During my recent visit to the Klassik Altstadt Hotel, Hilke Flebbe told me that she -print novel "Ein königlicher Kaufmann" (A Royal Merchant) by Lübeck author Ida Boy-Ed as a print-on-demand edition for her guests from Belling Bookstore. I already had this fine bookstore on my list and took this as a hint to arrange a meeting with Finn-Uwe Belling in his tiny 25-square-meter shop, which evokes quite a lot of emotion. And that's really down to the owner himself.
Childhood Saturdays in Lübeck
Finn-Uwe Belling fondly remembers going into town with his whole family on Saturdays. Just for a stroll. They would always stop by the Weiland bookstore along the way, browsing, leafing through the pages, discovering new things. The lines of text they found would transport them to faraway lands. What could be better!
Finn-Uwe was familiar with the world of books from an early age, so it doesn't surprise me at all that he completed his business internship in a bookstore. And indeed, this world of books was exactly his thing. So much so, in fact, that he left school shortly before graduating, began an apprenticeship as a bookseller, and dedicated his life to literature. After various professional experiences, his path led him one day to the doorstep of the building at Mühlenbrücke 2. A chance discovery during a walk with his wife. The landlord spontaneously invited him in and was immediately enthusiastic to hear that the Belling bookstore was to be established in the premises. It all began in March 2019.
Love of reading
I really like independent bookstores. Places that each have their own unique character and showcase books that aren't readily available everywhere. Often furnished with a loving and thoughtful touch that also reveals something about the person who created this haven. A fluffy lion lies on the floor in Belling's bookstore. Admittedly, it's a bit worn, because—thankfully—many children have already made themselves comfortable on its fur. And there's also a large wingback chair. A wonderful invitation to pick up a chosen book, feel its crisp edges and smoothly polished cover, and read a few lines aloud.
Read aloud
Ah yes. Reading aloud! What a joy to take a little one by the hand and fly with them through the world of letters, behind which thousands of worlds lie hidden. It's fitting, then, that Finn-Uwe Belling, with his lion and armchair, carries a large selection of children's and young adult books and can offer plenty of tips on which picture books and children's titles are currently enjoying great popularity. He's truly convincing. I promptly buy the book about the 20 most important things in life, " Everything You Need " by Christoph Hein.
Children to power
The source of his recommendations at Belling Bookstore ? You guessed it: he's incredibly lucky to be surrounded by experts. These include his 5-year-old daughter Mathilda , his 2-year-old son Lasse , and Finn's wife. The three of them regularly offer their expert opinions. Mathilda explains to her dad what she liked about a book or whether there are too few pictures. Their favorite books are lovingly displayed in the shop window and also online . And then there are his godchildren Ella and Carl , 10 and 14 years old, as well as Lene , Finn-Uwe's niece and a second-grader. They all recommend the books they like to him. Carl sends him links to good titles on Instagram.
Finn-Uwe Belling also exchanges information with many parents of schoolchildren from the neighboring Oberschule zum Dom, the Domschule and the Kalandschule and already has many regular customers who remained loyal to him even during the lockdown.
Family ties
Finn's mother-in-law, who herself dreamed of opening a bookstore years ago, sometimes helps out in the shop. She recommends titles to Finn that are particularly close to her heart. Finn Belling is a real family man. This shines through in almost every sentence he speaks. For example, he points me to the novel " Lost and Found " by Siegfried Lenz. His mother gave him this book when he finished his apprenticeship. It tells the story of a man who listened to his gut feeling and fulfilled his career aspirations. Finn-Uwe has three siblings, and his bookstore is THE place to be for all family members.
Customers also sometimes "park" their children with him to quickly run errands. They know their little ones are in the very best hands and are sometimes surprised when their supposedly non-reading child suddenly becomes someone who loves books.
The owner himself has a passion for crime novels, but also carries a fine selection of specialty cookbooks and non-fiction books. And he's a VfB Lübeck fan. Therefore, it's only logical that Belling Bookstore also offers a selection of fan merchandise. Since their relegation to the Regionalliga Nord (fourth division), this section has taken up somewhat less space. But that's a different story.
By the way: From January 2022 you can find Finn-Uwe Belling and his books in Lübeck at Mühlenstraße 28 .
You should definitely visit Finn-Uwe Belling and chat with him. He's guaranteed to have a book for you that promises a future escape, your next reading adventure, and ever-new variations of the 26-letter game.
