September in the Bookshop

August was a long, hot month in the bookshop, but now the temperatures are falling, the leaves are turning, and there's a hint of bonfire smoke and pumpkin spice on the breeze.

We love nothing more than curling up with a hot coffee and a good book, and now September's here, it's time to exchange our summer beach reads for some cosy autumn fiction.

Or perhaps, as the evenings start to draw in, it's time to re-read one of the classics, such as Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, Dracula, or Wuthering Heights?

Our staff are always happy to provide recommendations and help you find your next literary obsession.

Book Club

Our book club meets in the shop at 6.30pm on the last Wednesday of each month. We're a friendly bunch, and there's usually a good crowd. All are welcome, so feel free to turn up and enjoy chatting over coffee with other local book lovers.

This month's books is: Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner.

From the Sunday Times bestselling author comes a darkly exhilarating novel about an American family and its inheritance - the safety and wealth that they fought for, and the precarity of their survival that is their legacy. The story spans generations, winding through decades of history all the way through to the wild present, dealing along the way with all the mainstays of American Jewish life and the timeless questions about wealth, trauma, and the American soul.

What our Staff are Reading

Working in a bookshop means we have a huge choice of books to sample. Right now, our staff are reading:

• Hayley - Songlight by Moira Buffini
• Ben - Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad
• Matilda - Hex by Jenni Fagan
• Gareth - Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner

Did You Know?

If there's a book you want that isn't in our stock, we can usually order it for you within a day or so? Ask us for details!

New Arrivals

Some of the great new books that have just arrived in the shop.

• Mythos by Stephen Fry
• Vianne by Joanne Harris
• Skandar and the Spirit War by A.F. Steadman
• Only Here, Only Now by Tom Newlands
• Wolf Hour by Jo Nesbo
• Strangers in Time by David Baldacci

Tea and Coffee

While you're browsing our shelves, why not treat yourself to tasty hot drink? We have a variety of teas and a handmade Italian cappuccino machine, and we can prepare you any of the following:

Freshly Ground Coffees - £2.50

• Americano
• Latte
• Flat White
• Espresso

Quality Teas - £1.20

• English Breakfast
• English Breakfast Decaf
• Earl Grey
• Chamomile
• Lemongrass and Ginger
• Triple Mint

You can sit at one of our tables with a cup and saucer, or get your drink to go in one of our recyclable paper cups.

Social Media

You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Just search for @hartmannsbooks.

And that's it for this month. We'll be in touch again in October, when things will be getting really spooky. In the meantime, we look forward to seeing you in the shop, where you're always guaranteed a warm welcome!

Happy reading!

Hayley & team

PS: If you've enjoyed this newsletter, please help spread the word to your friends in Portishead and beyond, and encourage them to sign-up too!