Fabian Paagman and sister Nadine Paagman on the family business
Deepening, attention and focus
Fabian Paagman runs the family business Paagman with his sister Nadine. How best to describe them? Progressive, ambitious and a touch cocky. They talk about the changes in their bookstore, the dedication, time and attention. The reason for this conversation is Bruckner's 𝘕𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘺𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘦 which we will play on March 19, 2022 at the Concert Hall of Amare.
Paagman began in 1951 as a bookstore on the Fred, now there are three more stores: in the center of The Hague, in Delft and in Leidschendam. And there is an extensive webshop.
The strength of Austrian composer Anton Bruckner lies in his enormous dedication to music, to constantly improving his symphonies. He continued because he believed in it himself. We ask Fabian Paagman what the strength of their bookstores is. "That we always keep innovating and don't stand still. A lot has been tried inside and outside the walls of Paagman. A parcel delivery service came, a department in the Public Library, and - also revolutionary - a baby changing area in the men's room. A music department came, disappeared and was resurrected. Not every project we tackle turns to gold; that's part of being in business, you learn from it. Like listening to Bruckner's Ninth Symphony, it requires your full attention, but with the right people around you and a healthy dose of drive and perseverance, you get a long way. Rome wasn't built in a day either. We are especially proud of Villa Paagman - our enchanting children's book department - and the Kicking Horse Café."
As a father of two boys and director-owner of Paagman, it is for Fabian sometimes difficult to keep the work-life balance right. Deepening, attention and focus then sometimes seems far away, but with the right book tips, this is within reach for everyone. By losing yourself in poetry or a thick book, or by just taking a break with your children. Here he shares five tips: short cuts are not an option!
Fabian Paagman's book tips.
A wonderful animal
This richly illustrated poetry anthology with an animal poem for every day of the year will give you and your children a moment of peace every day. A perfect book to discover again and again how fun and beautiful poetry can be.
Cumin split - Marieke Lucas Rijneveld
With his new book of poetry, Komijnplitsers, Book Week essayist Marieke Lucas Rijneveld takes another big step in his poetry. In eight sections, Rijneveld explores what it means to live: in a house, in yourself and in relationships to others. Who or what do you need to be a complete human being?
The philosopher, the dog and the wedding - Barbara Stok
Cartoonist Barbara Stok tells the story of Hipparchia, one of the first women to become a philosopher. Hipparchia belonged to a philosophical movement in antiquity that propagated a minimalist lifestyle and opposed all social rank and file, norms and conventions. The contrarian ideas of this brave woman of 2,300 years ago are very relevant again, especially in our time.
To Paradise - Hanya Yanagihara
Would you prefer to stop time for a while? Reading a thick book is the perfect way! To Paradise is a bold, brilliant novel about three different versions of America, over three centuries. At 672 pages, the new book by the author of A Little Life demands your full attention.
Papyrus - Irene Vallejo
The book is one of the world's most beautiful inventions. With a book, words can travel through time and space, and we can learn about people who achieve great things with patience and dedication. Papyrus is a beautiful, swirling ode to the written word that shows how individual lives and societies are influenced and shaped by books.
