Only a few days back, it was International Book Day and I spent most of my hours reading Jeffrey Archer’s fifth in the Clifton Chronicles. While it took me away from everything collectively known as reality, I wondered what it would be like to surround myself with books for good? To live that reality?
Owning a book shop, you’d say, would be the closest version of that dream, right? You couldn’t be more accurate.
Now, how about a book shop that also functioned as a bed and breakfast for literature-loving tourists like me?
The Open Book – situated in the heart of Wigtown, Scotland – is one such dreamy bed and breakfast that has only one goal – to encourage reading and urge people to set up more book shops.
Oh, and to also visit one of the most beautiful places in Scotland.
A Kind of ‘Book Shop Holiday’ Like No Other
Jessica Fox, who founded The Open Book project along with Finn McCreath two years back, says:
“We wanted a way for people to experience the dream of having their own book shop by the sea in Scotland (who doesn’t fantasise about that?), without making a huge commitment. We thought creating a book shop holiday was the answer, where people pay to holiday in a book shop of their own. If and how they run the book shop is totally up to them, and they get an apartment above.”
Through this unique book shop holiday experience, the duo hope to promote independent book shop awareness and also show how special and essential book shops really are.
Fox, a writer and director, came from Los Angeles to Wigtown because of a romantic vision of working in a book shop by the sea in Scotland.
“I knew I couldn’t be the only one harbouring a fantasy to live the dream of having your own book shop by the sea. We all have those ‘what if’ desires – though perhaps not the means or inclination for an entire life change, like I did.”
As the duo thought about having a place where people could have a book shop holiday – all the fun of having one’s own book shop without the full time responsibility – The Open Book was born.
And ever since, it has been wonderful for the town and for the independent book trade.
What People Learn When They Run The Open Book
The Open Book is leased by the Wigtown book festival from a local family – and its goal is for guests to feel like they’re living the book shop dream for a week or two and enjoying all that Wigtown and Galloway have to offer – sea, native forests, a bucolic countryside and book stores.
It’s a very special part of the world. And this is a very special and unique way to experience it. I think projects like this foster literary tourism and encourage people to read and explore new locations at the same time.Jessica Fox, Co-founder, The Open Book
Of course, the BNB cum book shop residency has become a hit with people from all parts of the world!
The owners have had a wide range of guests pouring in from Asia and Europe to America. From an 80-something couple on their honeymoon – to artists, writers, musicians, parents and children, one thing has become amply clear: there is no particular type to a book lover...
They come in all shapes, ages and sizes.
Every time someone rents the place (for 150 pounds a week), they get to run the book shop with help from local booksellers.
They can also create awesome window displays, host literary and arty sessions and basically, put their own stamp on the store. They get to blog too, about their experience, on the official page of the lodging/book store.
There are many who go back home hoping to start an independent book store having finally lived the dream for a few days at The Open Book.
Well, I already know where my next holiday will be and if you are an avid reader, then I know where yours will be, as well!
(Runa Mukherjee Parikh has written on women, culture, social issues, education and animals, with The Times of India, India Today and IBN Live. When not hounding for stories, she can be found petting dogs, watching sitcoms or travelling. A big believer in ‘animals come before humans’, she is currently struggling to make sense of her Bengali-Gujarati lifestyle in Ahmedabad.)