Browsers – A book lover’s paradise
Literature is a way to communicate the human experience to the world. Whether you are looking for a classic story or something new, Browsers Bookshop is packed full of gems.
On the busy streets of Hamilton Kirikiriroa, Riverbank Lane is home to one of New Zealand’s favorite bookshops – Browsers.
Browsers has been enriching readers’ lives for almost three decades, since being first established in 1996. Owned by Rachel Pope, this independent bookshop offers a wide range of pre-owned books, often as good as new, and with affordable prices.
Towering tomes greet visitors walking through the main entrance, ambient music plays on the background and vintage ornaments adorn the shelves. There are thousands and thousands of books to browse, from well-known classics to something out of the ordinary, with a range of rare and collectable books as well.
Between shelves, you can find popular fiction, literature, science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction books such as historical books, science books, travel books, music books and cookbooks. There is something for everyone.
As the store name suggests, comfy chairs around the shop invite you to sit down and flick through the pages of a book that caught your eye.
Rachel said some of the best-selling books in Browsers are popular fiction, books about war and Māori books. “Māori books can become quite expensive, due small print runs and are often quite sought-after.”
Her favorite section in the shop is literature.
”I am fascinated by the human condition… and literature is a place to find illumination on that.”
Rachel pope
“I think writers are far more incisive” Rachel said. “We love the same, laugh the same, hurt the same, cry the same. That is what I love about literature, same across cultures, countries, age. It’s amazing.”
In 2023, Browsers featured in “150 Bookshops You Need to Visit Before You Die”, a compendium of the most interesting bookstores around the world. This has been one of the career highlights for Rachel.
In the modern world where internet has challenged the traditional way to hunt down books, independent bookshops still have a lot to offer. Staff who are passionate about books can provide a unique experience, and readers are supporting a local business. Popular titles are easy to find by a quick Google, but if you are looking for something more specific and niche, it can be quite hard to find, even online.
Rachel believes that the bookshops that are good are excellent and rock solid.
“There will always be a place for good quality literature.”
