The Simple Things

Taking time to live well
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Bookshop Lewes.JPG

Celebrate | Independent Bookshops Week

Iona Bower June 15, 2019

We’re going to be frank: if you don’t love a good bookshop there’s something wrong with you

Let’s face it: all bookshops are magical places, but an independent bookshop is always a particularly welcome find. Unbound by the policy of huge companies, an indie can do pretty much what it likes, catering to the needs of its local community and selling bestsellers alongside books that might otherwise not see the light of day.

Today marks the start of Independent Bookshops Week (15-22 June. Follow @booksaremybag for more information). The week is run by The Booksellers’ Association and aims to celebrate one-off bookshops with events, readings, signings, literary lunches and much more.

Pictured is one of our favourite bookshops, in Lewes, East Sussex. Bag of Books is actually a children’s bookshop but is irresistible, not just for browsing new children’s titles for gifts, but also for unearthing old childhood favourites. Like many towns in the UK, Lewes is home to several indie bookshops so is well worth a weekend trip if you aren’t local. But we’d love to hear about your independent bookshops, wherever you are in the UK this week.

Comment below to tell us about your favourite independent bookshop and what makes it so brilliant. We’ll pick the author our favourite recommendation and send a lovely book from our shelves as a thank you.

Off you go… And SSSSSHHHHHH! We’re trying to read!

More from our June issue…

Featured
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Jun 26, 2019
June: a final thought
Jun 26, 2019
Jun 26, 2019
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Jun 23, 2019
Pudding facts: strawberries and cream
Jun 23, 2019
Jun 23, 2019
Bookshop Lewes.JPG
Jun 15, 2019
Celebrate | Independent Bookshops Week
Jun 15, 2019
Jun 15, 2019

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In Think Tags issue 84, june, bookshops, Independent Bookshops Week
3 Comments
Featured
 MARCH ISSUE   Buy  ,   download  or  subscribe   Pre-order a copy of  our new Homebird bookazine   Buy  Flourish Volume 4 , our wellbeing bookazine Order our  our new Celebrations Anthology   See the sample of our latest issue  here   Listen to  our
Feb 27, 2026
Feb 27, 2026

MARCH ISSUE

Buy, download or subscribe

Pre-order a copy of our new Homebird bookazine

Buy Flourish Volume 4, our wellbeing bookazine
Order our our new Celebrations Anthology

See the sample of our latest issue here

Listen to our podcast – Small Ways to Live Well

Feb 27, 2026
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The Simple Things is published by Iceberg Press

The Simple Things

Taking time to live well

We celebrate slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and feeding them well. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage for vintage finds, and decorate our home with the plunder. We love being outdoors and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.

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