From the shop
November in the Bookshop
Halloween is over for another year, the evenings are darker, and the smell of bonfire smoke hangs in the crisp autumn air. What a perfect time to curl up on the sofa with a blanket, a hot drink, and a brand new book!
We're proud to be your local High Street bookshop. Independent bookshops are welcoming community spaces where people can come together, exchange ideas, discover new perspectives and share their love of reading.
With author events, lively book clubs, and friendly conversations, independent bookshops help bring people together and create a genuine sense of belonging. They also offer something truly special: personal recommendations, friendly advice and a level of individual customer care that makes every visit unique.
In an increasingly digital world, there's something wonderful about being able to browse the shelves, discover an unexpected treasure, turn the pages of a book and enjoy the simple pleasure of getting lost in a good story.
Our bookshops also play an important role in shaping the character and identity of the places we call home. They add personality, charm and vibrancy to our high streets, helping to make our towns and communities more attractive places to live, work and visit.
And, of course, supporting independent businesses means supporting the local economy. Every purchase helps sustain local jobs, keeps money circulating within the community and contributes to the future of our high streets.
So why not pop in, browse a little, discover your next favourite read and say hello? Whether you're a regular customer or visiting us for the first time, you'll always receive a warm welcome!
New in Store
We have a great selection of new releases available, just in time for your Christmas shopping! Come and browse our new display tables and see what you can find! We're particularly excited about Elif Shafak's In One Brief Moment All Eternity, as her last book, There Are Rivers in the Sky has been one of our perennial bestsellers. We're also looking forward to Peck & Peck, which is the wickedly funny new book by Bonnie Garmus, the author of the smash hit Lessons in Chemistry.
November Events
Tickets are £6, or free when you buy a copy of Adder Stone for £17.99
Audio Books
Do you listen to audio books? We find them a great way to pass the time during long drives, or while doing the washing up. And now, you can buy your next great listen through our shop!
We've partnered with Libro.fm so you can listen to a huge catalogue of bestselling and independent audiobooks, DRM-free, in a friendly app, with every purchase supporting Hartmanns. Listen occasionally or monthly; it works both ways.
Book Club
Our book club meets in the shop at 6.30 pm on the last Wednesday of every month. Usually, we welcome all-comers, but we've recently become so popular we're going to have to say we're closed to new members for the moment, simply because we physically don't have space for everyone!
If you're a current member (or you'd like to read along at home), our book this month is Days of Light by Megan Hunter.
Easter Sunday, 1938. Ivy is nineteen and ready for her life to finally begin. In the idyllic Sussex countryside, her sprawling, bohemian family and their friends gather for lunch, awaiting the arrival of a longed-for guest. It is a single, enchanted afternoon that ends in tragedy. Days later, at a funeral, Ivy is kissed by the man she will marry, and grieves with the woman who will become the love of her life. And this is only the beginning . . . Chronicling six pivotal days across six decades, Days of Light moves through the Second World War and the twentieth century on a radiant journey through a life lived in pursuit of love and in search of an answer.
What our Staff are Reading
Working in a bookshop means we have a huge choice of books to sample. Right now, our staff are reading:
- Hayley - Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
- Matilda - The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
- Gareth - Bread of Angels by Patti Smith
Tea and Coffee
While you're browsing our shelves, why not treat yourself to tasty hot drink at a very reasonable price? We have a variety of teas and a handmade Italian cappuccino machine, and we can prepare you any of the following to drink in or take away:
Freshly Ground Coffees - £2.50
- Americano
- Latte
- Flat White
- Espresso
Quality Teas - £1.20
- English Breakfast
- English Breakfast Decaf
- Earl Grey
- Chamomile
- Lemongrass and Ginger
- Triple Mint
Hot Chocolate - £1.20
You can sit at one of our tables with a cup and saucer, or get your drink to go in one of our recyclable paper cups.
Social Media
You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Just search for @hartmannsbooks.
Book Tokens
Book tokens make the perfect gift for any age. We offer vouchers specifically for our shop, as well as National Book Tokens that can be spent anywhere, and you can choose any amount that suits your needs, from £1 to £250. Just ask at the till for details.
Book Recommendation
If you've been watching the superb TV adaptation starring Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas and Jack Lowden, you'll know that Slow Horses has become a critical and commercial phenomena. But have you read the books? If you're a fan of spies and espionage thrillers with a distinctly British twist, why not pick up the original novels and see where it all began?
Spooks are supposed to be stealthy . . . But those who make a noisy mess of their careers end up in Slough House. This is Jackson Lamb's kingdom: a dumping ground for spies who've screwed up. Once high fliers, they're now slow horses, condemned to a life of pushing paper as punishment for crimes of drugs and drunkenness, lechery and failure, politics and betrayal. In drab and mildewed offices, these highly trained spies moan and squabble, stare at the walls, and dream of better days - not one of them joined the Intelligence Service to be a slow horse, and the one thing they have in common is their desire to be back in the action.
We have the whole series in stock and we're ready to help you embark on this intriguing and compelling literary journey.
And that's it for now
We'll be in touch again next month. In the meantime, we look forward to seeing you in the shop, where you're always guaranteed a warm welcome!
Read on!
Hayley & team
Hartmanns Books
28-30 High Street
Portishead
BS20 6EN
07949 480856
Opening Hours
- Mon-Fri: 10.00 am - 5.00 pm
- Sat: 9.30 am - 5.30 pm
PS: If you've enjoyed this newsletter, please help spread the word to your friends in Portishead and beyond, and encourage them to sign-up at our website: https://www.hartmanns-books.co.uk/