Local literary institution expands online

PULP Fiction, the iconic escape for local book lovers, has announced its expansion online to market an additional private catalogue of antique, first-edition, and rare books.

The colourful South Murwillumbah books and vintage clothes business has provided 12 years of service and solace to the community.

Its enormous repository houses over 30,000 books, and the online collection launched with 1000 titles.

Pulp Fiction has had its share of tumult, including raising the building after devastating damage in the 2022 floods.

Owner Angela Pereira said it was the second time the shop had been flooded, having also been inundated in 2017.

“It’s emotional to see the mountains of thousands of rotting books in the street,” she said.

“The community was amazing. We had so much love and support, from loved ones to the mud army and legions of people helping us.”

Like a phoenix rising in a world where book retail is crumbling, Pulp Fiction has hung on and is moving ahead into a cheery future.

Sales manager Ellie Styles said that the shop held a wealth of treasures.

“In an age of capitalism and digital living, that rare treasure is beautiful,” she said.

“Finding a perfect or long sought-after book or discovering something new is a thrill. The old inscriptions, little notes tucked away, photos, and boarding passes you find all make up an archive of social history. It’s joyous.”

Styles believes it is much more than just a bookshop; it serves the community in many ways.

“It has a sustainable element in reducing landfill, and although it has been tough for bookstores and publishing, preloved books still bubble along. There’s always a demand for affordable literature.”

“We also support local artists, writers, poets and musicians and host events, exhibitions, launches, and engage with events such as the Murwillumbah Arts Trail,” she said.

Pereira agrees with Styles that the sector is promising, and technology has its upside.

“We can stock special, rare and fragile books”, she said.

“They are sorted and stored for exclusive online sale so we can have minimal handling and maintain the condition of the books as best as we can.

“We still offer our shop range, but the online market allows us to engage with readers and collectors everywhere.

“It’s a different experience and different stock, but both shopfronts are like a treasure hunt.”

Find out more at pulpfictionmurwillumbah.site or follow facebook.com/PulpFictionMurwillumbah