City Basement Books in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Shopping & retail

City Basement Books

Locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 3 9620 0428

Address: 342 Flinders Street 3000 Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.citybasementbooks.com.au/

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25.01.2022 A brave new week, #Melbourne. Are we ready? Well, possibly. We'll do the best we can, anyway! The sunshine at the top of the stairs helps- when we look up and see the skyscrapers on Southbank and the tree tops across the road and much nearer to us, and the blue skies over all, well- it's a reminder of better times ahead There are we hopeful! We hope the sun is shining where you are. In every respect.... Here are some of the latest arrivals for you, and a glimpse of our aisles too- for those of you missing an amble around them, and a good look around. You can find these books among our listings, with more than 17,000 other titles. Do have a browse if you feel inclined. Hold fast, book friends. Stay strong, #Melbourne .

24.01.2022 A quick wave today, and I've grabbed a selection from our new arrivals table for you with one or two exceptions. None of these titles are listed, so they're just waiting to be chosen by someone, or to find their way to our bookshelves. Some may have some flaws, others may be perfectly alright, with minimal wear. The luck of the draw! We hope you're having a good day, wherever in our wide world you are. Steady as we go, despite those upheavals around us. This too shall pass! Yes, still optimistic here. Read on, book friends. Read on!

24.01.2022 Thursday, and here we are in our basement in marvellous #Melbourne, doors open once more. And it seems an especially wonderful day. We hope it's so where you are too. (Someone told us via email that: 'We rock!' It's a small thing, but we'll take it, for a nanosecond at least!) We have a bunch of new arrivals for you today, since we've been working away at our listings for the last couple of days. No more 18th century books just now, but a host of other titles on all kinds of subjects. All our listed books can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/4dspnc5z Now then, shoulders back, sit up straight, and on we go! (Rocking on the inside...)

24.01.2022 Edited to add: With the announcement of Stage 4 restrictions for the next 5 days in Victoria, we will be closed to visitors from 6pm tonight. Stay safe, everyone. Look after yourselves. Our earlier post: Friday in #Melbourne, and it's a rather nervous time as I type. We hope all is well where you are. ... In the meantime, books! We had someone in earlier looking for some books, who left empty-handed, overwhelmed by there being: 'Too many books; I just got lost!'. Perhaps that's why we have some people who have their own pathways when they visit, and sometimes - after years!- ask tentatively if we have a section on something they've never looked for before. Sometimes it's an adventure to step off the path... Today's lot is another selection from our latest listed items, all to be found here, with around 17,500 other titles: https://tinyurl.com/4dspnc5z We hope you have some great plans for a relaxing weekend ahead. If someone could just bring me a G&T sometime soon- ah, wouldn't that be lovely! Stay well, stay safe. Read on!

22.01.2022 Tuesday, and we hope all is as well as can be where you are. Where we are, here in our #Melbourne book-lined lair, we're going along as best we can. The enquiries we get are fewer in number right now, and only via phone, but still- some we can answer and some we can't- business as usual - in that regard at least! And as Aragorn said: there is always hope. For us to be quoting Aragorn will come as no surprise to visitors of our bookshop! (With thanks to J.R.R. Tolkien). ... Some more pics of our aisles for you today, with some new additions to our listings for good measure. They are among our online listings with many other titles, so do check them out when you can. And that's it from the basement today. Look after yourselves, and read on, book friends.

21.01.2022 Tuesday, and we're waving from our subterranean lair in #Melbourne, the city made even more marvellous right now by the floral installations around and about. As promised yesterday, the first pic is of the installation at Flinders Street station, taken this morning. The rest of the pics are from the latest additions to our online listings. There's no doubt that the continuing double zeros here in Victoria, combined with blue skies and sunshine, does put a certain spring in ...one's step. People gradually returning to our bookshop and finding treasures - that also helps, as it's why we're here, after all! We're going to roll with that, and just enjoy the moments and the day. We hope you're enjoying your day wherever in the wide world you are. Stay safe, read on, book friends, read on!

