We decided to play the Q&A game with the ABC staff, and asked all sorts of bookish questions. In the coming weeks we will be posting their (sometimes cheeky!) answers here on the blog, so you can learn a little more about us.
Enjoy!
This time around we talked to Bruna. She is the one responsible for many of the beautifully painted windows, and is also the buyer for quite a few sections in Amsterdam, including General Fiction and Illustration.
What are your top 3 favorite books or authors?
My favorite books change with time, but if I have to chose only three, these are my absolute favorites right now:
– Poor Things by Alasdair Gray
– The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
– Just Kids by Patti Smith
As for authors, I do love Angela Carter. I think her writing is very particular and special. I still want to read all of her books one day.
What is your favorite genre to read?
This again changes over time and mood, but I do read a lot of Fiction, Classics, Historical Fiction, Horror (specially gothic horror), History, Art History, Fantasy and Memoirs.
In which literary world would you like to live/go on vacation?
I think I would love to visit the mythological Greek island of “Aeaea”, the house of the goddess Circe.
What is your favorite bookish animal (fiction or nonfiction)?
I love how animals are used in Phillip Pullman’s series His Dark Materials. “Daemons,” as he calls them, are a representation of the soul, but outside the human body (a fascinating concept). Lyra’s Daemon in the series changes form, but it often appears as a white Ermine, and it is just adorable.
Do you have any reading tips for our customers?
My reading tip is basically: read what you feel like reading, what brings you joy. I am a mood reader, so I like to match my mood with the books I am reading. A good way to do that is by following the seasons, such as reading winter stories during winter, making the reading experience even more immersive.
My favorite time to read is in bed at night, listening to a mix of fireplace sounds and heavy rain, drinking a good cup of herbal tea (I love “Feel New” by the tea brand PUKKA).
What non-book item at ABC can you not pass by without looking at it?
The book nooks! Another colleague already answered that, and I have to agree, they are very interesting, full of little details.
Which book changed your (look on) life?
So many books have changed my life in so many ways. Just Kids by Patti Smith was the last one I read that really stayed with me. This book truly changed my relationship with art and how to be the artist I want to be.
What is your favorite part of being a bookseller?
The best thing about being a bookseller is helping and advising customers. It is so cool when you can recommend a book to someone, and it’s even nicer when the customer also has something to recommend to me. These magical exchanges are very precious and always makes my day.
About the Author: Lilia
