Behind the Shelves
There's a quiet kind of magic in a bookshop. Every day people wander in searching for something — escape, comfort, understanding, or simply a way to fill an afternoon. It got me wondering: why do people read?
Who Really Wrote That Book?
As a small bookseller, we decided several years ago to become members of Booksellers Aotearoa NZ, the national trade association representing indie booksellers across the country. It’s an invaluable resource, keeping us up to...
How Books Quietly Mess With Your Mind
Can reading change the way we see the world? Absolutely. It can also make us suspicious of everyone after a good psychological thriller and convince us we could...
Where every delivery is a surprise party!
There is no greater feeling than the familiar rumble of the courier truck outside the shop. Suddenly the day gets a whole lot more exciting. Box after box...
How to Choose a Thriller Without Scaring the Daylights Out of Yourself
I love a good thriller and it’s no secret that it has to be the ‘gritty’ kind. The kind that keeps me turning pages long after I should...
Playing Literary Matchmaker
Finding the perfect book for a friend can feel a little like matchmaking. Get it right and they'll be talking about it for years. Get it wrong and...
It’s right there. No, a little to the left!
If you’ve ever worked in retail, you’ll know this scene well. A customer walks up to the counter and asks where a particular stock item is, only for...
Reading Without Sitting Still
For many people, getting back into reading as we get older can feel almost impossible. Sitting still with a book and a cup of coffee for an hour...
When The Shelves Start Wobbling
Ever had that strange moment in a shop where the room feels slightly off balance? Not quite seasick, not quite faint - just a bit wobbly. You’re not...
Why We Need Third Spaces
Most of us spend our lives moving between two places: home and work. Home is where the washing piles up, the dog needs feeding, and there always seems...
Colouring in is Cheaper than Therapy
In a world obsessed with speed, productivity and endless scrolling, many of us are craving the opposite. Slow hobbies - puzzles, reading, colouring, knitting and journalling - are...
Just One More Chapter Please!
There’s a quiet kind of magic in a bookshop. Every day, people wander through the doors searching for something - escape, comfort, understanding, inspiration, or simply a way...
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New writing from behind the shelves, reading recommendations and a little of the Mackenzie light.