Most avid readers dream of working, or better yet, owning a bookstore. Ah, to be surrounded by books all day long, reading a novel from behind the counter while on duty.
Mandy Bush and her partner Siegrun Valsdottir have been living that dream since they opened up The Bookspot in Maadi a little over two years ago, though there’s very little time to leaf lazily through a book.
As the saying goes “necessity is the mother of invention. While The Bookspot is not technically an invention, necessity is what spurred Bush into action. In an attempt to satiate her appetite for books, without making too large a dent in her wallet, she used to frequent a popular used bookstore in Maadi. Growing frustration that it seemed to be closed more often than it was open, coupled with the chance encounter of a “To Let sign hanging at a prime location around the corner, the idea of opening her own bookstore came about.
With its selection of over 6,000 used books, The Bookspot offers “books you can afford, explains Bush. Though bookstores are cropping up around the city, the prices are also on the up and up. With new paperback novels ranging in price from LE 70 to LE 120, ardent bookworms can spend a small fortune.
Garnering a large enough collection to open their doors to customers wasn’t an easy feat. They bought the stock of a used bookstore going out of business, but that only amounted to about 400 books. So, they placed ads and rallied friends and family members to sell their collections.
“When we first opened, Bush says, “we had to sacrifice our own books, though she refused to part with her collection of Louisa May Alcott novels.
The Bookspot does carry a selection of new books. But 90 percent of their customers buy from the used selections. Their books range from popular fiction, quite a large collection of science fiction, biographies, cookbooks, and a small selection of children’s books.
Other than price, used books have a couple of benefits. Rather than stocking only the latest releases and bestsellers, it’s a treasure trove of older books that are a rare find in other bookstores. And The Bookspot also offers the added service of repurchasing the book after you’ve read it at half price, you could think of it as a long-term rental service even.
Bush estimates that with the price of one new book, you could buy three to four used books, return them, and purchase another one or two. So, one new book is approximately the equivalent of four and a half used books.
In some cases, Bush has even been known to encourage resale. When the bookstore got a hold of a used copy of the English translation of Alaa Al Aswany’s “Yacoubian Building she asked customers to return the book once they read it so she could meet the demand of other readers. She still hasn’t been able to get a copy for herself to read.
The Bookspot is simple and functional, with no added frills. The bookshelves line the walls, and the only embellishment is the slanted lower shelves that allow customers to browse without having to bend down. The books are clearly categorized, the sales staff knowledgeable and friendly, and the prices are set.
The partners’ fervor can be seen in the small details. There’s a station for customers to help themselves to free tea or coffee, and a plate of homemade brownies for only LE 3 apiece. The bamboo tables and chair offer you a place to sit down and read or, if you bring your laptop along, go online with access to their free wireless Internet connection. In the corner is a small wooden table with puzzles for the kids, and Kariman – who takes care of Bush’s toddler while she’s at work – is ready to baby-sit your kids while you browse at your leisure.
Bush is vivacious and extremely friendly, which is something she says she shares with her partner Valsdottir who is currently on maternity leave. As an American convert to Islam, which she superfluously mentioned given that she was veiled, her and her partner – also a convert from Iceland – had another motivation behind opening the bookstore.
“Our intention was to show people the true side f Islam by example, explained Bush. When people visit the shop and see how “kooky – as she described – they are, and they realize that they are businesswomen who are leading independent lives, then that can counter some of the misconceptions the large Maadi community may have of Muslim women. “We kind of feel our intention is good so we’ve had some success.
Meeting Bush is enough to dispel any stereotypes. She’s broad-minded, and doesn’t mind sharing her story – even responding to the most intrusive of questions. Her charm permeates the atmosphere. She invites customers to come have a free cup of tea and just hang out. Of course, with the books tempting you it’s very likely you’ll make a purchase or two.
The Bookspot has an online ordering service (www.bookspotonlince.com) where you can browse through their collection. If you want a book that’s not in stock, you can place an order and they’ll do their best to hunt down a copy. The website, Bush feels, is a “natural progression for any business today. It has attracted browsers from outside Cairo who put the books on hold until their next visit.
So what’s the biggest bonus of running your own bookstore?
“I could say it’s all about meeting people, Bush laughed amusingly. “[It’s] the cheap books, dude.
“But now I don’t have time to read them, she added with characteristically good humor.
