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Science journalist and writer Laura Spinney is coming to the bookshop on 5th June to talk about her latest book Proto : How One Ancient Language Went Global. The book explores how one language emerged from the last ice age before exploding around the world until today its descendants constitute the world’s largest language family, and are the thread that connects Dante’s Inferno to the Rig Veda, The Lord of the Rings to the love poetry of Rum...

We are pleased to announce that the writer Paul Scraton is coming back to the bookshop on Friday, 23rd May to talk about his latest novel A Dream of White Horses. I have admired Paul’s work since he published In the Pines, and even travelled to Berlin for the launch of this book. In some ways, very appropriate as the story is about journeys, with Ben travelling from London to a small German island to see his friend Pascal, who is in hi...

After being in a bit of a reading slump, I’ve managed to get myself out of it, thanks to some really good books! Coincidentally, two of the better books I’ve read lately (basically one after the other) both had footnotes. Who doesn’t love a good footnote? I find they’re generally used to interject humour, which we can all use more of these days! Saint Death’s Daughter by C.S.E. Cooney Genre: Fantasy This book has been on my ...

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 1...

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 w...

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 s...

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 ...

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

What Rachel’s Reading This Month: July

Genres: Non-Fiction, Fantasy, YA, Sci-Fi One of my goals for this year had been to read more non-fiction, and another was to keep track of what I’d read – I’m curious to see how many books I actually read in a year! Well, Matthew asked me about non-fiction the other day, and I was sad to say that I’d read a grand total of two so far this year, one of which was The Lost Words by Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris – a b...

What Matthew is Reading this Week

I never thought I’d love a zombie novel that my thirteen-year-old daughter recommended, but M.R. Carey’s The Girl with all the Gifts is so gripping that some bad words may have left my mouth when I had to put it down. It tells the story of Melanie who waits in her cell every morning to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheel...

What Rachel’s Reading This Week

Genres: Fantasy, YA, Children’s, Thriller So. I wrote what was going to be this post yesterday at work, intending to post it today, which was as follows: The fantasy book I’m reading right now is The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg. I’d read good things about it in reviews and the basic premise hooked me: Ceony Twill arrives at the cottage of Magician Emery Thane with a broken heart. Having graduated at the top of her cl...

Second-hand Book Sale!

Alright booklovers, it’s that time of year again! The time where we try to make some space on the shelves in anticipation of la rentrée scolaire…. So from today (Monday, June 11) until mid-July or so, our second-hand books are all on sale 2 for 1. That’s 2 books for CHF 5! So come browse our overflowing shelves and pick up some summer reads. We look forward to seeing you in the shop!...

What Rachel’s Reading This Week

Genre: Fantasy, YA                     Happy Saturday, booklovers! I just finished reading Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff, the second book in an epic fantasy trilogy, with the first being Nevernight, which was recommended to me by a customer in the bookshop and I loved it! It ticks all the boxes for me – some fun world-building (triple suns, hello), an interesting magic system, and a ve...

The Joys of Independent Bookselling
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“Every indie bookstore has a personality and every individual can find one whose character suits him. Not just the books themselves and the authors, but the very bookstore itself. It is, in a sense, finding oneself in a place where one can discover a community” Everyone needs a little bit of independent bookselling love in their lives, and Franck Bohbot  and Philippe Ungar provide it with their latest project We Are New ...

The Essex Serpent

As well as having the most beautiful cover in the world, The Essex Serpent caught my attention with its unique style and careful plot. Reviewers described it as a mix between Bram Stoker and Charles Dickens, and it does read like a Victorian gothic novel. When Cora Seaborne’s controlling husband dies, she steps into her new life as a widow with as much relief as sadness. Along with her son Francis – a curious, obsessive bo...

New Website
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After almost ten years of faithful service, we’ve decided to create a new website for the English Bookshop. We’re going to be adding reviews of the books we are reading and news on upcoming events, as well as lists of great books you need to live in Switzerland, by local authors, for your one-on-one time with a book on the beach! Eventually, we’ll be adding a little shopping cart so you can support your local independe...