The Bookman in London

From New Zealand Author:

In this regular column, Graham Beattie, blogger extraordinaire and former managing director at Penguin NZ and Scholastic NZ, muses on life as seen from the bookish blogosphere.


If this be Europe it’s time for a bookish feast

I have spent the past week in London visiting wonderful bookshops (17 in total) and eating at outstanding cafes and restaurants. On the flight across from New Zealand I read where London was judged the most exciting city in Europe, and the most expensive, in a survey carried out by Trip Advisor, the well-known travel-review website.

The U.K. capital also topped the list of cities easy to get around, in the website’s fourth annual European Cities survey, in which 3523 travellers were questioned.

Birmingham, Britain’s second city, is the most boring and the least romantic place, Athens the dirtiest, Stockholm the safest and Paris the most overrated, with the rudest cab drivers, according to the newly published survey. 

Three of our meals in London were at places which had published eponymous cookbooks which I had reviewed on the blog previously so I was curious to go and see if they were as good as their books suggested. I’m pleased to report that they all exceeded expectations.
Leon – a wonderful chain across London of 11 healthy fast food cafes specialising in delicious salads. The best fast food ever!

Tangerine Dream Cafe – Within the Chelsea Physic Garden, Britain’s oldest botanic garden (17th century), appealing food served in beautiful surrounds.

Ottolenghi – A chain of three gorgeous small cafe/delis where in little kitchens underneath the shops, they produce original food including irresistible pastries and cakes.

Now staying with friends in rural France, NE Dordogne, where walking and reading are the order of the day and after a feast of British newspapers especially The Guardian, The Independent and The Daily Telegraph I am now confined to reading them online which I find nowhere near as satisfying. Just as I would rather read a paper book any day in preference to an e-book, so it is with newspapers.

Talking of books I am presently reading the latest titles from John Hart (Iron House) and Tess Gerritsen (The Silent Girl) who I am to have the pleasure of interviewing at the Ngaio Marsh 2011 Award presentation in Christchurch on August 21.

Interesting to note in the tube stations in London huge posters advertising books and authors – Matterhorn, Catch 22, Jo Nesbo and Tim Parks among them competing with posters advertising the Kindle.

No question we are at a time of great change in the book world.