In the bustling creative storm of Ventnor Fringe (running until 30th July), the Book Bus shines as an unexpected sanctuary of calm and quietude.
This simple concept – a second-hand bookshop housed in an alluring 1930’s Parisian Bus – recurrently pops up in the favourites list of festival-goers.
The charm of the Book Bus might be due to the inviting, free seats that allow weary festival attendees to unwind amongst a wealth of books. Alternatively, it might be the soothing, eclectic soundtrack that captures hearts, or perhaps it’s the houseplants which subtly soften the surroundings, offering a homely ambience.
Putting books centre stage
For Tom and Jen, the Book Bus hosts, books undeniably take the spotlight. Jen praises the enchanting environment, saying,
“The bus is such a beautiful space. It’s unreal – you step aboard and you’re suddenly somewhere else. But it’s the books that bring the real magic.”
But, do they take their books seriously? Tom replies, “Well, yes and no.” He explains that they don’t subscribe to snobbish or superior attitudes towards books. He emphasises that a book’s worth is ultimately subjective: what might be seminal to one reader could be entirely different for another.
Curating an experience
What Tom and Jen are firm about is their pivotal role in carefully selecting the books they stock.
“There’s a huge curatorial element to it all,” says Jen. She explains that the books aren’t all classics or high literature, but they are all handpicked, believing that each will provide a valuable experience to someone.
Tom adds,
“We’re not here to tell anyone what they’ll like, just to put all these incredible books in front of people and let them choose for themselves. That sort of shortlisting, that’s what makes a good second-hand bookshop so exciting. Bookshops fly or fall on the strength of how well curated their stock is.”
A badge of honour
This discerning attitude towards their stock is a badge of honour for Tom and Jen. “We never buy job lots. We’ve definitely upset some people that way…” Jen discloses. She talks of a time when they went to the mainland to examine a vast collection, “hundreds and hundreds of books,” but ultimately came away with just six select titles.
“It’s like sifting dirt and finding gold, we’re out there panning for great books,” Tom reflects. “It means that every book on the bus is there because of a conscious decision to include it… because someone is going to love it,” Jen concludes.
A literary hub
The Book Bus takes up residence in front of St Catherine’s Church, open from 10am-6pm, from Saturday to Friday of the Ventnor Fringe.
The bus plays host to a variety of free sets by poets, buskers, and musicians every day. It also offers a free children’s story time hour each morning from 11am, making it a popular haunt for all ages.
The Book Bus, indeed, is a destination where one can journey through the wide world of literature, each page a stepping stone to another realm.
Image: © Julian Winslow
