Books Actually

When I named my other blog, I had no idea Books Actually existed. I named Singapore Actually after the movie Love Actually and the fact that Singaporeans love using that word – actually – usually slurred as act-cher-ly.Most importantly my cousin picked this name among the many I proposed to her. I wanted Tiny Island as a domain at first, but it was taken.

It was nice to find out that I really like this bookstore. Books happen to me one of my loves as well and I go by the moniker bookjunkie, although I am also a photojunkie foodjunkie and blogjunkie. I always told B that if I hit the jackpot I would open a bookstore with good coffee – just a dream.

And now I find out there’s a Singapore store out there called Actually Actually as well, which makes me feel so unimaginative. Or perhaps because all of us felt independently that actually is such a Singapore word. I guess words are words and even the same word can have different connotations depending on what your experience at the place is like and they take on a life of their own.

So back to my store visit. It was totally charming and wanted to lay my hands on so many of the books and stationary. Especially the hand crafted items like the hand-stitched notebooks and the pretty paper wallets. I loved the stack of typewriters but to me, my mum’s blue Olivetti is still the prettiest.

photo by bookjunkie

photo by bookjunkie

It felt like a candy store for book and stationary lovers. Especially if you were hankering for books written by local writers. I picked up a book which was a compilation of short stories by local writers and it was so refreshing to see words on the page that were so Singaporean. So familiar.

photo by bookjunkie

Would love to check out a book by Malaysian authors as well, like this one by K S Maniam.

photo by bookjunkie

I was so in lust with these pretty paper wallets. This would fall into the ‘don’t need but want’ category. Sadly they were over 20 bucks each. It would have been a no brainer if they were below 10 bucks. Stationery is so impossible to resist. Or just anything hand-crafted and beautiful. I think we are just sick of the mass produced and branded goods.

photo by bookjunkie

There were all sorts of vintage glasses which made me wonder where they get their stock from or whether it’s just old labels printed on new glasses like what they do with T shirts. I couldn’t help but think, are the PAP glasses here to dilute the fact that SDP’s Soh Lung’s book is being sold here?  Would have loved to see glasses with the Alternative Party logos but maybe I missed them.

photo by bookjunkie

photo by bookjunkie

photo by bookjunkie

The store was much huger than I thought with a whole section at the back. And a sleeping cat as well. They seem to be a requirement of book store owners.

photo by bookjunkie

photo by bookjunkie

photo by bookjunkie

Pez dispensers. Children will love this section.

photo by bookjunkie

photo by bookjunkie

photo by bookjunkie

photo by bookjunkie

The captivating bookstore from the outside and I hope to be back soon.

photo by bookjunkie

photo by bookjunkie

About bookjunkie

Blogging about life in Singapore & recently cancer too.
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8 Responses to Books Actually

  1. what a cute bookstore!!! and that sleeping kitty…awwww.

  2. Al says:

    Skeleton of a lizard?! Didn’t know that can be bought!

  3. Pingback: #89. Little Independent Cafes & Book Stores | Singapore Actually

  4. Saza says:

    Could you actually sit and read here though? 🙂

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