21.01.2022 Once again, we find ourselves behind our locked door, gazing out at the world. We hope you're doing well as we all navigate these circumstances the best way we can. Hopeful that it won't be very long before you're able to wander our aisles again at will. I was thankful this morning for the gentleman who'd come into the city to open up his cafe and make coffee for his regulars: we have to look after each other, he said. Little gestures can mean a great deal in the scheme of... things. A selection from our latest listings for you, in the meantime. You can find them here, along with many other titles: https://tinyurl.com/4dspnc5z Hope you've got a great book to keep you company! Look after yourselves, stay safe and well.

21.01.2022 Monday, and we hope all is well with you. We'll update our hours later on to reflect the fact that we'll be closed tomorrow for the #Melbourne Cup public holiday, but please consider this a forewarning! And if you're lucky enough to have a day off, remember to treat yourself to something that brings you joy. We trust you're treading gently as everyone adjusts to the gradual opening up of our city. We're all finding our way, and trying to do the best we can. Thanks to thos...e of you who've already paid us a visit: one of our first sales when we opened our door was to a customer who found a couple of railway books he'd been seeking for ages. We've missed those 'eureka' moments! Here are some of our latest arrivals for your consideration and virtual browsing. Continue to mask up, sanitise, and observe those social distancing rules we're all familiar with. Do take care, whether you're in #Melbourne or further afield. And - yes, read on!

21.01.2022 It's Thursday, book friends, and what a week it's been. Just when you think 2020 can't offer any more surprises, too. Here, we're going to focus on the double zero figures again in marvellous #Melbourne. Wonderful, after the months we've had. Keep it up, everyone! ... More books in yesterday, and we've just sent a bushranger's biography off to a g.g. nephew of said bushranger (no, not Ned). Exciting! Almost like having a convict in the family. I know not everyone agrees, but I'm with Jack Thompson, who said, when they found a convict in his family tree: 'Australian royalty at last!' The first book here is something most of us could have done with at the start of lockdown, perhaps. One for the reference shelves, in case of emergency. The rest of the books are part of our online listings, so do have a browse when you can and if you feel inclined. Take care, keep well, and read on!

20.01.2022 It's Thursday, and I just went up our stairs to see what was happening outside our door in #Melbourne's Flinders St. Not much, in the scheme of things, which is as it should be right now. But the sun is shining, and the trees are spring-green. We take our happiness where we can. The books keep coming in: it's a constant miracle how they're redistributed around the bookshop, almost like we're bigger on the inside (TARDIS-like). Wouldn't that be wonderful! We hope you're... doing well, everyone. Some days it does feel like reserves are running low, and it's a little harder to jump into the new day. But jump we will! Some new arrivals for you again today, from our latest listings. And a couple of pics of some more corners of our maze, with that outlook through our locked door... hopefully not that way for too much longer. Look after yourselves, keep reading, carry on!

19.01.2022 A Thursday wave from our basement to you all, book friends. We have a few titles from the last couple of days of adding to our database for you today. We hope you're doing well, and that if you're in Melbourne and Victoria, you're adjusting to the world as it opens up a little. It does seem a bit strange, I have to say. But I know we'll adjust! There are certainly a few more people around the city, and on the trains too, though there's no sense of crowds yet. We hope you...'re staying masked up, for your own sake, and those around you too. We've had a few Alice In Wonderland-related books in, as well as some nice limited editions of A.E. Coppard, for anyone interested in such things. And- as ever- so many books on all manner of subjects, some listed, and others not. Do drop in if you're in marvellous #Melbourne, and anyone is able to check out our database here at any time: https://tinyurl.com/y23jq99c And now for a deep breath, a good look around, and on we go... Enjoy your day!

19.01.2022 A very quiet Tuesday morning here in our basement. Perhaps everyone is waiting, waiting... We're working away at the database, and I've just added a book full of tables and calculations - the contents will no doubt seem dull to most of us, but I am a little thrilled to think that this book was published in 1772. And the owner, in 1776, doodled his name and other notes all over the front endpapers. 1776. It's mind-boggling when you stop to think about it for a second or t...wo. The following pics are some of the latest additions to our online listings, in case you feel the need for some online browsing. These and many other titles can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/4dspnc5z Let's hope for some good news for Victoria tomorrow. In the meantime, look after yourselves. Read on, book friends.

