from London, and it was so refreshing to listen to someone talking about the city from a new perspective, especially about all these tiny details that with time became ordinary to me❤❤❤ Waterstones Picadilly is my fav bookshop, especially because of the many literary events they organise📚 Hopefully you will have many happy book shopping returns😂😂😂

[@rondoflicflac]

So happy for you ❤ it seems you had an amazing trip!

[@pixieh.5597]

I've been to London many times (going for 5 days again this Sunday!). I always stop by the Waterstones on Picadilly, then Hatchard's (in the same spot since 1797 I think!). I can also recommend Foyle's on Charing Cross Road. This time around I will also go to an independent bookstore in Notting Hill, Lutyens& Rubinstein. Heard good things about that one😊

[@Nessie18896]

I read Jamaica Inn this year and I loooooved it so much! That is such a beautiful edition! Hope you enjoy!

[@Sopranistineberhard]

I live in Berlin and I love Dussmann KulturKaufHaus. Not only do they have 5 floors of books and music and stationary they have a giant English Bookstore and other languages like French, Italian etc. Also love St. George Bookstore which is an all English Gently used bookstore which never disappoints! Also hit up Shakespeare and Co for English books and bagels!

[@SevenUnwokenDreams]

Ah yes, I tend to prefer the UK covers as well (I am from the US). I particularly love the Penguin Modern Classics.

[@cgek1996]

If you ever go to Bath you need to go the bookshop Toppings

[@marjoriedybec3450]

Tattered Cover in Denver CO, Shakespeare & Co in Paris, and my all-time favorite, Le Bluet in Banon, France.

[@daniellejdevlin8882]

I'm so glad you had a wonderful time! You chose great books 📚

[@bobbeduran9277]

A tour of books and food for me. Thanks for sharing.

[@Englishstoriess]

Love these books. I often use them for my Channel Stories 😊

[@ToddsBookTube91]

Nice trip you had Carolyn. Glad you and your boyfriend had fun. 😊

[@zenith8330]

When I was living in London I used to spend entire afternoons in the Waterstones in Picadilly... it's just a magical place

[@apollonia6656]

When I used to live in London Fouled knew me very well. Now living in Cheshire and !I've it.

[@fernnielsen8158]

Great video Carolyn. I also ordered a pair of earrings. Thanks for the code.

[@thebasedgodmax1163]

Kavalier and Clay looks great, I brought a copy a while back, and it's cool to hear it's a favourite of Brian Selznick! glad you enjoyed your time in the UK, next time I'd recommend visiting my personal favourite city here, Liverpool! my favourite book shop here is a converted old multi storey house called Scriveners Books and Bookbinding in the Peak District, if anyone is ever in that area you gotta check it out!

[@elsitacacahuete427]

You ought to visit Hay on Wye, in Wales. One book dedicated to Bookshops in the UK is Bibliomaniac by Robin Ince. Great video; London is a fantastic place, glad you enjoyed it😊.

[@JohnSaxon-vw5vi]

All I can say is that I am totally jealous of you as you live in NEW YORK and went to LONDON two of the places I would love to go and visit and I know that won’t happen so I hope that you enjoy your trip please stay safe and healthy love your Aussie family friend John 💚💛💚💛

[@martasgreatlibrary]

i might visit london this fall so i will have to check out those bookstores hehe! glad you had such a good time and brought home many book shaped memories!

[@jurioish]

The "trophy book" is the reason (excuse) I needed to buy another edition (THE edition) of a book that I like. Thank you!

[@sanjanasrinivasan13]

I'm from Bangalore, India and my friends and I went looking for second hand bookstores mainly to buy classics. And one of the stores had a huge classics collection. And I was so shocked looking at a shelf filled with those small penguin clothbound classics. But unfortunately the collection didnt have any book of my interest. But they were so so soo pretty!!!😭😭

[@hollyb118]

You had me at “hoarder of tote bags.” I share in the affliction. 😬

[@apollonia6656]

You probably read 84 Charing Cross Rd and it should give those who love books and haven't yet: please do ! I love listening and reading about avid readers because I am one of them !

[@carolinaao3075]

Every book was gorgeous. If I ever go to London I’ll search for an awesome edition of the Count Of Montecristo by Alejandro Dumas. One day! I just finished reading Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, fantasy romance, enemies to lovers, I’m not a big fantasy reader but I enjoyed this one. Lovely video as always.

[@lasaves3207]

You should go to Donner in Rotterdam (the Netherlands); it's a great bookshop! Also, I read The Word for World is Forest by Ursula Le Guin and I think you might actually like that one.

