{"id":313602,"date":"2025-09-10T18:55:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T16:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/2025\/09\/la-bookinerie-arthur-and-camille-achieve-dream-of-opening-monaco-bookshop\/"},"modified":"2025-09-10T18:56:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T16:56:28","slug":"la-bookinerie-arthur-and-camille-achieve-dream-of-opening-monaco-bookshop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/en\/2025\/09\/la-bookinerie-arthur-and-camille-achieve-dream-of-opening-monaco-bookshop\/","title":{"rendered":"La Bookinerie: Arthur and Camille achieve dream of opening Monaco bookshop"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Arthur and Camille Laure’s dream came true on 27 August with the opening of La Bookinerie, a new cultural space on Promenade Honor\u00e9 II.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt all started with trips I took with my parents, particularly to Scotland and Edinburgh,\u201d<\/em> said Arthur Laure, recalling the inspiration behind the project. \u201cIt was the kind of place with bookshops, with that very British atmosphere\u2014leather armchairs, dim, cosy lighting. I\u2019ve always had this ideal of a bookshop in mind.\u201d <\/em>Although the dream had always been there, Arthur initially followed a different path. Holding a PhD in health sciences, he worked in lung cancer research, while his wife Camille was an engineer at INSERM in the field of neurodegenerative diseases. \u201cAt first we took different paths, but we always had the idea of opening a bookshop one day,\u201d <\/em>he said. The turning point came four years ago, when Monaco expressed interest in opening a small bookshop. The couple, then living in Montpellier, returned \u201cespecially for this project,\u201d <\/em>adds Arthur, who is originally from the region. \u201cIt took a bit of time, four years in total.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/p>\n\n\n

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A living space centred around books<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The name combines the English \u201cbook\u201d <\/em>and the French \u201cbouquin\u201d<\/em>, reflecting its identity as a generalist bookshop. \u201cThere are books for everyone, for all ages,\u201d<\/em> said Arthur. The space also offers “greeting cards, stationery, candles, tea, board games”<\/em> and a caf\u00e9 corner with carefully selected drinks such as kombucha and cold-pressed juices. \u201cWe try to choose quality products; we don\u2019t serve soda, for instance, because it\u2019s not part of our ideal.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The couple\u2019s ambition goes beyond selling books. \u201cWe really wanted to create a living space, a community around books, a place where people feel comfortable,\u201d<\/em> said Arthur. Their scientific background also shapes their plans for events: \u201cThe bookshop is a great place to simplify complex topics, which is why we want to host events and hopefully include scientific topics too.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Among his favourites, Arthur highlighted La Bombe<\/em> by Alcante, Laurent-Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Boll\u00e9e and illustrator Denis Rodier: \u201cIt\u2019s a graphic novel I really enjoyed. It traces the whole history, from the concept to the making of the nuclear bomb. It\u2019s a timely subject, with the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.\u201d<\/em> He noted that the graphic novel was released before Christopher Nolan\u2019s film Oppenheimer<\/em>: \u201cIt\u2019s very informative\u2014you learn a lot. The black-and-white illustrations give it a vintage, serious feel, and it also reflects another era.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Green, but not with envy \u2013 poison book in Monaco<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecome Monaco\u2019s cultural quarter\u201d<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Located on Promenade Honor\u00e9 II, La Bookinerie is part of a promising cultural dynamic. \u201cWe might even become Monaco\u2019s cultural quarter, and that would be amazing! It would be nice to have that label,\u201d<\/em> said Arthur, noting their proximity to the future Caroline Multimedia Library<\/a>. \u201cWe have an excellent relationship with them.\u201d<\/em> The collaboration is already taking shape: on Monday 8 September, La Bookinerie made its first delivery to the Media Library, launching their partnership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new opening is also a bold move in a context where digital formats often take preference over paper\u2014but the couple are fully embracing physical books. \u201cI think there\u2019s still an interest in reading. There\u2019s still a core group of readers who read a lot, even more and more,\u201d<\/em> says Arthur. \u201cYou can still easily encourage people to read. I have activity books for young kids, which help them to take their first steps in reading. After that, it\u2019s just about finding a subject that appeals. You have to experiment.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arthur and Camille are ready for this new adventure: \u201cYou have to do things that make you happy. I really believe in doing things out of passion, which unfortunately few people do today.\u201d<\/em> Their enthusiasm is palpable despite the intense launch: \u201cI\u2019m thrilled to come in every day, even if we\u2019re still surrounded by boxes! We work from six in the morning until midnight!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since opening on 27 August, the early feedback has been encouraging. \u201cWe\u2019ve had lots of curious visitors, which is fun,\u201d<\/em> said Arthur, noting that a loyal clientele is already forming: \u201cWe already have regular customers after just a week!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practical details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n