19.01.2022 Monday, and we hope all is well with you as we embark on this brave new week. It seems to hold more promise, somehow: #Melbourne sunshine, another day of double zeros, so on we go, masked, sanitised, and- could this be optimism in the air? We're not going to question it, just enjoy the feeling while it's with us! While welcoming people back to the bookshop, we've managed to add a few more books to our listings, and some of them feature below. Perhaps next update, I'll ch...oose some titles from the many that we don't get around to adding to the database! Happy Monday, book friends. Enjoy your days, wherever you are.

19.01.2022 Monday, and we're updating this in advance of any change to the situation here in marvellous #Melbourne & Victoria. An announcement is imminent, but we'll focus on the books, and see what unfolds a little later. If you had a long weekend, we hope it was a good one, and if your team was in a grand final, we hope they won. If nothing of much note happened, we hope it was a good time anyway! The thing that stayed with me over the weekend was a little volume, much worn, of s...everal of Shakespeare's plays as theatre audiences would have known them in 1747- which is when the book was published. I'm still a bit in awe, really. Some of our latest arrivals for you to gaze upon, all to be found among our listings. Will make this a brief post today, we're sure your focus- if you're in Victoria- is on what tomorrow (or the next day) may bring. May it be good news for us all. Onwards, book friends. On we go!

18.01.2022 Friday, and we hope this finds you well, and looking forward to the weekend, and whatever joys it has in store. We added a bunch of titles to our listings yesterday, and I think I've just caught up with the housekeeping! Some of them are shown below, and others, along with the rest of our catalogue, you can browse here: https://tinyurl.com/y23jq99c Our first pic is of the Maritime, Espionage, Aviation and Military sections, looking towards the exit to our lifts. And ou...r last pic is from the bottom of the stairs, looking up at the trees and the sky, some of which I can see if I put my head towards the keyboard and gaze upwards. We'll let our books do the rest of the talking today. May your weekends include some reading in a semi-recumbent position, with a glass of something and a good book close at hand. Read on, book friends. Read on!

18.01.2022 Tuesday, and all is well? We hope the answer to that is 'yes' wherever you are, and especially - if you'll forgive us- in #Melbourne . Here, we're going along as best we can, the book stacks grow, and we gaze up the stairs, waiting for the day when the door can be opened again. So we'll give ourselves a little shake, and keep on working away to set free as many books as we can into the wilds of the bookshop: on your first visit back, explore far and wide, as you never kno...w what might have come in! And in the meantime, do check out our listings- there's around 17,400 books just waiting for you to browse! Keep on keeping on. Take care, book friends.

18.01.2022 Monday, and we've entered the time of Daylight Saving. Did anyone else feel like they could have done with another few hours of sleep this morning? Ah well, we'll adjust. We hope your weekend was a good one, however you spent the days. Some more from our latest additions to the listings for your browsing distraction. For Norman Lindsay fans, we also have a few of his titles just in. There are a few crime fiction titles too, and I was wondering, as I often do, where many... crime writers would find titles for their books if it wasn't for Shakespeare. We're ready for what the new week will bring us- at least, we're as ready as we can be. Give the last few weeks & what's happened in the world, we wouldn't want to tempt fate with any foolish bravado! We hope Monday treats you well. Carry on, book friends. One foot in front of the other, you know the drill. Take care.

