Meet Mr Matthews
Mr Phillip Matthews and I did this little interview over coffee at The French Bakery way back in January - not long after he started working at Mrs Blackwell’s Village Bookshop.
Since then Phillip has very much become a fixture of the store - compliments about him make their way back to me every single week.
So let’s learn a little bit more about this cheerful bookseller.
What’s your favourite quote?
“A heart is not judged by how much you love, but how much you are loved by others”
- Frank L Baum, from The Wizard of Oz
What’s the first thing you remember buying with your own money? A model building to go with an Edwardian-style railway set I’d been given.
Do you collect anything? Umm… books! Young Adult series Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators is my largest collection.
If you were forced to choose, what are your three favourite books?
Down There on a Visit - Christopher Isherwood
Bleak House - Charles Dickens
War & Peace - Leo Tolstoy
And your favourite book from childhood? The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis.
What are your areas of expertise in the bookshop? History, Arts, Fiction & Philosophy.
Where did you grow up? I started life in Johnsonville and moved to Havelock North aged 9.
Where do you live now? Right here in Greytown. The prettiest village in the country!
Where is your favourite place you’ve ever visited? I’d have to say Paris or Athens - I loved both for the ambience, the food, the architecture. They are both romantic places.
What are you hobbies? Painting and drawing - I use oils, acrylic and watercolour and like to paint landscapes in an expressionist style. I also read and frequently go to the movies.
Who do you share your life with? Mr Bede Stevens and our rescue dog, a Beagle named Mary.
What would your friends say are your best personal traits? I’m even-tempered and interested in other people.
Any pet peeves? I can’t think of any really, I’m very laid back.
What’s something that people might be surprised to learn about you? I was a surf lifesaver in my youth and I competed in ocean swimming competitions.
What’s your day time drink of choice? Long black.
So there you have it readers.
If you want to bring Mr Matthews some hydration while you settle in for a long book chat in the shop, just make sure it’s in the form of something black and caffeinated!
