“Books are making a resurgence,” Hanna Holford, bookstore manager of Ampersand, tells me.
Ampersand in Paddington has been voted the sixth most beautiful book-café in the world. 1000 Libraries ran a competition where communities were asked to vote for their most beautiful book-cafés in their city. “It was a complete honour. We entered the competition in 2023 and got 11th, so we were so happy when we made it to sixth place this year,” says Hanna, who loves working at this fairytale-like bookshop.
When I asked what the magic was about Ampersand, she said: “The vibe is cosy, vintage, and it is a relaxing place to sit.” She believes that books are making a comeback because people are searching for community, especially post COVID-19. “Books build community. We connect with other people who like the same things. We get excited about the same things, and that brings people together.”
Indeed, book clubs, read-ins (or silent reading parties), and book trivia nights are very popular. And more people are finding the writer within, leading to more book launches, writing workshops, and courses. The government has also channelled more money into the creative arts, establishing Creative Australia, which is the nation’s principal arts investment and advisory board.
As I enter Ampersand again, a magical place I have been coming to for years, I walk through the intimate spaces created in every nook and cranny. The terrace house in which Ampersand lives must also have its fair share of stories to tell. The store has that biblichor smell—the distinctive, musty yet evocative scent of old books.
Books in Ampersand range from nonfiction to horror, architecture, and cooking. All the books are second-hand, curated by Hanna, who loves her job. “It’s up to me to position the books and think about what will sell. I like the fact that people bring in these books because it gives me an insight into what they’re like,” she says.
One of my favourite things to do on a Saturday morning is get a coffee at Ampersand, sit by the upstairs window, and watch the world go by. What is it about being surrounded by these well-loved books? Why does it bring me such calm? Maybe there is the comforting sense of being connected to history—of not being alone.
I’m glad these precious books have found a new home in one of the most beautiful book-cafés in the world. And I’m glad this enchanted store exists in my neighbourhood. I hope that it’s still there in decades to come.
