Julian Barnes's Arthur and George is bound to be one of the highest-profile paperbacks of the new year (Matthew, Adam and I in fact backed the wrong horse and spent the evening guzzling free drinks and canapes at his Booker Prize non-winners party a few months back), and will thus no doubt attract more than its fair share of curious browsers. Imagine my joy, therefore, to discover that not only is it being published in a maximum dirt-attracting cream matte cover - hours of fingerprint-removing fun to be had by all! - but it is also being dispatched to shops with a charming Richard and Judy bookclub sticker on it, which you can either leave on for best "Oh fuck, I thought I wanted to read this, maybe I don't" effect, or peel off, potentially adding - if not done with requisite skill - a whole extra level of book-destroying lint-loving sticky roundness on the front.

For readers not au fait with the finer points of bookselling, I would just like to clarify that we do not put those stickers on the books ourselves - what self-respecting bookseller would choose to sully the covers of their precious merchandise with - to choose a particularly egregious example - that hideously garish, orangey-red, guaranteed to clash with everything "Daily Mail Book Club" sticker? And that's only the third worst sticker I've encountered this year. The second worst was the "As recommended by the author of The Time Traveller's Wife" sticker on the front of Ingrid Hill's (in fact excellent-looking) Ursula, Under. "The author of the Time Traveller's Wife"? She has a name you know - Audrey Niffenegger. And as it happens that's not the only book she's written - but I suppose we'll be waiting for a while before we get the "As recommended by the author of The Three Incestuous Sisters" stickers. The worst of all, though, was the consignment of children's books that we, alongside every other independent bookseller in the country, received with "Waterstones Exclusive" emblazoned across the front.

I fundamentally object to books being treated like fruit so you have to have a sticker on the front of everything, as if you don't know an apple when you see one. Publishers: please stop this sticker madness now.

So has anyone else been watching Rome on BBC? I know it's fantastically silly but I'm loving every moment to the point where I actually video episodes I might not be home to see. If you have been watching can I recommend Tom Holland's Rubicon to fill in the historical detail.

You didn't mess with the Romans. If you did mess with the Romans they would kill you. And your mum. And the dogs. And the sheep. And they'd burn your house down. And then they'd kill all your friends. It seems success has always been closely related to ruthlessness.

This is unfortunate knowledge if you are starting a business from scratch and have the competitive instincts of a sloth.

Nonetheless I asked myself as we opened the door for the first time - What would the Romans do now? The answer was, of course, destroy the competition, enslave them and exploit the survivors mercilessly. With this end in mind I concocted a dastardly plan of such outrageous courage I felt sure it would work. As Caesar once said (according to the TV) "It's only Hubris if I fail".

This was the plan. Challange Scott Pack (Waterstone's head buyer) to an ACTUAL fight! Fists at dawn at the location of his choice. The media would be invited to watch as David (me) took on Goliath (Scott) I had images of the fight in 12th night where Viola (desguised as a man called Cesario) reluctantly squares up to the knight Sir Andrew. Both have been told that the other is deadly and, being cowards themselves, do all they can to escape the conflict. But I was never less than certain of victory.

Luckily I am surrounded by friends and family and a wife whose feet are planted (no pun intended) firmly on the ground. I saw sense and issued no challange as I realise things are not so simple now. I could challange Scott to a fight. Then I would go to jail. I could attack Foyles (our closest real competition) with a legion of brutalised Italians. Then I would go to jail.

Instead I have decided on a further course of action. We will let Waterstones alone. And Foyles. They can carry on doing their thing. And we will do our thing. We will fight a "soft" war. We will beat them at customer service. We will order books faster. We will have better events. We will survive on our own wits and cunning. The end result will be similar - minus all the gore.

Crockatt & Powell take over Europe, North Africa and most of Asia - you have been warned...

The season of eating too much and falling asleep in front of the telly is passed with only the bingedrinkerama of New Year to hurdle. Then we can all get back to doing what we truly love - reading!

Ian McEwan's Saturday is finally out in paperback in January. McEwan is one of the country's most reliable authors these days and he's back on top form with this one.

The awesome talents of Alice Munro are revealed again in Runaway, a connected series of short stories that will leave new readers amazed and fans deeply satisfied.

Kate Grenville is back after the Orange Prize winning success of The Idea of Perfection with a brilliant novel called The Secret River. Raised in the slums of London William Thornhill finds himself shipped to Australia as a convicted felon. This is one to watch...

Also from Canongate (beautiful people) comes a new novel from Ismail Kadare, winner of the first Man Booker Prize for international fiction. The Successor will serve as a useful introduction to those new to the work of this great writer. I am thrilled he is now receiving the attention his books deserve. I read Broken April some years ago and have remained haunted ever since.

