The Open Book

Small, independent book shop — love it. As happy as I am perusing any selection of books there’s a certain joy at finding some, usually, harder to find works in the independent book shops. The Open Book is one such place. It is small, just the one floor and narrow but does have some depth constructing what seems like a long corridor with a couple of alcoves along the way.
It may just be because it’s currently January but there are sale items (particularly on «Art Books» at the mo), although, I seem to remember other discount items on my last visit which wasn’t in a January. Many — of the few in a separate, non-​art book sale — being half price, I picked up a new and beautiful hardback copy of a Will Self and Ralph Steadman collaboration on this particular deal. Open Book do usually sell everything else at the RRP though.
Being small, Open Book don’t have as broad a selection as a larger chain (perhaps that’s obvious) but what I do find helpful is that they’ll offer to order any book for you provided they can get a hold of a copy.
Pop in if you’re in Richmond,
Ian

Hidden down an alley at the end of Richmond’s high street, The Open Book is one of Richmond’s few independent booksellers. Unlike its peers however, The Open Book deals only in new books.
A small window hides a deceptively deep shop; a narrow building whose walls carry a wonderful selection of everything, from fiction and poetry to gardening, travel and cooking. Whilst corporate chains such as the nearby Waterstones may employ the ‘stack it high and sell it cheap’ approach to bookselling, The Open Book plays the part of specialist bookseller perfectly, with what I believe to be Richmond’s best selected range of books.
The shop makes some attempt at creating an identity, with a few old knickknacks dotted around the place, although the gas mask at the back is a little disquieting!
I think the one thing that lets this place down is its customer service, which all depends on the person you get serving you! On more than one occasion I’ve been helped by a lovely lady who’s gone out of her way to help me find a specific book, however other times have seen me try and engage another woman in conversation to no effect, which seems strange for an independent.
Overall, if you’re looking for a well-​stocked bookshop that most likely has the precise tome you seek, The Open Book is a very safe bet. Just don’t be surprised if you’re met with a frown instead of a smile!

Great shop that sells books. In a small shop it cannot have the breadth that one of the mega-​chains can give but it takes the cream, the better folios and pairs that with a good owner who seems to know her stuff.
For a book shop it is probably the best card shop I know of. I know, I know: what is a red blooded male talking about cards for. Well being happily married for four years my suffering wife has been trying to educate me … some of it must have sunk in!
If you are looking for any card, forget clintons and pop into the Open Book. Buy a book to while you are there.

This is long, narrow train carriage of a bookshop on a good little street in Richmond. They pack books in like Victoria Beckham packs and David Beckham packs. It’s crowded at Open Book, not just on the shelves but on the floor and in piles everywhere. It actually brings quite a bit of charm to the place though, it feels fertile and a land of literature plenty. The selection is really impressive and they do the more mainstream thing of grouping books around few topics. Slightly formulaic perhaps but it’s good for present buying and the like.
I’ve always found everyone in here to be quite helpful and the tables with suggestions always feature something that takes my interest. One of the best to go to if you’re in the area.

I have spent too long now in thrall of the mighty conglomerate that is Borders Books and Music. I admit, when I first discovered it in California about 10 years ago, I thought that we would be so lucky if we ever get a book store of this size in England. Now that they are popping up everywhere I find myself increasingly drawn back to the smaller, individual book sellers.
Visiting Richmond recently, where I spent my university years, I popped into the Open Book, and was pleased to say that it was quite busy, and still a great place to while away an afternoon. Although the outside of the shop gives you the impression that it is a small book store, it is deceptively big. It rambles back deep into a larger room. There were many books on offer; an indication that all booksellers are all to aware of the cut price competition they face from Borders, and Amazon.
Open Book is a long standing resident of Richmond, and has a section devoted to Richmond life, and history. There are also postcards for sale by the front of the shop which are to do with the area, including Richmond Park, and the River Thames. Do stop by when you are next on a search for a good read, you will be glad that you did.

It makes a pleasant change to discover an independent book store amidst the sea of high street chains. The Open Book has a comfortable, comforting atmosphere that makes you want to curl up with a good book.
There’s a comprehensive selection here, helpful staff and a small range of cards too. Local authors are favoured and you’re likely to find signed copies of their works. Worth looking-​into as part of an enjoyable Richmond exploration