Sunday 10 October 2010

Chanel goes to Daunts and Dublin





I know that some people have been unable to get tickets for my talk at the V&A on October 15th (it seems to be sold out, although I do have a couple of extra guest tickets, if anyone here is particularly keen).
But there will be another chance to meet in London, on Monday October 25th at 7pm, at Daunts in Marylebone High Street. I love this bookshop -- it's one of my favourites in London, along with Heywood Hill in Curzon Street and Lutyens & Rubinstein in Notting Hill -- for several different reasons. Daunts is a beautiful place, lined with wooden shelves of books, including an inspiring travel section, and it also happens to be very close to where I lived as a child, in a flat at 99 Marylebone High Street (just along from Patisserie Valerie, which used to be Sagne's, where my sister and I ate marzipan piglets and florentines). So there's something about it that reminds me of home, but also of where I might be going to...

First of all, to Dublin (at Dubray Books in Grafton Street, on Thursday 21st October at 6.30pm; more details to follow).

Until then, enjoying the sunshine in my garden... sweeping up leaves from the wisteria, dead-heading the roses, trimming and weeding, and thinking fondly of my cat, whose ashes we scattered last month beneath the magnolia tree.

11 comments:

enid said...

I too love Daunts - those wooden floors and the wat books are arranged according to countries. My sister and i always visit Marylebone High Street and patisserie Valerie. She lives in Prague and I live in Cape Town but we have a walk in Marylebone High Street when we meet in London and come home with Daunts bags full of books. Just finished Chanel and it was stupendous

kairu said...

Daunts sounds like the perfect bookstore. If I am ever in London I will definitely try to find it. (Along with the Persephone Books store, which I've been dying to visit). I can just imagine what would happen if I were in London; I'd return with a suitcase heavy with books...

I do like the sound of those marzipan piglets and florentines.

No sunshine here on the other side of the world; it's raining today and has been all weekend.

Lou said...

It's times like this I wish I lived over the other side of the world! Melbourne is so far away.I'm eagerly awaiting your book to arrive in the post,Justine.I've ordered it from 'Readings'...an iconic bookshop in Melbourne.

Justine Picardie said...

As winter approaches, I'd rather like to be in Melbourne or Sydney!
I always enjoy the congregation of voices here from around the world -- Cape Town, Seattle, Melbourne -- all the threads weaving together.

Unknown said...

Lutyens & Rubinstein is very high on my list of my favourite bookshops. I went there last Saturday after selling cupcakes outside Books for Cooks - love Eric - and bought a fab new book called Lunch in Paris. I got chatting with the charming owner and she was singing your praises and saying how much everyone is loving your fabulous book!

jaywalker said...

I've just finished Coco, sitting out on our deck in an early 24C (early for Hobart anyway)and am now passing it on to a friend who really can't afford to buy it but who I know will relish it as I did.
Our best bookshop in Hobart (Fullers) now has you on their shelves. Wish we weren't so far away when it comes to visiting authors but Sally Vickers is talking there in early November so shall go as I have recently read "Dancing Backwards".

Claire said...

Hi Justine, I was really hoping to come to the V&A talk tomorrow with a friend, but I didn't realise it was ticketed. If there are some - any, I'm happy to pay! I would love to nab them!!

Hope to see you there!

Claire from Lola Is Beauty

Justine Picardie said...

Claire -- I've just emailed you and the relevant person at the V&A. See you tomorrow!

Unknown said...

Thank you for your fascinating and eloquent V&A talk last night. Our trio of V&A talk veterans agreed that yours was right up there, as well as being very envious of your stay in Coco's apartment...

Totally agree re Daunts, although especially fond of Hampstead branch.

Justine Picardie said...

Caroline, thanks for your very kind message. Maybe we'll see each other in the future at Daunts? (Like you, I'm also very fond of the Hampstead branch). Anyway, please do spread the word about my event at Daunts next Monday (25th October) at Marylebone High Street.

Unknown said...

Thanks for replying. I will definitely spread the word via Twitter and the more conventional way.