Oh la la, how did this happen? - I am going to write about my February, and it's almost May. In my defence, I did start this post in February but then life happened (in the form of a very busy spring.) However, I am finally back, and all ready to go!
Odd thing, but I spent the majority of my February in Munich, Germany. Today, I'd like to write about a very specific - bookish - chunk of my trip (and a bit of food, haha!), not about it in general though - for I created a very strict rule for myself when I started this blog: not to drag anyone (else) into it. My trip, first and foremost, was that of a family one, and about that, you'll not be reading here.
There was, however - and luckily, too! - much strolling about and my own exploring, after I'd spent a good 1,5 weeks with the flu. The flu part was just... you know... meh. But all else was lovely!
I find it really funny, but Germans like asking me how I like Germany. I LOVE Germany. I'm not only saying this to impress Germans, it's a fact. I find Germans very nice. Yet, whenever I tell Germans this, they like telling me that it's not at all true, there are many rude Germans. Not all Germans are nice, okay?! They do seem to have very strong feelings about their not-so-nice fellow citizens - something, I must say, is only of concern to a nation that actually cares about what they are like to others. Just sayin'. Germany in 2023 had 83,294,633 citizens (I've just looked it up), so yes, I bet that amongst all those people, there must be rude ones too, but that's just simply not my experience. Darling Germany, you must learn to take a compliment.
(Also, I know that Bavarian people are Bavarian and hence different from other parts of Germany, but all the parts of Germany I've had the luck to interact with have been indeed very nice to me.:))
Okay. Let's get back on track:
About Munich:
Munich's (contemporary) profile - at least at first glance - seems to hover somewhere around class (well-dressed possibly-lawyers darting around the city), sole Bauhaus armchairs in minimalist exhibition places...and sports. Those were the parts I couldn't (fully) connect with. Don't get me wrong, Munich chose its (main) game and is apparently very good at it, it just happened to be not my cup of tea.
Well, here's a lovely cup of tea for you:
There were, however, many things I did connect with (obviously - I wouldn't be writing this post otherwise): bakeries, for example and that charming chit-chatty local life. Germans seem to be having lovely bakery-breaks! And I found much joy in their joy...
And in all those other foodie moments too! I was lucky to have been shown around and invited to the best places. Germans also seem to be so incredibly appreciative of a vast variety of street food - they obviously enjoy exploring the cuisine of different nationalities... something (else) truly lovely about them.
(I actually want to look up a recipe to make it at home!)
And then (drumrolls!): BOOKSTORES. (The bookish stars of a bookish blog...) I checked out quite a few of them (especially those that specialised in English books or had English books as well), so, here is my ultimate ranking:
The top Munich Bookstores I visited while staying in Germany (and yes, this is going to be a ranking, even though I only added those I truly loved):
#4: All the Hugendubels
I must be very basic, but I actually love huge chain bookstores. I do know that they aren't the best for the economy, I try to support local businesses too, so don't judge me, okay?! Yet, I love chain stores and their power to offer anonymity. I love grandiosity and how unimportant my individuality is in huge spaces. I could (*try to*) hold a handstand in a corner for ten hours and no one would actually care. And that is so lovely.
Hugendubel is the German Waterstones, so you can find quite a few of them scattered about the city. Some of them have pretty fresco ceilings and such airiness you wish you could stay there forever:
They are also dog-friendly!
And (most of them) have lovely cafés too (Something I actually forgot to take a picture of...)
Did I buy something?
Yes, but not a book... Just a tiny Easter gift and more cups of tea than I wish to admit.
find them here:
#3: The Munich Readery (Secondhand English Bookstore)
The most important thing about this bookstore is that they have a resident dog, called Emma. The first time I visited the place she ran out barking frantically, but then saw me and must have been like nah, I'm not gonna eat this hooman - and proceeded to roll onto her back and collect all the adoration and scratches I was ready to give her. (And I had a lot to give, so we were there for a while.)
Emma has her own chair and she looks so cosy when peeking outside that one just feels inclined to join and stay with her - a smart move of the owners of the store.
Otherwise, the shop is quite big and pretty maze-like, there are very carefully and neatly organised sections for all genres. Much appreciated!
The owner (a guy) must have been having a bad day as he did not smile (back) and when I complimented Emma he only murmured something under his nose, supposedly trying to be vaguely polite. (I was quite sure he wasn't German. He didn't have the accent.) It made me a bit sad, hence ranking the place only #3.
Did I buy something?
Yes. I bought two books:
When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka (about Japanese American internment camps during World War II). 3/5 stars. It was a good book but I wasn't head over heels in love with it. The historical aspect was harrowing, of course, and I (especially as a European) have learnt a lot from it, but it did not touch me as much as I had hoped it would.
I also bought a copy of:
Beloved by Toni Morrison (the book I'm currently reading.) I don't think that Morrison could ever disappoint anyone, so this was a pretty safe bet.
find them here:
#2: Words' Worth
Just across the university, there is this cosy place, it's a relatively small bookstore with mainly new releases, and though it is pricey indeed, it has an amazing selection with a charming kid's corner, a lot of gifts, but also a huge section of theoretical & academic books - which I much appreciated. If I were a resident of the city, it would definitely be a go-to place of mine. Very good vibes overall. I love oddly niche books on oddly niche stuff, so it was a dream place to browse through.
Did I buy something?
No. But it had quite a few titles (new releases) that I really want to read one day (such as books by Jon Fosse, the winner of 2024's Nobel Prize for literature).
find them here:
And now, to the ultimate winner of the 'competition', the place I found by chance but fell for instantly...
#1 Glitsch - Qeerfeminstischer Buchladen
Well, now, my story with this bookstore is long and odd and has far too many twisting implications for my future (haha! Am I being superfluous?) - details I will not disclose here and now. But all is not lost that is delayed! It started an incessantly flowing something - a storyline? - in my life. Of which I'll tell you later, in another post.
What I will say, though, is that I found it quite by chance, and although it isn't an English bookstore, per se, it has a pretty versatile selection of stickers, little gifts and English books - on their theme, of course: LMBTQ+ and feminism. (And I have many LMBTQ+ friends and am interested in feminist literature, so it was just the perfect thing for me.) But what mattered the most was the incredible warmth the place had - a tiny shop filled with much sunshine on a cold February day. I stumbled in, found a book of a lifetime - and a self-service coffee & tea corner. And the nice person the bookseller girl was, she agreed to take a few pictures of me snuggled up in the window alcove with a huge cuppa and a nice book.
I should've taken more pictures but did not - a shame, as this little bookstore was a true haven and I wish more on-that-day-lost-souls could stumble upon it just at the right moment. As I said, I'll tell you about all this later. (But let's have a bit of suspense till then.)
Did I buy something?
Yes. I did buy two books. One was a gift, so I don't know what it's actually like. I haven't read it:
I also bought a pack of stickers, and that other book I'll tell you about later.
Please give yourself a favour and DO go and check Glitsch out if you're visiting Munich!
Find them here:
Well, this is all for today. Hopefully, this post is a return of mine. I've got plenty to say, not enough time though, so, we'll see.
Fingers crossed till next time.
Hugs from the Fearless Frock!:)
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