Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Root Cellar Books

Root Cellar Books


As anyone who has visited the Gwelf region can attest, it's very well known for the variety and quality of it's book shops. This is a topic I have been meaning to get to for quite a while now. The problem was,  where to start, what with there being so many worthy establishments deserving a mention. So, as luck would have it, I ran into Fox the other day at the Belle Flower Inn and he told me, over several pints, how much he still enjoys popping into Root Cellar Books, the one out there on Kenilworth Road near the old stone bridge. I know the place well and was quite prepared to launch into my own reflections on time wasted and hours spent browsing those same dusty shelves when old Foxy began reminiscing himself. He is a gifted story teller and so I gave way.

Young Fox
He discovered the place many decades earlier when still a teen and began frequenting it regularly instead of going to school. He didn't have any money in those days so he would borrow the books, sit outside on a stone, which is now known as Fox's stone, and read in the warm autumn sun. At the end of the day he would return the books to the shop and in exchange, would sweep out the shop and empty the receptacles. According to Fox it was much different in those older, simpler times and borrowing a book from a shop meant to sell them was not frowned upon. Fox borrowed and read many.

Old Fox

Epic poetry and history were his subjects in those days and it is not at all surprising that he would grow up to become a scholar and a writer himself, despite his lack of formal education. I couldn't help but agree with his opinion that advanced mathematics and geometry have little or nothing to do with writing, story telling and the creative arts. There are of course some that say mathematics is a creative art in itself but that world is so foreign to me that I shan't comment. Needless to say, old Fox went on to have a brilliant and well known career as local historian, bard,  composer of fiction and patron of Root Cellar Books. Pop in if you're in the area and have a moment. I'm heading over right now. It hasn't changed a bit.

Thanks so much for stopping by again.

More soon.

Cheers.

11 comments:

Thomas Haller Buchanan said...

Fox is a fine fellow.

Gwelf deserves a journey book! I look forward to the day you, as the journey master, can put it all together.

Larry MacDougall said...

Thanks Thomas. That day may yet come, and it if it does I might be calling you. :)

Tom Sarmo said...

In awe of the freshness and light--and the sketches are an inspiration too. Really glad to see this post

Larry MacDougall said...

Thanks Tom - there's more coming but there's client work to do too.

Anonymous said...

Argh! Love it! I second the book idea.

Larry MacDougall said...

Thanks Rosie Lauren. :)

Nigel said...

... this reads well aloud - often the sign of a good tale.

... I worked for several years in Animation and got hooked on (what was then) Books on Tape. I've since worked as an Actor (now back to drawing) and enjoy sitting at home, reading out books aloud, to no one at all, just for the joy of hearing the rhythm and 'melody' of a good story well told.

... thanks Larry, lovely stuff.
- Nigel.

Monika Baum said...

Reminds me of John Patience's Fern Hollow series, my favourite as a child. Very nice!

Larry MacDougall said...

Thanks Nigel - that's quite a compliment. I've done a bit of animation work myself but these days it's mostly illustration.

Monbaum - Thanks !

Unknown said...

So Neil Gaiman is Fox, huh? At least had the same childhod :)

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