Reasons To Be Cheerful Part II

(If you're wondering what this is all about, click here.)

#14 - Mostly Books

These days, with that tax-dodging ogre Amazon stalking the land and attempting to crush anything in its path, few towns the size of Abingdon can claim to have one independent bookshop, let alone two. The Abingdon Bookstore is decent enough (though you'd hope avowed bibliophiles might have a smidgen more creativity in coming up with a name), but my favourite is Mostly Books.

Situated on Stert Street, it's friendly, welcoming and aptly named because, in addition to a decent range of books (particularly for kids) for such a cosy little shop, it also has a good range of cards, is a meeting place for book groups and regularly puts on some great events that demonstrate it punches well above its weight. In the last month alone, there has been a local authors/illustrators day, with work created in situ, and the launch of The Word At War, a fascinating-sounding book about linguistic change during the Second World War.

Next month, when David Mitchell returns to his alma mater Abingdon School to talk about his new book Thinking About It Only Makes It Worse, it will be in conversation with Mostly Books' Mark Thornton. (I managed to snap up a ticket before it sold out, and can assure you the decision had nothing whatsoever to do with the possibility of bumping into Victoria Coren-Mitchell.)

It's not just the locals who appreciate what Mostly Books has to offer, though - in August it was named Julia Donaldson Children's Independent Bookshop Of The Month. A deserved accolade - and fitting, really, that it's where I picked up a signed copy of Donaldson's Sugarlump And The Unicorn for Stan a year or so ago.