The Sanctuary of Shelves

Finding solace in bookshops

Dreaming of a bookshop lock in

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Dear friend 

How are you feeling today?  Did Bert behave himself in your corner of the world?  Here in Wales he tried his best to cause havoc, but all he left behind him was a blanket of greyness, damp streets and an annoyingly sheet of wet drizzle.  I much prefer waking up to bright blue skies and a frosty windscreen.

Last night I felt a little down in the dumps.  I guess I’ve been living the dream these past few weeks, hosting a hugely successful weekend retreat with the one and only

Emma Gannon

and then witnessing over 12,000 downloads of my new podcast The Bibliotherapists which I co-host with my fellow Substacker and fun buddy Toni Jones founder of

💛 The Shelf Help Clubhouse

So many memories to cherish from our Creative Unblocking weekend retreat

So it’s understandable my energy levels literally fell to an almighty low, my body showing signs that it had had enough of ‘DOING’, begging me to be stationary, even numb for a moment, because sometimes it’s ok to not have an agenda, to ignore the ’to-do’ list, and not worry about being useful, right?!

All I wanted to do last night was sit in a bookshop, on a comfy sofa, in my pyjamas, surrounded by my favourite books, and a large glass of Baileys over ice. Is that a little crazy? Even strange perhaps?! Or do you sometimes crave this same cosy experience in a bookshop at night?  Obviously the bookshop would only have a few people mulling around in it, no crowds queuing at the tills or noisy teens hogging the cafe corners.

There’s something deeply comforting about escaping to a bookshop when the world feels a bit too loud, too fast, just too much.  Most recently local book stores have become my refuge, my hiding place, my sanctuary of shelves.  Like a warm ‘Cwtch’ (Welsh for hug) on a cold, rainy night, a local bookshop offers a peculiar blend of solitude and connection that soothes my anxious soul.

I often find myself drawn to these havens, especially when the storm clouds gather - both metaphorically and literally. For a few days now, my mood has been representative of the weather, and I so wish I could shake the black cloud from above and within.  So to soothe my mind, I dream about my local bookstore, on occasion opening its doors for night dwellers like me.

Why? I’m not sure, maybe its because of the beauty that lies in the quiet community of strangers in a bookshop at night, all seeking to find their own stories. An escapism from reality.  I imagine myself observing from my corner of the bookshop cafe, cradling my steaming hot chocolate, secretly people watching. Wondering why they are magnetised to a certain genre of book.  I guess, for me, it’s the evening hours when I’d love to spend time in a cosy bookshop - the twilight zone when the world starts winding down, but my mind is still humming with thoughts, ideas and possibilities. 

How wonderful would it be, I often dream, to have my very own night time bookshop around the corner.  A gentle lamp lit haven for night owls and dreamers, where only the sound is the soft rustle of pages and the quiet whispers of fellow book lovers, as they find their way home through thousands of words.

Do you have a favourite book store that is open in the evening?  I know Bookbar in London stays open on the weekend until 9pm.  Over on instagram they posted a photo of their book of the year The Safe Keep (which is on my TBR list) alongside a glass of warming mulled wine.  Yes please!

I’m yet to find a bookshop near my neck of the woods that chooses to open late into the evening, in the meantime here are some of my favourite cosy bookshops dotted around the UK:

1. Richard Booth's Bookshop - Hay on Wye - a three story literary paradise with a beautiful small cinema.  It’s the jewel of Wales’ famous book town.

2. Mr B's Emporium - Bath - This store is oozing with whimsical decor and reading nooks.  Famous for their reading spa experiences, simply delightful especially at this time of year.

3. The Poetry Pharmacy - Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire - one of my favourite places to hang out with it’s unique prescription of poetry pills. A beautiful Victorian building decorated by local artists with an exquisite cafe serving delicious sweet treats.

4. Booka Bookshop - Oswestry, Shropshire - This award winning independent bookshop has such warm friendly glow complimented by a vibrant literary events programme.  It has the most carefully curated book selection and each time I pop in I pray I manage to get locked in without anyone noticing.

5. Daunt Books - Marylebone, London - I’m yet to visit this rather exquisite Edwardian venue.  I’m hoping to take a stroll over there when I meet up with my friends

   Lucy Pearson
   , Toni Jones
   💛 The Shelf Help Clubhouse
   and
   Nicola
   for our writers get together mid December. I know I’m going to love it, and I’m sure you’d agree it would make the perfect night time book shop.

Have you visited any of those I’ve mentioned above? Do let me know if you have a local cosy bookshop you like to runaway to and hide.

In keeping with the theme of launching The Bibliotherapists podcast with my lovely Substack buddy Toni Jones, and craving a midnight bookshop, I thought I’d curate a few journalling prompts for us word nerds, please help yourself if you’re in the journal writing mood.

1. Describe your perfect bookshop.  What creature comfort’s would you enjoy and describe how it makes you feel when you visit.

2. Write about a moment when books provided the exact sanctuary you needed.  What led you there?  How did it heal you?

3. If your soul was a bookshop, what would visitors find on its shelves?

4. Explore your earliest memory of finding comfort in a bookshop.  What elements still call to you today?

5. Write a letter to the book you wish existed right now, the one that would perfectly match your current emotional landscape.

6. Describe the feeling of being surrounded by books using all five senses. Where does your body hold this comfort?

7. What story are you seeking when you flee to a bookshop?  What narrative helps you make sense of your world?

8. If your favourite bookshop could speak, what would it say about the versions if you it has witnessed?

9. Write about the strangers you’ve observed in bookshops who have somehow touched your heart.  What stories do you imagine for them?

10. When you can’t physically escape to a bookshop, how do you recreate that sanctuary feeling?  What elements bring you that same level of peace?

So for those of you who dream of midnight bookshops and endless shelves, perhaps the answer lies not just in finding these havens but in becoming them - creating within ourselves that same sense of peace, possibility and endless stories that are waiting to be discovered. Until then, on your behalf I’ll keep seeking out these heavenly hangouts, grateful for the moments when we can lose ourselves among the shelves and find ourselves in the pages.

Until the next time

Take care and stay safe xx

About me… I’m Tanya Lynch, a mother, a ridgeback owner and the founder of Ease Retreats.  I love what I do, collaborating with authors and creatives, hosting retreats in beautiful venues across the UK.  I’m also a podcaster, a therapeutic journaling coach and through my program Rage on a Page, I help midlife women channel their emotions into something more positive and creative in less than 60 days. Each Thursday I host an online journaling club called Journal with Ease and it’s free for paid subscribers to attend. If you have any questions about the benefits of therapeutic journaling, please reach out and connect. I’m usually on a beach walking the dogs, hosting retreats or hanging out here on Substack.