Nelson Algren's Walk on the Wild Side is being re-issued, also by Canongate. The inspiration for Lou Reed's classic song is a real sleazy read and highly recommended.

Jared Diamond's Collapse is also out in January. His description of the way in which societies come to fall makes uncomfortable reading as we try to ignore the increasing pressures our lifestyles exert on a fragile planet.

Adam Hoschild returns with Bury the Chains, an inspirational story of the fight to abolish slavery. Where his last book, King Leopold's Ghost, revealed some of the more sinister aspects of the British Empire this is more positive but still a horrific read.

Look out for the theatrical Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding. Atmospheric and compelling it brings the London of 1790 into sharp focus that will enthrall readers aged 10ish.

Finally Nick McDonell is back with a novel called the Third Brother. His debut, Twelve, led to claims he was the new Hunter S Thompson. Now the great gonzo has finally exploded in a blaze of glory can Nick stand comparison? Watch this space...

So far so Black Books. Consider me Fran. Currently employed by a rival chain but the other day I nipped in for a cuppa and the next thing you knew I sold fifty quid's worth of books to some bloke who wanted some fairy stories for his little girl - Matthew looked a bit scared so I stepped in. (Matthew is married to a nice gardener. Also he has never bought flowers in his life. Go figure.) It's a lovely shop and these two cantankerous-sounding "gentlemen" have hearts of gold. As with gold you have to sift through a lot of shit to get there but it's worth it. As for the shop, aside from the excellent selection of books, there a nice bit of carpet on the floor - have you vaccuumed yet, lads? - a nice spot of wallpaper behind the till, mood lighting, comfy chair, it's all good.

My books of the year, seeing as you asked - We Need to Talk About Kevin; A Long Long Way; Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - the new Safran Foer, bizarrely poorly-received by the crits, especially in the US, it's hilarious and heartbreaking by turns, and as original and innovative as fans of Everything is Iluminated might hope for; and some oldies I hadn't read before - A Month In the Country, by J L Carr - post WW1 book, you could try reading it after A Long Long Way; and Lolita, a suitably festive book (hmmm) that I finished last night.

Every bookshop I have worked in has swiftly attracted a range of “interesting” characters and as Lower Marsh is in an area of particular interest there are some extremely “interesting” people about. I have a feeling they might pop up on the blog regularly so I should introduce some of the early contenders for the C & P “Most Interesting Person” award. These folk shall henceforth be known as The Prophets. I should also state the Prophets are entirely separated from the Customers by the fact they never ever buy anything. Customers, as we all know, are always right and can be as weird as they like since we rely on them for our sustenance, nay very existence…

Just what you need on the fourth day open. A man who starts by saying he never buys new books as they are too expensive then moves on to claim the book will be dead in five years anyway. “I have seen the gizmos, held em in me hand. Book sized. Press a button and it turns a page. There’s an index and notes you can jump straight to. Drop it - no problem.” I countered with all the classics - can’t read it in the bath etc but he had an answer to everything. (Yeah - one of those.) Then yesterday we were looking at a beautiful book called ABZ. Published by Redstone Press, it is a series of examples of different typefaces. What makes the book work is the quality of the production, the paper and particularly the colours which are beautiful. I do not believe such a book could ever work on a screen and plan to thrust it at the prophet when he returns. Hah! Touche!

Matthew posted yesterday so I guess it's my turn now. I'm the quiet, taciturn one responsible for logistics and shop maintenance (the Non-fiction sections). He's the sales manager (the fiction section).

I would, however, like to echo Matthew's sentiments regarding our new home from home - Lower Marsh. Having worked in Chelsea for the last 4 years I can honestly say the people who live and work there are a completely different branch of the animal kingdom. Maybe, they are even from an alien world. I don't respond too well to rudeness, arrogance, ignorance, snobbery, black american express cards, over-sized diamonds (mined by child slaves in Angola), louis vuitton and russian oligarchs. So, imagine the relief to find a real, thriving community in the marsh. To serve customers who don't automatically assume they are better than you just because they are loaded is a blessed relief. To meet encouragement and people with serious literary interests in SE1 has also gladdened these once jaded bones. To not have to put up with lord this, lady that, sir whatever coming out of their arses has become a welcome panacea. To say I prefer the french approach to monarchy would not be too wide of the mark. Chelsea people also assume they are cleverer than you because they live in Chelsea and their great grandfather was a rapacious, capitalist pirate and you are from a working class home in Bristol - oops, did I mention class. I promise not to do it again. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS THE CLASS SYSTEM IN BLAIR'S BRITAIN.

SE1 is such a diverse mix of people. It's what living in a huge city is really about. Our customers have come from all classes and races, from the third generation market stall holder to the accountant to the minister at the department of health to the hairdresser to the coffee shop owner to the dressmaker to the poet to the stand-up comedian. Vive la difference.

