Indie Bookshop of the Month: April 2023 - Typewronger Books

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16 May

Welcome to Typewronger Books, Edinburgh's smallest bookshop and Scotland's only typewriter repair shop! Within the tiny walls of this bookshop you’ll find new books, independent publications and zines. You can also join Risograph Zine-Making Workshops and a play reading group as well as regular free events. Typewronger Books is home to a small but beautiful community of readers, writers, artists and musicians…. Sounds idyllic! Read below to find out more about this tiny but big hearted bookshop.

When did you first open your doors?

The shop began as a market stall popping up in the street at the Leith Walk Police Box on the 5th of November 2017. We moved into the gallery space adjacent to McNaughtan’s antiquarian bookshop at the start of June 2018.

Do you remember the first book you sold?

The first at the Police Box was, I think, something by Iris Murdoch but I couldn’t swear to it!

What has never gone out of stock (because it’s always popular).

I don’t think there’s a title that’s been continually in stock since we opened – though there are definitely some firm favourites that keep coming back. Our shop is TINY so we’re always switching stock around so there’s something different each time people visit. We put staff picks on bellybands a fair bit and will reorder those, but again we sometimes retire them for a bit to focus on new titles. I know that’s a very cryptic answer! Some titles are things that are very specific that we don’t sell an awful lot of but keep them around because we love them – I have some weird books in the antiquity section like that…

Is there a book you’d refuse to sell?

I’ll order in almost anything for customers – but I do draw the line at three or four publications, which we wouldn’t get in under any circumstances. For instance someone recently asked me why I wouldn’t order in The Anarchist’s Cookbook.

“Because it’s a bomb-making manual.”

“But I’m just interested in the chemistry!”

“Well this just shows you how to make bombs out of fertiliser and bleach.”

That and Mein Kampf are two that immediately come to mind.

Do you have a bookshop pet?

Elsa has a dog called Maude and there’s a few regulars who drop in with their faithful hounds, but we don’t have a dedicated bookshop pet. My flat’s a bit small, and the shop’s not an ideal place to keep one overnight!

What are you reading right now?

The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell – bit of Gothic set in a theatre. Sometimes I get accused of only reading Gothic lit but I love the suspense and psychology!

You are able to give one book to every child. Which title do you choose?

The Wind In The Willows. It was one of the earliest children’s novels, and like most children's books the readership is mostly adults. My grandfather used to reread it every year and I like to go back to it from time to time myself. Of course it can be a bit twee with Ratty and Mole and the ridiculous adventures of Toad – distinctly uncool I’m sure - but chapter seven, Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, has some astonishing ethereal writing about the Great God Pan which inspired the Pink Floyd album of the same name so it isn’t entirely square.

Best thing overheard in your bookshop?

I don’t know about overheard but we get people writing distinctly peculiar things on our public typewriter… probably best we don’t elaborate on that much!