Join us this week
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Backstory is open every day until 23rd December, including Mondays just for December. We’re open 10am-6pm every day (and til 9pm Thursdays and Fridays)
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Christmas shopping nights — with live music, drinks & mince pies
THIS THURSDAY14th & NEXT THURSDAY 21st December, join us from 6pm. No booking needed.
Coming up at Backstory
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Paul Caruana Galizia — A Death in Malta
Monday 18th December, 7.30pm
The very inspiring investigative journalist Paul Caruana Galizia joins us to discuss A Death in Malta, his book about the assassination of his mother Daphne, a campaigning journalist in their native Malta. It’s an astonishing story about one family’s quest for the truth, and about the fight against corruption in a modern European country.
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Wednesday 10th January, 7.30pm
Sky News’s Economics Editor takes us from our seats in Balham on a world tour as he uncovers the hidden stories behind the most important raw materials shaping our lives.
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Porn: An Oral History — Polly Barton in conversation with Jessica Andrews
Wednesday 24th January, 7.30pm
In the irresistibly-titled Porn: An Oral History, Polly Barton set out to bust myths by asking her friends about their use and abuse of porn. She joins Backstory favourite Jessica Andrews, author of Milk Teeth, in conversation.
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Coming up at the Non-Fiction Book Club: Bianca Bosker (Cork Dork)
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Coming up at the Fiction Book Club: Andrew O’Hagan (Mayflies)
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SOLD OUT: John Crace — Depraved New World
Wednesday 17th January, 7.30pm
Browse our books for Christmas
AS PROMISED, we thought it would be nice to dedicate an edition of the newsletter to our fellow indies.
Thanks for your dozens of recommendations. I’ve tried to pick out a good mix below, mostly local to Balham or south London. So here, by Backstory customers for Backstory customers, is your non-bookish indie gift guide.
Apologies for the dreadful puns. (I’ve already had a complaint about yesterday’s Tooting one.)
Merry browsing!
Tom
Put their name in (Christmas) lights
Chloe recommends Jennifer’s Paper. Jennifer runs her personalised stationery company from her house, just round the corner from Backstory.
Chloe suggests Jennifer’s “gorgeous personalised baubles in a range of colours. Also [her] lovely children’s Christmas cards (and thank you cards for after Christmas!)”
I think the Christmas Owl is my favourite.
Jennifer can ship your orders worldwide, but she offers free delivery in SW12 by bicycle!
Planting an idea
Maura recommends Cornercopia in Streatham Hill, “a wonderful indie shop with fabulous house plants, ceramics, candles, soaps, throws and gifts. I go in looking for something and usually come out with some other lovely thing as well.”
They offer local cargo bike delivery (including to SW12) for their plants, and can post much of the rest of their stock across the country.
Personally I’d quite like to curl up beneath one of these woollen throws.
Keep up with the neigh-bours
Philippa recommends these rather charming pop-colour miniature horses from Richmond-based indie Project No 3 to brighten up the living room. They are eco-friendly, and a portion of every sale goes to support Richmond Soup Kitchen.
Philippa writes: “They produce the most beautiful handcrafted horses (a modern British twist on the Swedish Dala horse) in a range of standout colours.”
She has her eye on Margot, but personally I’m rather taken with Rufus.
A jewel in Scotland’s crown
Now for something a bit further afield… I couldn’t resist including this recommendation from a Backstory regular. Partly because of its location — Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis — and partly because it has a backstory of its own.
“Alice Catherine started making sea glass jewellery after being furloughed and has now opened her own shop,” writes Grace. “The jewellery is stunning, both sea glass and semi-precious stones or silver inspired by the coast and the sea.”
Grab a single malt for me while you’re at it.
Women’s where?
Herne Hill is the answer, according to Dani. Lowie does “beautiful knitwear, clothing and accessories,” she writes, “particularly the colourful and practical bags and backpacks.”
Dani also has a soft spot for “the one-of-a-kind hand-warmers which leave your fingers free so you can access your phone or wallet”.
In the nick of time
I didn’t need any persuading to include Laura’s recommendation of The Clink, the charity that gives prisoners cooking and baking qualifications and hope for the future. As anyone who has sampled one of their mince pies at Backstory recently, they are great at it, too.
Why not buy a loved one a voucher for lunch at one of their prison restaurants, including at HMP Brixton? A worthy and memorable present.
Wine not
Susie suggests you buy a voucher for a wine-tasting event at the lovely Wine Tasting Shop on Hildreth Street, a short hop from Backstory.
“It’s fabulous,” writes Susie. There’s “live music on Friday nights, excellent tasting events and lovely cheeses, patés, olives, breads and charcuterie if you are in the mood.”
Famed for their frames
We couldn’t forget our neighbours, the lovely Mimi & crew at Mimi V Artworks, just two doors down from Backstory. Mimi has made us feel so welcome on Balham High Road since before we opened, so it’s no surprise to us that she has an incredibly loyal following locally for framing, hanging and a very fun selection of prints.
“Mimi, the owner and founder of the current concept has been involved with the business for more than 30 years,” writes Arminel, “and I have been using it for framing for even longer than that… The shop also stocks an excellent selection of artworks for sale.”
Pop in and pick up something striking. Or just admire their gorgeous window display.
And finally…
Backstory on Balham High Road, if you really can’t think of any other bookshop.
“I heard some bloke set it up after quitting his job at a newspaper,” writes Tom. “They do book subscriptions where they pick out mystery books individually tailored to the recipient, kids book subscriptions and vouchers for their Zoom fiction and non-fiction book clubs.
“Oh, and apparently you can browse 50,000 books online with free UK delivery. Someone told me the cut-off for pre-Christmas delivery is Friday 15th.
“But I’ll be sticking with Waterstones myself.”