Ranting over now.

Books. Alan Bennett for a beautiful and lyrical description of his family. Tom Wolfe for visiting the American College genre and running riot. Savoj Zizek for a great dissection of the Iraq war. Robert Caro for the finest writing about place I've ever come across. Christopher Hitchens for his essays and Chekhov, just because. That's all for now, but watch this space and subscribe to the newsletter (when it's up and running).

This year was a good year I thought, with a series of fantastic debuts.

Ben Markovits impressed with Either Side of Winter, a sensitive and melancholic insight into the minds of four New Yorkers going about their daily lives. Like all the great writers he has a voice all of his own. I’m trying hard not to but I’m going to say it - Ben Markovits is destined to be a household name…

Another debut novel I loved was The Short Day Dying by Peter Hobbs. Narrated by a blacksmith/Methodist preacher who is not too hot on punctuation this is another book written in a distinctive style not everyone will appreciate. But those that do are in for a treat. There are passages here I will never forget.

Alexander Masters wrote Stuart: A Life Backwards and ensured I will never look at the homeless in the same way again. Initially I was wary of a book that could so easily fallen flat on its face but no, Stuart is brought brilliantly to life. Everyone should read this book.

Now, We Need To Talk About Kevin…Blimey. The most devastating novel I read this year, Kevin tore me to pieces but left me desperate to discuss the experience with others. Simply outstanding writing from the woman with a man’s name - Lionel Shriver.

The Booker was as frustrating as ever. Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go or Sebastian Barry’s A Long Long Way would have won had I been invited to judge. Ishiguro’s cool, reflective prose was matched with an eerie plot and vacant characters to create a weird and magical reading experience. A Long Long Way made me cry. (Only one other book has ever dented my hard heart!) I didn’t think there was anything left to write about the first world war but there was. Heartbreaking stuff and interesting politics too.

A few random others:

Peregrine by JA Baker read like a prose poem and chronicled a year in the life of a man obsessed with these beautiful birds of prey.

Summer In Baden Baden by Leonid Tsypkin is essential reading for Dostoyevsky lovers. The great man is here revealed as a chaotic genius addicted to the roulette wheel whilst attempting to write his way out of financial crisis. His new wife Anna holds things together on an almost hallucinatory literary journey.

American Purgatorio by John Haskell I found both bizarre and brilliant.

Maggie Gee’s My Cleaner made me laugh out loud while also raising some interesting points about our pampered lifestyles.

There are just too many to mention here…James Meek’s The People’s Act of Love, Bret Easton Ellis’s return to form with Lunar Park, Cormac Mcarthy’s dark and brutal No Country For Old Men and finally a new edition of Paradise Lost with an introduction by Philip Pullman. His assertion that the poem must be read out loud helped me to experience the work anew and served as a reminder of the beauty of the English language when in the hands of a master. Read it before the awful film arrives…

Crockatt & Powell

Wottakers? The continued destruction of any sort of personality on Britain's high streets is causing concern in many circles. But there is a grain of sand in Lambeth the Satanic Chains have yet to find...

Crockatt & Powell is a new independent bookshop in central London. No I'm not joking - we are in zone 1. You can hear Big Ben in the street and see the London Eye through our back window.

My name is Matthew Crockatt and I have worked in bookshops since leaving university. After failing to write a novel I finally surrendered to real life (kind of) by starting a bookshop with a friend, Adam Powell. Adam is a trained architect and designed the shop but I'll leave him to introduce himself.

We think we have created a beautiful space and a great environment in which to browse a carefully chosen selection of books. We can also order anything we don't stock and do book searches for those that have slipped out of print.

This blog is the first part of our adventures into cyber space. When we have made a little money we will construct a website with a forum where people can discuss books online. We are starting a book group that meets on the first Monday of the month. The first meeting is on Feb 6th and we are going to discuss Orhan Pamuk's Snow. We also aim to host a variety of events from author readings to screenings of short films.

We are completely independent and consider the only limits to what the shop can become lie in our own imaginations. I should qualify that. Our imaginations and those of our customers, for what is a bookshop without people?

Come and check us out. We have made a fantastic start and met plenty of folk, but January is a tough month for retailers. We will be closed on Christmas day, Boxing day and also the Tuesday bank holiday so that we can recover from the 10 hour days. After that we will be open, so why not come and see us? Lower Marsh is the best street in London. You didn't know that did you? There is a scooter shop that sells coffee; a market; an S & M shop that sells rubber suits for your dog (!); several good pubs and bars; a flute shop; a brilliant Japanese Cafe...

That's all for now. I might even mention a few books next post.

Matthew