16.01.2022 Thursday, and a long weekend beckons here in Victoria. It will be different from previous long weekends, but perhaps - fingers crossed- our world here in #Melbourne and Victoria may be a little more like normal next week. Whatever 'normal' is?! We'll adjust and carry on, won't we? Of course we will. A bumper lot of pics from our latest arrivals for you today, since we'll be awol for a day or so. Though we will be checking on our emails and orders, so if anything here, or ...indeed, any of our listed books take your fancy, please let us know. You'll find them all here: https://tinyurl.com/y23jq99c If you are having a long weekend, and even if you're not, remember to look after yourselves and those around you. We prescribe a chaise longue or similar, a good brew of something, and a page turner or three- sweet dreams are made of this! (Thank you, Annie Lennox). Not long to go now, if we just hold the line for a bit longer. Carry on, keep safe, and read away!

16.01.2022 Sorry if you've been bombarded with messages about us updating our hours. I'm wrestling with Facebook and they're winning so far. What we're trying to let you know is that, while we've been closed on Saturdays during the lockdown, from this coming Saturday we'll be open once more from 10 till 2. A selection of books from our listings is below, continuing our practice of the past few months. There will still be many of you who aren't in Melbourne or are outside the 25km lim...it and can't pay us a visit just yet. So we'll keep this up while it's of some use or interest to you (hopefully it's one or the other, and if not, apologies and move along please!). I have my morning coffee, I've corrected a typo that's been worrying me for 36 hours or so, and now we've sent out a message to you, book friends. What next? It's on with the day! The sun is shining over Melbourne today, and we hope it is where you are. Read on, read on...

16.01.2022 Friday, and we can report that there are a few more people about in marvellous #Melbourne , and it's been lovely to open our doors again, as we all become accustomed to this brave new world. Masked, sanitiser at the ready, social distancing in mind, and on we go. As is often the case, we had an enquiry for a particular book earlier in the week, and we couldn't help. But what turned up the next day? Of course it did! This happens more often than you'd expect, so if that cu...stomer is looking at our updates, perhaps she'll see the book and ring again. We hope so! There's a bookish theme to most of the books I've featured below- it seemed apt, somehow, now that browsing is allowed once more. A reminder that we're open again tomorrow, Saturday, from 10am till 2pm, if you're heading into the city. Remember to keep safe, look after yourselves, and read on, book friends.

15.01.2022 Monday, and a brave new week for us all. We hope you had a good weekend, however you spent your days. If you're among those returning to your offices after months of working from home, we hope you're enjoying the experience. This morning, I walked across Princes Bridge for the first time in months and months. It was lovely to see the city from that angle, and enjoy the breeze in the trees along St Kilda Road; and to admire our much-maligned river, and the promise of the... Arts Centre and NGV opening up again soon. The things I took for granted! Enough of that. On to the books! We've a had a few Classics titles among our latest arrivals; Latin is always a popular subject, so if you're after something in that line, be quick! All of the books pictured below are among our online listings, except for the last three, which I grabbed at random from the weekend lot. Our listings can be found here at any time, whenever you fancy a browse: https://tinyurl.com/y23jq99c We've had an enquiry about gift vouchers this morning, so it's a good time to remind you that we do have gift vouchers if you have someone in your life who'd enjoy such a thing. But for now, the sun is shining at the top of our stairs, and all is well here in our basement. Drop in when you can!

14.01.2022 Apologies, book friends. We seem to have missed Monday altogether. Did you miss us?! Anyway, we have a bumper lot of titles for you today, just added to our online listings. It's a rather grey day in dear old #Melbourne today, but bright enough to hold some promise for the spring days ahead. We have a view from a couple of our aisles for you today, for those missing the chance to wander our maze. I'm a bit bereft of things to say right now. ('For this relief, much than...ks!' I hear you cry!) Strange when there are so many books around me containing wisdom and distraction of all kinds, but you know how it is. Sometimes, inspiration holds itself at bay. We'll hold on to the promise of a time when we can open our doors again, and you can wander down our stairs. We hope you find something here of interest, and remember you can browse the 17,500 odd titles we have listed here: https://tinyurl.com/y23jq99c Keep well, stay strong. Read on!

