Favourite bookshops: Pages of Hackney

Having lived in London for four years I have had plenty of time to discover the many wonderful bookshops that line the streets. From colossal flagship stores on the high-street, to the tiniest of independents, Londoners truly are spoilt for choice when it comes to book shopping. But when there are so many stores to catch your eye, how to know which one to spend your precious time (and money) in? Over the next few months I'll be shining a light on some of my favourite bookshops, and speaking to the amazing booksellers who work there.

First up is the fantastic Pages of Hackney, found on Lower Clapton Road in East London. I was lucky enough to grab shop manager Jo (a bookseller so wonderful she was shortlisted as Bookseller of the Year in 2017) for a quick chat. She tells me about the joy of unboxing, opera singing, and her top recommendations.

What do you feel sets Pages of Hackney apart from other bookshops?

It's hard to say, I think each independent bookshop has its own unique identity, and you can see that their team have imprinted this into the stock choice, the programming of author events and the overall feel of the shop. I think we have done that at Pages but perhaps I'm too close to it to be able to say exactly what that is! Bookshops can often feel inaccessible and overwhelming or hard to browse so we try our best to make the shop feel welcoming and that it's for everyone.

What is your favorite part of the working day?

I LOVE unpacking boxes. I mean the boxes of new books that I've ordered in from publishers, that's pretty exciting. And the unpredictability of the incidental conversations I have with customers, whether that's talking about books or not. Also, getting an idea for a literary event, and seeing it through to it's realisation. When an event goes really well, and you can see the audience's collective enjoyment, it's the best feeling. I also really enjoy meeting the authors when they come in and chat to us and sign stock.

What has been your strangest moment while working in the bookshop?

Once a man came in and went downstairs to look at the second hand books and then started singing opera at the top of his voice. It was kind of alarming but also sort of enjoyable, for a bit.

What were your stand out books of 2017?

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo Lodge

Her Body & Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

Madame Zero by Sarah Hall

What are your most anticipated books of 2018?

The Cost of Living by Deborah Levy

Crudo by Olivia Laing

The debut from Kristen Roupenian (author of 'Cat Person')

The Life of Walter Gropius: Visionary Founder of the Bauhaus by Fiona McCarthy

Which book do you find yourself recommending to customers the most often? Why?

Elmet by Fiona Mozley is one of those books that I've hand-sold the most last year, it's a universal story of the underdog, class struggle and the moral right to land which seems feel relevant to so many people right now.

Pages of Hackney runs some fantastic literary events. Has there been a particular standout for you?

Thank you! Personally the event I enjoyed the most was our first ever walking event, for Strange Labyrinth by Will Ashon (a book about the various radical figures connected with Epping Forest and the links between them) it was an unusually hot April day and the author led us through the forest, and stopped at significant points to give readings, taking in a tree with 'graffiti' scratched on it from the 1920s, the former asylum building where John Clare was incarcerated, various dens and shelters made from branches and a tree that he'd spent a night in. At the end of the walk, he gave a reading from the last part of the book by a fallen tree in the low afternoon light, hearing it read aloud in the forest was amazing. We ended the walk at Chingford station car park (not so beautiful) where Will signed books for everyone.

Your shop has a dedicated second hand sections. Have you had any great discoveries among the used books section?

Recently we had in a large poster book of international revolutionary posters from the sixties. It turned out to be quite valuable so was our most asked-about book down there for a while. The other favourite was a German feminist manual from the seventies about 'man spreading'.

Aside from Pages of Hackney, do you have a favourite bookshop?

Yes! More than one in fact. Brick Lane Bookshop, Burley Fisher Books, London Review Bookshop, Review Bookshop Peckham.

Which literary figure (real or fictional) would you most like to meet?

Can that be an author? I really wish I could have met John Berger when he was alive, he's one of the writers I admire the most for his perspective of solidarity and humility towards art, nature, the human condition, without being idealistic or nostalgic.

If you didn't run the bookshop, what would you love to do for a living?

I think this is it.

Thank you Jo for such a wonderful interview! I can't recommend her shop enough- if you love excellent table displays, the latest contemporary fiction and hidden treasures there is no better place!

Pages of Hackney, 70 Lower Clapton Rd, London E5 0RN

#pagesofhackney #independentbookshop