Les Bouquins du Hangar, a second-hand bookseller in Sauve

We wanted to find out more about his career and his love of books... So follow our chat !

MEETING

Hello Christian,

What was your job before devoting yourself to the world of books? Or perhaps you combine your work as a bookseller with another activity?

As far as I can remember, I've always had a great passion for books. But I had the pleasure of devoting 100% of my time to them once I arrived in the Gard, after having worked in industry and then in education.

You come from Sauve every Sunday or so to set up your stall at the refuge stadium. What do you like so much about being a bookseller?

What I like most about being a bookseller is having the opportunity to talk to different people everytime. I also appreciate to offer affordable reading to everyone. And believe me, it's quite a challenge.

You recently opened Les Bouquins du Hangar, your second-hand bookshop in Sauve.

Do you feel different from other second-hand booksellers? Do you have a particular field that attracts you more than another?

No, I don't think I'm any different from other booksellers. What's important to me is that customers find what they're looking for. That is why I wanted Les Bouquins du Hangar to be a general, eclectic bookshop, with lots of different themes and prices varying mostly between €3 and €15.

As a child, I particularly liked history books. So of course I have books on history and regionalism, but also on war, religion, travel, countries, science, literature, the arts, esotericism, humanities, health and well-being, cooking... There are lots of books on nature, sport and hobbies, books for young people, comic books, novels and a host of paperbacks too. So I have a huge choice!

I should add that we're open on Sundays and that we're located on the edge of a greenway.... It's a great way to combine the pleasure of reading with a walk or hike.

And we've also had an online shop for 15 years, Les-Feuillets-du-Vidourle, where we offer around 4,500 books that are even different from those you can see in Uzès and at Les Bouquins du Hangar.

How do you manage your stock? Where do you find your wide range of books?

Every week, I stock up on a wide range of books on the markets. I get my supplies from a wide range of sources, including individuals, second-hand dealers and recycling centres. It's a lot of preparation during the week, sorting and handling boxes of books.

Who accompanies you in your adventure as a second-hand bookseller and runs the shop when you're at second-hand fairs and other markets?

I have 3 children and my wife and I had to choose opening times that suited our family rhythm. She runs the Hangar on Sunday mornings when I'm in Uzès or at other all-day flea markets.

When it comes to reading, which writers are you most fond of?

I really like authors like Maupassant, Pagnol, Voltaire and science fiction books. At the moment I'm reading Jean-Pierre Chabrol, a writer of Cévennes origin whom I'm discovering and enjoying.

Apart from the Refuge stadium, where else can you be found in the Gard?

I'm at the Sommières flea market every Saturday morning, on the Esplanade next to the Arènes. I also do the Sauve and Grands Sommières garage sales, about 4 times a year, on Sundays.

Would you like to add a comment?

At the markets, you can meet and chat with "celebrities". I had the chance to chat with JOB, the scriptwriter of Yakari and with an actor from a French series (Ici Tout commence)... I look forward to meeting more!

Special thanks to Christian, from Bouquins du hangar, for his contribution to this article.

The right address: Les bouquins du Hangar, 12 impasse des cyprès, Sauve. Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from 10am to 12.30pm and from 3pm to 7pm, Wednesdays from 10am to 12.30pm and Saturdays from 3pm to 7pm. Tel: 06 80 01 91 93. Les bouquins du Hangar are on Facebook.