14.01.2022 Thursday, and we hope your day is going well, wherever you are in our wide world. We might just be feeling a little more optimistic today, but - shhhh! Don't tell anyone, please. We don't want to jinx ourselves! We'll tread gently and hope for the best. We have a new lot from our recently listed books for you, all to be found here, along with many other titles: https://tinyurl.com/y23jq99c The books that have stuck in my head from the last couple of days have been an ear...ly edition of a book by Darwin, and a signed limited edition of essays by Norman Lindsay. Sometimes it's a privilege just to see some books, and wonder at them, you know? Anyway, I've almost finished my morning coffee (cold now), and so- it's on with the day! Keep on keeping on, and look after yourselves, book friends.

13.01.2022 We've had a few happy people in over the last couple of days: whether because they've finished a course, or they're off to see family interstate, or they're just pleased to be back browsing in a bookshop once again. Here we're happy to see people wandering the aisles and finding treasure for themselves or others- a lovely quiet buzz in contrast with the silence that was lockdown. A reminder that you can browse our online listings here at any time, if you're not able to vis...it right now: https://tinyurl.com/y23jq99c The books featured here today are all from our listings, with many more besides. Finally, just a thank you for the support you've given us over the last little while; to those of you who've found books online and ordered from us, and for the support here too. We appreciate it all. We know most people have had a difficult time one way or another, and if that was you, we're hoping things are getting better for you now. Or maybe that's just the end of the year hurtling towards us?! Either way.... Read on, book friends. Read on!

10.01.2022 Friday, book friends, and we believe it's a lovely warm #Melbourne day out there above ground. (No jacket for me today, for the first time in months and months- yes, living dangerously here.) We had a bumper day adding to the listings yesterday, so I'm spoilt for choice today in just what to share with you. So what I've decided on is some of the books I'd be very pleased to add to my to-be-read stacks! If none of them appeal to you, apologies. I'll try to do better next t...ime. And finally, a reminder that it's 'Love Your Bookshop' Day tomorrow- if you're in a place where you can visit your local bookshop, please do so if you're able. The rest of us will look forward to the day when we can do the same! Have a lovely weekend, everyone. Some r&r, a good book, and a glass of something. That'll do nicely! Stay safe, and well. Onwards!

10.01.2022 Thursday, and we might just be feeling a bit low right now. (I couldn't even drink my coffee this morning- therein lies the problem, perhaps?) We know we're not alone, though. And we hope you're travelling well, all things considered. So we'll share some titles from our new arrivals, in the hope that they might brighten the day for some of you, and lift our spirits. Sometimes we come across volumes that stay in our heads as we puzzle over them. One such is the last pict...ure of a large rather decrepit item sent in by Bill (our buyer), with an invitation to add to its story, if anyone should know anything about it or the architect author- you can read more about it if you get that far. Enjoy your day, whether you're near or far. And what now? Why, onwards, of course!

09.01.2022 Monday, and we hope all is well, wherever in the wide world you are. Here, we've jumped straight into the week, masks on here in our #Melbourne basement, and eyes wide open. And on we go... After the months of it being just us here, it's rather nice to hear the quiet buzz around the aisles, and see people finding new treasures for themselves. I haven't even had a chance to see what new arrivals came in on Saturday yet, a treat still in store for me! And we have plenty of fiction if you're in need of some escapism, or if you're wanting to build up your to-be-read stacks. Ah, those stacks, waiting patiently till you can get to them. The stuff of dreams!

09.01.2022 Friday, and here we are again. With all the kerfuffle on Facebook over the last day or so, selfishly, we're glad we can still bring you updates on some of the books arriving in our basement. Like my own choice for book of the day yesterday: this lovely volume of 6 tales from the Arabian Nights, illustrated by Edmund Dulac- how delighted that school child must have been in 1916, when she received this beautiful book as a prize! We've also had some books on Australian aviati...on in, and Maths fans, we've had a few titles on this subject as well. It may surprise some to know that Maths is one of the more popular subjects, so it's nice when the shelves can be refurbished, however briefly. We hope you have a relaxing weekend ahead if you're able. Remember we're open from 10 till 2 if you're in the city tomorrow. Otherwise, you know the drill: a cup of something, a semi-recumbent position, and a good book!

