Ever wondered what goes on in the minds of the smiling faces selling you your next favourite book? Well, you’re about to find out! We chatted to Megan Hitchin, a manager at The Book Lounge in Cape Town, about all things literary.
GLAMOUR: What are your top three bestsellers right now?
Megan: As an independent bookshop we don’t have bestsellers as such – we concentrate on a wide range rather than a few top titles. That said, there are things that tend to sell by word of mouth, and right now a lot of people are reading the Karl Ove Knausgaard trilogy. The new Ian McEwan ( The Children Act– check out our review in the Book Bank!) and the latest Michel Faber ( The Book of Strange New Things), both very excellent in different ways, are also doing very well.
What are you reading at the moment?
The Nunslinger series by Stark Holborn. It’s a rollicking western/adventure story about a nun. On the run. With a gun. Set in the American Midwest in 1864, it’s a gripping adventure indeed!
Which book would you recommend absolutely everyone read?
I couldn’t possibly – one of the wonderful things about our trade is that everyone has different tastes. That said, I can’t think of anyone I wouldn’t recommend the latest Karen Joy Fowler to – We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves– for which she won the PEN/Faulkner Award.
Who is your favourite author?
Again, hard to narrow down to one, but the people I tend to go back to, or read completely, are Evelyn Waugh, Philip Kerr, Richard Fariña, Rose Tremain, Lawrence Norfolk, Charles Palliser and Deon Meyer.
Should you ever judge a book by its cover?
Of course not – but it is a very human trait and everyone does it! Book cover design is hugely important, and in a crowded market, books need to catch the eye.
What is your favourite book-to-film adaptation?
Hmmm, difficult, as it’s not something I’m fond of. The one that I remember feeling most nervous of, and then utterly enchanted with, was Danny Boyle’s adaptation of Trainspotting. Absolutely outstanding!
Do you prefer an e-reader or hardcopy?
Given the choice, I would have a hard copy. But in SA where access to books is far more limited, and prices are so high (there is still VAT on books here, which is outrageous!), one takes what one can get.
What is your favourite thing about reading?
Everything. The chance to meet new people, travel to new places, be comforted, scared, excited, amused – all without leaving my sofa! The anticipation of starting a new book, loving a book I’m reading so much that I have to take it everywhere with me, the desolation of finishing a book and having to part with the characters, the thrill of language used so well. All of the above and more!
What book would you recommend for a holiday read?
At the Book Lounge we tailor our recommendations according to what people have previously enjoyed. Tell me one book you loved and I will give you a pile of books to choose from, no matter what the subject. But, just in case, have you read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt?
How often do you agree with critics about a book?
Not often. A good critic is as informative as he/she is opinionated. Critics are, after all, only human too, and may have vastly different tastes to me, or be writing about a friend’s book (happens a lot!). So, I read them avidly, but take it all with a pinch of salt.
Keep your eyes on Book Club for more interviews with your favourite book stores’ managers!