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

I'm either going to London in September or October and going to Waterstones is a top priority, but I don't know if I'll be able to spend as much time there as you did. I want to get tote bag from there as well.

[@Sarahac8]

The Machine Stops is eerily prescient. Looking forward to your thoughts.

[@Lyleelou11]

The Lottery is really good, it gave me Hunger Games vibes

[@hmm6411]

I believe I saw your boyfriend standing in front of the philosophy section. If he is into philosophy, he has superior taste all the way round. A keeper!!! Keep writing.

[@Bonnie_to_the_world]

Feel ❤loved! (All books 📚 bought in London!)

[@elenavezzulli7789]

Amazing video! 🥰 It would be nice if you film a video with your boyfriend, he seems a book lover too and he can talk about his suggestions or others ❤️

[@oobalooba.]

The trip of my dreams!!! 😍

[@ingaurban404]

Lovely video! Hatchards is actually now owned by Waterstones.

[@jenniferpalmer5130]

Even though, i live in england, i have only been to london a few times. Fun fact is, if you look at the chimneys there is one or two of them that are fake.

[@empea3837]

So excited for you for the amazing trip you had 🎉❤. I love the variety of content in this video. God bless 🙏🏻 📚

[@CarolynMarieReads]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@Biminigirl15]

I've loved watching your videos! I'm so glad you found some gems 😆😊. Question: How do you feel of a Memoirs of a Geisha? I haven't read it, and I've been thinking of doing so. I fell in love with the story after watching the film and would love to know how close the film is to the memoir itself.

[@m_meeks]

uk covers just have a certain charm that us covers don't have! off topic but I love your boyfriends backpack!! does he remember where he got it cause I would love one

[@samathareddy8833]

Your videos make my day 🤗

[@asan1050]

CarolynMarieReads ! Thanks Much !.......

[@EstudanteLeitora]

I'm Brazilian and i love your vídeos😍

[@Ellibelly157]

I really enjoyed The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster! I found it online by chance. I haven’t heard anyone else mention it until now. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it ❤

[@lynncornelissen]

WAIT carolyn, you didn’t visit Gosh Comics???? It’s a bookshop with exclusively Graphic Novels!!!

[@carlosbranca8080]

I'm very happy for you! The UK in general is a reader's dream. Take it from a latin american. Take care and keep up the great content.

[@trublue2952]

where you order from for British covers?

[@tuvstar100]

The machine stops apparently is what EVERYONE should read now, possibly in the context of A.I , and apparently this book is very unlike all of Forester’s other books… I found out about this book from mr Kingsnorth (the confessions of a recovering environmentalist)

[@AllyEmReads]

Please please PLEASE read the Lottery in a reading vlog or just record yourself reading it, it's so impactful and I would die to see your reactions!

[@vmpapillon8984]

With the silver penguin modern- is the quality better than the aqua colored penguin modern editions? I recently leafed through Pessoa's House of Disquiet and the paper was so thin that the print bled through and almost appeared blurry. I really want that particular take on the novel but the horrendous quality really turned me off. 😢

[@davidpaul3821]

Daunts Bookshop in London.

[@AmyMcCaw]

I love Waterstones too!

[@CarolynMarieReads]

It’s the best 🥹📚💖

[@user-qo6tz1oe1v]

It's not hoarding if it's books

[@cathybalke]

I was in London back in May and went a little crazy on book shopping as well! Any suggestions on where to buy UK cover editions online now that Book Depository had closed? I can’t really afford to fly to the UK every time I want to shop for books. 😅

[@M-T-123]

Hello , waterstones is my place to order , at least for US has free shipping

[@cathybalke]

@@M-T-123 thanks!

[@CathyFrontier]

Hatchards is gorgeous - but it is not independent. It’s owned by… Waterstones! 😊

[@neverbored]

"The lottery" the book i wish i could unread 😅

[@jmsl_910]

is "the underground" what they used to call "the tube?"

[@magda_mf]

Both names are used. "The underground" is the actual name while "the tube" is slang

[@jamesduggan7200]

You really don't want to know the nicknames New Yorkers have for their subway system.

[@kurtfox4944]

Jealous. My nearest book store is almost an hour away (excepting used books at Salvation Army).

[@kimbarbeaureads]

What sorts of books does your bf like to read? Is his taste similar to yours? I am just wondering.

[@jmsl_910]

🩵🩵🩵

[@FollowSmoke]

Is this a book channel or am i watching QVC?

[@melissajane411]

Next time you should visit Foyles!

[@ObstinateHeadstrongGirl]

Yes, I have Babette's Feast in the same edition as your Forster's The Machine Stops so I'm pretty sure it's from a larger set. :)