09.01.2022 Friday, book friends. Just an ordinary Friday here, no particular colour or anything. Just the usual: good books at a reasonable price, all year round. (Apologies, but I couldn't resist. The writer's fault, not the bookshop's!) But it is a remarkable Friday in other ways: the 28th day of zero Covid cases. We're still masked up, of course, but for this relief, much thanks, and congratulations Melburnians and Victorians. Some nice & varied titles today, all from our onli...ne listings, but the first photo is our display in tribute to Jan Morris, who died last week. Vale, Jan, much admired travel writer and historian, who lived an extraordinary life. We've had a few people in today who've not been here before, and are finding it hard to tear themselves away. It's nice to hear, and to be reminded of the Aladdin's Cave in which I am so lucky to spend my days. Do drop in when you can! Remember we're open from 10 till 2 tomorrow, and you can browse our online listings any time here: https://tinyurl.com/y23jq99c Have a great weekend, one and all. We recommend a glass of your favourite beverage, a semi-recumbent position, and a good book. Bliss, right there!

09.01.2022 Greetings, book friends. It's been a good news sort of week in #Melbourne so far, hasn't it? Our door will be open from tomorrow, for those of you who are able to visit us. We'll have sanitiser, a register for visitors, and ask that you observe the social distancing we're all familiar with. We're all treading gently back into this new Covid-safe world, so please be kind, and patient. And if you're unwell, please stay home and look after yourself and others.... We also have a great many books, and some of them are included in this post. I might have doubled up on a few from previous posts, and if I have, I apologise- but it's all the excitement of getting ready to welcome people back! I hope you'll forgive me. We do have some Lewis Carroll and Alice-related books coming in of late, so if anyone is interested in Alice and/or her creator, do keep an eye on our listings. We're set to go, Melbourne. Breathe easy, and steady as she goes.

08.01.2022 We know it's Friday 13th, but we're going to defy you, stars! 14 days of double zeros here in #Melbourne and it does feel a teeny bit marvellous. If you're heading out of the city this weekend to celebrate the lifting of (some) borders, enjoy! And remember we're all getting used to this once more, so please be patient, and kind as you go. 'Kind' was a word much more in evidence over the course of the last few months, and that, I think, is one of the good things that came ...out of this time. Anyway, enough of that. Among our new arrivals are: 'Alice in Wonderland' in Esperanto, 'Anne of Green Gables' in Hungarian, a volume of Norman Lindsay's pencil drawings from the time he was 10 until the year before he died, Edith Wharton's travel diary (written when she was a young woman and before she was known as a writer, and which was discovered in 1991 on a library shelf in France), and... so many other books besides! Remember, you can browse our listed books here at any time: https://tinyurl.com/y23jq99c We're open from 10 till 2 tomorrow, so if you're in the city, do drop in! Have a lovely weekend, relax, and may you have a book or two close to hand at all times.

08.01.2022 Thursday, and we trust all is very well where you are. Here, we're having a quiet start, which is lovely as it gives me time to drink my coffee as I contemplate the day. A bumper lot of books for you to look at today, all of them recently listed online here, along with around 17,500 other titles (at time of writing): https://tinyurl.com/y23jq99c We also had a load of new arrivals in yesterday, and the boxes sit there enticingly, holding treasures of all kinds yet to be disco...vered. So many books, so little time, alas. The booklover's cry? We're sure you understand! *** Did I say a quiet morning? Some time has elapsed between those words and now, so: carpe diem! May the day be kind to you, book friends. A much-underrated virtue, kindness. Onwards!

07.01.2022 Monday, and we hope all is well where you are. Here, we've finished the weekend emails (behold our shining halos!), the orders are wrapped, and enquiries answered. And now to investigate some new boxes to see what treasures emerge. Always an exciting time, as we're sure you'll understand. And the first box reveals Historic Maps of the Napoleonic Wars, The World of Books in Classical Antiquity, some Arthur Upfield titles, and a book on Crocodiles. And we're off! ... May your Monday treat you kindly. And may the week hold promise for us all. Read on, book fiends!

