A NEW Trainspotting-themed bookstore has opened in Edinburgh as a tribute to Irvine Welsh – one of the city’s greatest living authors.
“Choose Books.” the shop’s bright orange facade on 126 Newhaven Road advises you, mimicking Renton’s famous speech from Welsh’s most famous novel.
With comic books, action figures, vinyl, cassette tapes, CDs and even Hot Wheels cars to browse from, however, you are not just limited to choosing books in the store.
Although Shaun Baskind, who hails from South Africa, named the shop in honour of Irvine Welsh, whom he describes as one of the best contemporary authors alive, he doesn’t have much desire to meet the author.
Shaun says that he’s “pretty sure” that Welsh is aware of the shop due to mutual friends he shares with the Trainspotting writer but that he doesn’t expect him to appear.
Although Shaun said he wouldn’t be opposed to such a meeting, he added that “I don’t necessarily like to meet people that I idolise”.
Choose Books is just the latest manifestation of Shaun’s passion for physical media, however.
Shaun used to run “Ballard Books” in South Africa, which was founded in tribute to J.G Ballard, who was known for controversial works of dystopian science fiction and satire.
All kinds of physical media are welcome in Choose Books, however: “We do books, records, CDs, cassettes, DVDs.
“We’ve only been here a week, so we haven’t had any stock come in yet – this is just stuff I’ve been sourcing over the years.
“We do all sorts of gaming stuff and Pokémon cards – collectible toys and vintage stuff.
“But we’re also trying to do little knickknacks for the kids who come in, because parents don’t want to spend £10-100 on a toy.
“The comics aren’t expensive either, and we’re trying to keep prices affordable across the board.
“It’s a community bookshop.”
Hi wife, Kezia, who was working on her laptop at a counter area next to the window, said that she and her husband were excited about the shift to physical media which is currently taking place in Gen Z.
When it comes to books, Shaun says he mostly interested in contemporary fiction and science fiction, but the shop features an eclectic mix, from fantasy to political tracts.
Shaun hopes that the shop can evolve as the community makes its mark on the store.
“The community has responded really well so far.
“We’ve only been here five years, so we don’t know too many people, and we didn’t want to have a lame opening party.
“So I thought we’d just open the doors, and there’s been quiet a lot of interest so far.”
He also hopes that the shop can be a welcome change of pace for he and his wife, Kezia, who have enjoyed long careers in the film industry.
Choose Books is on 126 Newhaven Road, just north of the Water of Leith, and is open from 8.30am until 3pm Tuesday-Friday and 9am to 4pm.
