ME TIME
English Book stores in Switzerland
We read to know we are not alone - this was said by one of C.S Lewis’ students
and I find this quote to be true. When we moved to Switzerland books became even
more important for me for reasons like: not having so many friends, a husband
working all day long, two adorable but demanding kids and trying to learn a new
language. Therefore I needed something to distance myself from the challenging
everyday life and a good book became my true friend and teacher. A bookstore
became an important source for nurturing this companionship. For that reason
and more I would like to introduce to you a couple of bookstores, first just
in Basel, Bern, Geneva and Zürich and my hope is that those of you who know
about a good place to find a book, could help us expand our list of English
bookstores
in Switzerland and perhaps share with our readers why you recommend this specific
bookstore(s).
ZÜRICH
Orell Füssli The Bookshop in Zürich.
Perhaps the most well known bookstore in Zürich and lies in at Bahnhofstrasse
with more than 30,000 British and American titles.
Piles of books
Check out their website which is in both German an English: www.pileofbooks.ch. On their website you get the opportunity to read their book reviews. The bookstore
is in Zentralstr. 16 and their phone number is: 043 333 29 45.
Barth Bücher
Lies in Bahnhofstrasse 94 and has a good selection of travel, cookery and well-being
books. Here you can also find bestsellers and their own books of recommendation.
Kinderbuchladen Zürich
Has a good selection of picture-books, children books, audiotapes, dvds and different
software and plays. Here you can also find various books, pedagogical plays,
and working materials for who has reached primary school.
Payot Libraire
www.payot-libraire.ch – Specializes in French language publications.
Stäheli interlingua
www.staehelibooks.ch – Weinplatz 4, 8021 Zürich: Specializes in language
teaching aids in English, German and French and has numerous publications in
English and German.
Travel Book Shop
www.travelbookshop.ch – Rindermarkt 20, 8001 Zürich: As the name suggest-
this bookshop specializes in having huge selection of travel guides, maps, globes,
and hard back and pocket editions of travel writings. If you have no time to
travel to Zurich you can enjoy ordering books form their website.
Bookshops in
BERN
Bider and Tanner:
A big selection books in foreign languages like English, French, Italian and
Spanish.
Stauffacher Bookshop:
www.stauffacher.ch - Entrance in Neuengasse 25-37 and Ryffligässschen 8.
Stauffacher’s Bookship is one of the largest booksellers in the German-speaking
world and the biggest in Switzerland like Orell Füssli it has a wide range
of English and French books.Bookshops in Basel
Bergli Books:
www.bergli.ch - Lies at the Rümelinsplatz 19 – Founded in 1990 and
specializes in English books for Switzerland. The name “Bergli” was
given as a way to support and promote Swiss culture. The Bergli Bookshop in Basel
is a English bookshop, a internet shop, arrange Talk parties and book discussions.
Bider & Tanner:
www.biderundtanner.ch - Aeschenvorstadt 2- Specializes in travel book and has
a good selection of English books.
Karger Libri Booksellers:
www.libri.ch – Petersgraben 31-Specializing in Scientific literature, medicine,
economy, law, IT and library supply.
Thalia:
www.thalia.ch – Freie Str. 32. The largest bookshop in Basel. It also has
a good selection of English books and has a department of software and DVDs.
GENEVA
Bookworm:
5 rue Sismondi - has used English books and offers reasonable prices. Here you
can also enjoy a cup of tea and coffee.
Bouquinerie La Grotta aux Fees:
Rue des Grottes 13 - Specializes in Science Fiction books.
Off the Shelves:
www.offtheshelf.ch – 15 bvd Georges Favon – is the English bookshop
in the Plainpalais area of Geneva.
Payot:
www.payot.ch - 5, Rue Chantepoulet, 1211 GENÈVE 1. Their website states
that it has the biggest choice of English and American books in the French-speaking
Switzerland. Besides the English section, this bookstore offers a wide selection
of books in German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian – An international
bookstore for sure.
mamizeit recommends:
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
The Story is about Stephen Wraysword who during his learning about the
manufacturing process at the Azaire’s textile factory finds that
Mr Azaire beats his wife (Isabelle) for his inabilities to father a child.
Later Stephen and Isabelle conduct a passionate affair and run away together
- but Isabelle eventually returns to Mr Azaire after feeling guilty for
leaving his children. Our next encounter with Stephen is when he is a
officer in the British Army during the first world war- It is being said
of him that he “blows hot and cold”…
PREVIOUS "ME TIME" ARTICLES:
Spring make-up
(April09)
Mama Mia - here i go again
(March09)
Me and my Baby in Paris
(February09)
Birds of feathers
(January09)
Taking care of yourself
(November08)
The
hills of Tuscany
(October08)
Time
to let go
(September08)
Meeee
time
(August08)
Summer
time
(July08)
Longing
to laugh
(June08)
Zürich ticks to a
Scandinavian beat
(May08)
Treat
yourself to spa
(April08)
Homesick
remedy
(March08)