07.01.2022 It's Friday, and we're waving this week goodbye. We hope it's been good to you in some ways at least, or in many. Included in today's pics are our new arrivals counter- some of you will be reassured to see it's loaded up with books, as it has been over the last few weeks. BUT- the books have come and gone, mostly to add to the stacks around about. So when you're able to visit again, do venture further into our maze than the new arrivals counter- you never know what might... have come in since we've been closed to visitors. We've also featured one end of our bookworm bookends: often admired, and I can't help thinking that if someone crafty could produce some of these, they'd do well. The books are a few from our latest listings, so do check them out if you have some time to browse. They're there with many other titles as well. Hope your weekend is blessed with a cosy corner, a good book or two, and a beverage of choice. Sounds quite good to me... And may next week bring better times to all. Read on, book friends, read on.

07.01.2022 Greetings, book friends. A Thursday, by any other name- would still be the same day of the week, so let's get on! In fact, there's some comfort to be had in routine, and the unremarkable, in view of certain other things happening in the world, don't you think? We do pay attention, but just occasionally we're distracted by the wonders we see closer to hand. ... So let's get to the books! They're a constant and will still be around for comfort, distraction, knowledge and revelation, and sometimes all four, long after our current strifes are over (and if they're looked after, of course). There's yet more King Penguins in, a nice lot amassing now if anyone wanted to begin a collection. And all manner of good things, which I am resisting madly. We hope you're doing well, and finding joys around you along the way. Look after yourselves, stay strong. Onwards!

07.01.2022 A Tuesday hello and a wave as we glide by. We hope you're all doing well, and if you're in #Melbourne, that you're getting used to seeing the faces of your fellow Melburnians if you're outdoors. Isn't it delightful?! Here is our basement, we're still masked up, of course, which may count as a blessing for some when all's said and done. :) Today's update is mainly one for the art lovers, with a few exceptions. For those who haven't been able to visit us as yet, we have ...quite a large art section, with a separate section for Australian art, and also for photography and various other categories. We've another lot of books coming in tomorrow, all being well, and that's always exciting. The anticipation, and the not knowing what might turn up- thrilling! Beside me right now, I have 'The Fantasy Art Techniques of Tim Hildebrandt', 'The Lost Books of the Bible and the forgotten books of Eden', and 'Thin Skins- Why the French hate Australian Wine'. There's something for everyone, when all's said and done. Do drop in for a wander around our maze when you can, and remember you can browse online at any time here: https://tinyurl.com/y23jq99c Keep calm and read on!

06.01.2022 Thursday, and we hope all is well with you. A couple of days ago, there were two strangers talking in the aisle next to me, and exclaiming that they'd not known about our bookshop before. A #Melbourne secret? Perhaps we are. But if you're reading this, you clearly know about us! I was just reminded, listening to them talk, of how lucky I am to be surrounded by book in this place. There am I thankful. And one of our lovely regular visitors was in earlier, and though he'd ...found some things during the lockdown and bought from us online, he commented on how good it was to be browsing the shelves again in person. Nothing beats a good browse! Though online listings are great when you're unable to visit in person, of course. If you can't get in or are just too far away, a reminder that you can browse our listings here at any time: https://tinyurl.com/y23jq99c Stay cool, and well. And- yes, you guessed! Read on!

