THE BOOKSHOP SPEAKS!
I’m all about the books.[1] I’ve been seeking out the curious, the unexpected, the books that will intrigue the reader for a while now — 7 years to be exact.[2] I’m small and agile. Able to flex with the changing tide and adopt initiatives that step ahead of the coming waves. You see, I’ve changed over time.[3] On the outside but not so much at my core. My purpose remains steadfast. To bring excellent fiction to the reader’s attention and to offer an array of incisive non-fiction.[4] To captivate the imaginations of the young and to encourage them to always love books[5] and to keep the more practiced reader forever curious.[6] To escape into the world of books is to walk in another’s shoes, to learn something new, to question and contemplate, alongside the pleasure of language and the rhythms of structures.[7] You can be alone with a book but never lonely. Books are friends and friends with books are the best, and if you like to discuss, then a book is a great place to start.[8] Of course, I can’t do this alone and I need some minders to get the work done.[9] I’m lucky they’re agile and articulate to boot. They love a challenge and they’ll do the hard yards equipped with knowledge and style to fulfil your requests, tracking down the books readers want to sit on their shelves. But the greatest pleasure is what the reader didn’t expect. Stella and Thomas are always seeking literary gold, handpicking the titles that will become the next best reading experience. Recommendations are never far from their lips, and read their reviews for insight and wit.[10] I’m all about the books and my minders take pleasure in every book that moves from their hands to the reader’s and beyond.
[1] VOLUME is a tightly curated independent bookshop.
[2] VOLUME opened its doors in November 2016 (our first customer was our landlord).
[3] In January 2022 we moved from a hybrid model (bricks-and-mortar/online seller) to a fully on-line retailer, significantly upgrading our digital interface. VOLUME’s website is a portal to excellent books and intriguing information in the new age of the shopfront.
[4] VOLUME is focused on literary fiction, works in translation, and books from the best small presses (Aotearoa and International).
[5] Our children’s books are beautiful and adventurous and allow children to discover the world through words. Many of our book-subscription young readers are repeat offenders.
[6] Tempting strategies. Book subscriptions (many devotees are serial). The Interesting Times bulletin, WHISK, Volume Editions.
[7] VOLUME has a new author for every reader; it’s a place to discover and expand your reading repertoire.
[8] In 2024 we started Talking Books Online Book Group.
[9] Stella Chrysostomou and Thomas Koed are the joint owners and the staff of VOLUME. (btw, they also wrote and published a book apiece last year).
[10] VOLUME produces a weekly newsletter which includes thoughtful book reviews.
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