[BHE 64] Book Hunting in Budapest Part 1 of 2

Every Sunday, we share our book hunting expeditions and feature books that have spoken to us and found their way into our shelves over the past several weeks.

This is a much delayed post. It took me quite awhile to go through the books that I bought from Budapest, Hungary. I knew, however that Budapest is my city the moment I saw that there was an entire row of book shops in the street quite close to the hotel where we stayed.

Bookshops Galore in Budapest

The problem, however, is that the books being sold are not in English. 😦

While I did find books that are in English, they are few and far between.

Yet one can not deny how vibrant the reading culture is in this beautiful city. It’s no wonder I have fallen in love with Budapest.

I would have loved to buy as many as I could seeing that the books are at a discounted rate, but I won’t be able to read them.

But look at those book covers.

I know without even understanding the language that this is my kind of book.

More Book Shops

During our last day in Budapest, my friend-enabler Tuting Hernandez and I made sure that we visit as many book shops as we could and we did find quite a number of really good local books – and some of them are in English!

Book Finds

Two books written by Éva Janikovsky and illustrated by László Réber: Answer Nicely When You’re Asked and Just Who Does this Child Take After? Apparently Éva is one of the more prolific and bestselling (not to mention award-winning) children’s book authors in Hungary.  

Szegedi Katalin’s Palko is not in English but I was charmed by this boy’s hair and the amazing illustrations. I would just find a kind-hearted [and good-looking] Hungarian to translate the book for me.

Magda Szabó’s The Gift of the Wondrous Fig Tree illustrated by Katalin Szegedi is a book that I really actively looked for. I was unable to purchase it right away in one of the biggest bookstores in Budapest (watch out for my post about that next week) and when I returned after a few days, it was not available any longer. I accidentally chanced upon this beautiful book while walking through many of the smaller discounted bookshops in the street quite near the Hotel Mercure Korona where we were staying.

Tuting’s Book Finds

Here are the books that my good friend bought for himself: The Adventures of Mishi the Squirrel by Józsi Jenö Tersánszky and Péter Nádas’ Love: A Novel.

This is also a very cute find. While I have no idea what the words mean, I could make an educated guess and I am sure it would be spot on: Pfúú: Te Voltál Az, Bertie? by David Roberts.

Hybrid Art: Design Shop Café

While I do enjoy the huge city book shops that are quite well-known, I find that I am more entranced by tiny artsy bookstores that I accidentally discover in off-beaten and unexpected pathways. This place is one of them – Hybrid Art: Design Shop Café.

Evidently, the place does not just sell books, it also sells quirky stuff such as this Hellraiser-inspired toothpick-holder.

And a basket filled with absolutely delightful ‘ugly dolls.’

Tuting’s Book Finds

My friend Tuting Hernandez went on a book shopping spree. We were enamoured by these pocket-sized wordless retellings of fairy tales from The Three Little Pigs to Puss in Boots to Little Red Riding Hood. How absolutely inventive.

More wordless books!

And this little creature called out to him as well.

My Book Finds

And here are my book buys. Another gorgeously illustrated picture book that I am unable to read because of the language but one I could not help but purchase anyway: Mamuska by Dezsö Andrea.

Blanche Neige by Gabriella Makhult and Blanca Nieves y los Siete Enanitos by Borbála Árvai – beautiful retellings of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

A Három Kismalac by Nagy Diána and A Három Kismalac by Nagy Dóra: both are wordless retellings of The Three Little Pigs.

Piroska Es a Farkas by Rutkai Bori and Rotkäppchen by András Baranyai – retellings of Little Red Riding Hood.

I also bought this purply creature for my eleven year old daughter. She named it “Skully” for pretty obvious reasons.

Clearly, I am happy with this book shop.

This beautiful bookseller with her ethereal air and wispy red hair also seemed like a character out of a fairy tale. Definitely one of the book shops you should visit while you’re in Budapest.

How about you, dear friends, what books found their way to you this week?