05.01.2022 Friday, and as we slowly lurch towards the weekend, we hope you're doing well, and looking out for yourself and those around you. We wanted to clear up a possible misunderstanding, in light of some recent enquiries we've had. We know Facebook says we're open: however, in the current climate, that means we're here to answer phone enquiries and emails, and to deal with any online orders. Please feel free to ask or order as you will. But our doors are closed until such ...time as we're allowed to open them again. A time we're very much looking forward to! Just a few from the latest arrivals today, along with a little self-indulgence. A recent book I read was Polly Samson's 'A Theatre For Dreamers', and it's been haunting me ever since. It's a new book, so this isn't a plug for us- it may not appear here for a while yet. But the book was a fictionalised account of life on Hydra when Charmian Clift and George Johnston were the centre of a group of writers, artists, poets, and musicians (including Leonard Cohen and Marianne Axel) who lived and worked there in the late 1950s & early 1960s. And it made me go searching our bookshelves for Charmian & George & Leonard too- an example of how one book can lead you on, and on, opening more doors along the way. I'm sure you've found this yourselves, it's a revelation & a joy when it happens. (By the way, there's a great interview online from the Hay Festival, featuring Polly Samson and her husband, Dave Gilmour (of Pink Floyd fame) with some Cohen songs for good measure. You're welcome!) Apologies for the detour. Normal service will now be resumed... If you wanted to check out our online listings, please have a look here: https://tinyurl.com/y23jq99c At this link, you can search our complete listings by keyword (e.g. subject), author or title. We hope you have some good things lined up for your weekend, treats, r&r, time with family & friends, and time with a good book and a glass or two of something. Stay safe, whether you're in #Melbourne or further afield. And read on!

02.01.2022 Very late in the day, this Friday, and I do apologise. Better late, than not at all? We hope so! Today's been a day when we can really see that people have missed browsing for books, with book-seekers wandering the aisles or asking for particular things. We hope many of them have found something they wanted. Some who've supported these facebook updates (thank you for the encouragement!) have finally been able to return in person again, which is wonderful. Some have been ...relieved to find us still here. And yes, here we are, lurking in our basement among the many, many books. Just the way we like it! If you can't get in to visit, remember you can browse our online listings at any time here: https://tinyurl.com/y23jq99c Have a great weekend, remember to relax with a good book or two, and a little drop of something you fancy. That gives you lots of scope! Read on, book friends.

02.01.2022 Tuesday, book friends, and somehow Monday has passed us by. Apologies if you missed us. We're a bit discombobulated, truth be known. Little items of equipment keep disappearing- I attribute it to the Poltergeist who also knocks over the occasional book stack in the night, to greet us when we arrive in the morning. What else could it be?! Anyway, we adapt and carry on as best we can - who knew it was so difficult to acquire a box-cutter in this time of lockdown? (We have ...been informed that one is awaiting us this afternoon, so there are we happy!) Here are a few of the latest additions to our online listings, you can find them, and much more besides, at the usual place here: https://tinyurl.com/y23jq99c And our first image needs no comment except: Vale, RBG. (With thanks to @BetterReadingAU )

01.01.2022 Apologies, we completely missed Monday again! And I've just lost a post I was almost ready to share, so you'll have to take my word that it was a gem. Grrrr! But are we defeated? Dear me, no! Take two. ... What have we been up to? We've just been lurking in our basement, adding to the database, and a few of the latest arrivals are below, while those titles and many more can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/y23jq99c I gaze over the row of books in front of me to the Philosophy section, and while I'm sure there are books there that would provide wisdom or advice on how to get through things right now, I find myself reaching for tried and true titles, you know the ones, familiar friends you can open at any page and start reading. Comfort reading, while the stack of books-to-be-read sits there, patiently. Well, they'll be ready when I am, and they don't go off like some other treats do! Time for a new book from the stack tonight. But in the meantime... We hope you're doing well, wherever in the world you are, and especially if you're in #Melbourne and Victoria. Stay well, one foot in front of the other. We're almost there.

01.01.2022 Monday, book friends, and how's your day going? We hope you're doing well, and that you enjoyed your weekend, especially if you were able to venture out of marvellous #Melbourne to regional Victoria. That treat is still ahead for me! It's lovely to see people slowly coming back to our maze, to browse the shelves and find some treasure for themselves. The city is still relatively quiet, but there's a fabulous floral/leafy display around the clocks at Flinders Street station ...right now. I tried to get a photo of it for you this morning, but all I got was a terrible selfie, which no-one needs to see! I'll try again tomorrow. Enjoy your Monday, with all the promise of the week to come. Onwards, one foot in front of the other. That's how it goes, after all!