Bookworm´s Heaven
If you are a bookworm like me, stepping into the Owl Bookstore is absolute heaven. Nestled in the old streets of Lagos the bookshop is a plethora of used books, all in mint condition.
Even more captivating than the books is the vivacious owner Christine Westropp, who describes herself as a voracious reader and when not serving a customer, she will be devouring another novel.
Ever since Hugh Grant made being a book shop owner “sexy” in the film Notting Hill our sympathies have been with the plight of the small business pitched against the might of online commerce. Christine dismisses this; “People always ask me if Kindles have made a difference to our business; I have not seen any decline in people´s enthusiasm for books, nothing compares with opening that front cover and revealing the treat within.”
The only bookshop dedicated to English language books in Lagos, it contains titles to suit any tastes including children´s books and Christine will happily chat and give recommendations. She runs the business with her husband John, on behalf of their daughter Imogen who is also involved.
I ask Christine how this family enterprise came about; “We bought a property in the Lagos area 23 years ago, with the intention of living here permanently, however with elderly parents it became impractical and so we moved back the Lake District but kept the villa as a holiday home. We decided to retire out here 6 years ago and were regulars at the book shop when the last owner mentioned he was moving further North. As book-lovers we jumped at the opportunity for a retirement project and bought the business. We extended the shop and changed the stock which, to an extent, reflects our tastes particularly with the historical and military works.”
The Westropp´s display of classical literature has proved a hit with Portuguese and Spanish students who want to read the likes of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen in English. They also can´t get enough of the literary guides which they use for their studies and are harder to come by in Portugal.
As well as a straight forward purchase, the shop will also give you credits against the purchase of another paperback if you bring in an old one. They will attend house clearances or accept good quality books you have read and what better way for a reader to obtain new titles while dispatching of old ones?
Occasionally they discover a real gem like a signed copy of Jean-Paul Sartre´s Philosophical essays or a copy of Byron´s poems first published in 1829, which are currently available in the shop.
So, if you are the type of person that likes to feel the weight of a book and flick through its pages before you buy rather than clicking “buy” on Amazon, then I urge you to visit and support this wonderful gem. It is a rare gift to find such enthusiasts keeping the passion of book-lovers alive.
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 10 00 to 17 30 and Saturdays 10 -14 00
www.facebook.com/owlstorybooks/
917 414 386
