Books Books Books

We cordially invite you to the Grand Opening of Books Books Books this Saturday, 3rd May, at our new address at Rue du Valentin 1. We have a few thousand more books, including new sections for poetry-lovers, crime-enthusiasts, romance-readers and fans of fiction in translation. On Saturday, the talented singer-songwriter JayD will play an acoustic set on his guitar at 10.30. At 14.00 we will serve tea and yummy, home-made scones. Finally, a CHF 100 gift certificate is up for grabs for the winner of our book hunt. You can take part in the book hunt any time during the day, you just need your phone and some determination. …and don’t forget to ask for your 10% discount on our new books through the month of May. Just ask for it at the till using the code word, “I would like a 10% discount, please”

We are closed 24th and 25th April, reopening at our new place on Saturday, 25th at 9am!

The shelves have had their last lick of varnish, the elusive electrician was finally cornered and, as I write these words, Rachel is placing the first of 1000’s of new books on the shelves of the new bookshop. We are moving from our current location on Thursday, 24th & Friday 25th April, so if you need to stock up on books now’s your chance as we will be closed on those days. In the meantime, our second-hand books are CHF 1, and we still have a large collection of fiction, children’s books and non-fiction titles in stock at our current location. Come in, if only to say a fond goodbye to this place. The new location is at Rue du Valentin 1. Imagine walking away from the Riponne in the direction of Coop Cité. Turn right at the junction of le Pointu / Bruxelles Café / the Catholic church (currently behind scaffolding) onto the Rue Valentin. We are the second shop on the left. The nearest parking is Parking du Valentin. Buses 1 and 2 stop directly outside. We will be open at 9am on Saturday, 26th April. The Grand Opening is set for Saturday, 3rd May, when we will…

Our last used books swap was so popular, we’re doing it again! Join us on Saturday, November 30th, from 10am-2pm. Come by with your used books, and take one new-to-you used book for every book you bring (no textbooks, manuals, or encyclopedias, please!). We look forward to seeing you there!

Perhaps you’ve strolled by the bookshop lately and noticed our new window display. Why paper cranes ? Why a thousand paper cranes ? (français suit) Origami (the Japanese art of folding paper) cranes are a symbol of hope and peace in Japan. The story starts when seventh grader Sodako gets diagnosed with leukemia, after the fall of Hiroshima’s atomic bomb. Despite this, she stays hopeful for her rehabilitaion. A visiting friend of hers shares an inspiring legend : if she can fold 1’000 paper cranes, she will get better soon. Sodako folded paper cranes throughout her illness, and continued until she peacefully passed away surronded by her family. In honour of September being Childhood Cancer Awareness month, we’re doing a sponsored Bike Tour of the Lake of Geneva. All money donated to the Ride4Zoe will go to Zoe4Life, an association fighting childhood cancer. You can read more about Ride4Zoe here: https://ride4zoe.com/accueil/, and donate to the ride here: https://zoe4life.givingpage.org/donation-fr. Pourquoi des grues en papier? Et pourquoi mille? Les grues d’origami (l’art japonais du pliage de papier) sont un symbol d’espoir et de paix au Japon. Sodako, une élève de septième, reçoit un diagnostic de leucémie après la chute de la bombe atomique d’Hiroshima. Néanmoins, elle…

Come and join us on Tuesday 25 June at 7pm (doors open at 6:30) for the launch of The Road – A Guide to Crossing the Nepal Himalayas by Bike; a guidebook which aims to bust the myth that Nepal is only an extreme travel destination. The book provides a step by step guide to crossing the 1650km Middle Himalayan range (1000-3000m) by gravel or mountain bike. As well as a guidebook, the book also serves as a travelogue, with stories, anecdotes and stunning photos of daily life in this little visited part of the Himalayan mountains. We will be joined by the author, Richard Williams, and mountain biking legend Christoph Sauser (who wrote the foreword to the book), who will be in conversation with Matthew about this epic adventure. Light refreshments will be provided. All book profits will go to supporting projects in Nepal through the Swiss-based Driftwood Association that Rich established: driftwoodassociation.org.

Hello booklovers! The bookshop will exceptionally be closed this Thursday, May 23rd. We will be open as usual on Friday morning.

Calling all poetry lovers! Kathleen Jamie will be at UNIL on Tuesday, May 7th for Conversations Towards Nature. BLDG Geopolis, Room 227, at 17:15. Admission is free. Kathleen Jamie, poet and essayist, is one of the leading voices in environmental writing in the UK today. Her books meditate deeply and movingly on the relation between human communities and the natural world, and is currently Makar (Poet Laureate of Scotland). Her latest volume of poetry, Cairn, is published by Sort of Books (2024). The bookshop will have a stand there, so stop by and say hello!

Julianne DiNenna will be in the bookshop on Thursday, April 25th to read from her recently published book of poetry, Girl in Tulips and other Non-Communicable Family Diseases. Doors will open at 18:30, with the reading to commence at 19:00. Please sign up here if you plan to attend. Girl in Tulips is part lyric, part incantation and prayer, part memoir of love and longing. We travel into the underworld of wards with intimacy, wonder, provocation, observing the intricacies of family relationships while tottering on the edge of hope, as DiNenna’s poems take us through the zodiac and seasons of childhood illness, calling us to bear witness to the unseen, the unheard. These poems tell the story of one girl’s struggle for life, the sacredness of childhood and innocence, with tenderness, astonishment, and transformation.