We're up for a big award

We're up for a big award

Coming up

  • Louise Gray — Avocado Anxiety

    Wednesday 28th February, 7.30pm

    Picked by The Times as one of its environment books of the year, journalist Louise Gray tracks the story of our food from farm to fruit bowl, asking what impact our voracious appetites have on the planet.

  • Katherine May — Enchantment

    Wednesday 13th March, 7.30pm

    Bone-tired, anxious and overwhelmed, the author of Wintering sought to feel more connected and at ease by exploring the restorative properties of the natural world and reawakening her sense of wonder.

  • John O’Farrell — Family Politics

    Wednesday 3rd April, 7.30pm

    John O’Farrell, author of ‘May Contain Nuts’ and ‘The Best a Man Can Get’, joins us to discuss his latest novel ‘Family Politics’, an antidote to our divided times, with his signature warmth and wit.

  • Zeinab Badawi — An African History of Africa

    Wednesday 10th April, 7.30pm

    Zeinab Badawi, president of SOAS and television journalist, joins us to provide an authentic account of Africa's history, told through African voices.

  • Alex Niven — The North Will Rise Again

    Wednesday 17th April, 7.30pm

    Writer, poet and lecturer at Newcastle University Alex Niven confronts the North/South divide and the future of regional politics.

  • Tom Burgis — Cuckooland

    Wednesday 24th April, 7.30pm

    The Guardian investigative journalist and bestselling author of ‘Kleptopia’ joins us to lift the lid on Cuckooland — a world where the rich can buy everything… including the truth.

  • SOLD OUT: Cathy Newman — The Ladder

    Tuesday 19th March, 7.30pm

  • SOLD OUT: Alice Winn — In Memoriam

    Wednesday 20th March, 7.30pm

  • SOLD OUT: Gary Stevenson — The Trading Game

    Wednesday 27th March, 7.30pm

  • Coming up at the Non-Fiction Book Club: Henry Marsh (And Finally), Maria Ressa (How To Stand Up To A Dictator), Tania Branigan (Red Memory)

  • Coming up at the Fiction Book Club: Tomasz Jedrowski (Swimming in the Dark), Sophie Mackintosh (Cursed Bread)

She’s here

In Memoriam in paperback

It’s the moment some of you have been waiting for… In Memoriam, our book of the year in 2023, is now out in paperback.

Pop by the shop to snap it up (we should have our delivery by the end of Tuesday, all being well), or order your copy from our website, for free delivery anywhere in the UK.

I would sum up the plot, but I suspect you could all tell it to me by now. Suffice to say, all six of us loved it, and if you’ve been waiting for the paperback, well, wait no more.

BUY THE PAPERBACK

EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE this week. Backstory has been picked by a panel of industry judges as one of the London finalists for the Independent Bookshop of the Year gong at this year’s British Book Awards.

We’re up against some formidable competition in the next stage, but it’s a huge honour just to be on this list, 16 months after opening our doors. It’s testament to the huge reservoir of goodwill we’ve tapped into in Balham, so much pent-up demand after years without a real bookshop on the high street. The incredibly warm welcome that we received when we opened (and still get every day) has made building this place so much easier. So thanks to everyone who has cheered us on, from near and far.

It’s also thanks to the good humour, creativity and exceptional warmth of the Backstory team: Denise, Rory, Amy, Darby and Megan. I’m so grateful to all of you.

Anyway, wish us luck for the next stage. (Thanks to the kind customers who’ve already asked where they can vote, but there’s a judging panel.)

In the meantime, can I suggest that the list of finalists doubles up as an excellent list of bucket-list bookshops for your travels?

Some bookshops on the list I can personally endorse:

  • Village Books, Dulwich. Two floors absolutely bursting with great books. Their Instagram is particularly worth following for their excellent taste in bookshop dogs. (Go on, let Clementine the pooch’s Valentine’s selection melt your heart.)

  • BookBar, Highbury. We’re obviously biased (we’ve definitely come down on one side of the ‘should have a bookshop have a bar?’ question), but this is a great spot for a cheeky post-work or WFH Friday drink and browse. Owner Chrissy is lovely and they have some big-name events.

  • Burley Fisher Books, Haggerston. They do coffee and second-hand books as well as new ones. One of their owners, Samuel Fisher, is the author of Wivenhoe, which Rory recommends if you’re in the market for short but gripping dystopia.

  • Forum Books, Corbridge. Ah, the Forum! I have a massive soft spot for this place, my hometown bookshop. It’s definitely worth a trip to Northumberland, occupying a converted Methodist chapel, with pews for bookstacks. It’s also a stone’s throw from Hadrian’s Wall: why not plan a walking and reading staycation, staying in the very many lovely pubs along the route? (If you do this, you must also visit Cogito in Hexham, the very model of a country bookshop, rugs and all.)

  • Typewronger books, Edinburgh. A delightfully quirky bookshop that doesn’t open til 11am (I wish!). You might come away with a handful of books, or perhaps a typewriter.

And my personal bucket list. The five finalists that I’m keenest to get to soon:

I could very happily spend a year pottering round all of them, but it’s back to work. Can’t rest on our laurels, you know.

Tom