A Factory Worker Turned Librarian

Eko didn’t grow up dreaming of libraries.

In fact, in 1998, he was a factory worker. But when Indonesia’s financial crisis hit, the factory closed. Jobs vanished. Days stretched endlessly.

To survive the monotony, he read everything he could find.

One day, he saw an old man in the village holding a newspaper upside down, pretending to read. Something ignited in him. Access, he realized, was the real problem.

Inspired, he turned his family’s terrace into a public reading space. Magazines hung on clotheslines. Neighbours gathered. People read. At night, they sang. Sometimes, they debated public issues.

A library was born.

When he wished to grow his stock, he knocked on doors. When people answered, he’d ask: “Would you like to donate books?” Sure enough, slowly, the shelves filled, and Eko got closer and closer to fulfilling his mission of promoting reading in his community.

A Woman in Tears, a Librarian With a Question

Early in his years of librarianship, Eko met a woman named Mina. Sitting in his library beyond the rivers of Sukopuro, in a quiet Indonesian village, she cried to herself. As any good man would, Eko asked her why.

She explained that her husband of 12 years was leaving her because she couldn’t have children. Divorce loomed on her horizon, and she had no idea what came next.

Eko Cahyono, a former factory worker turned librarian, was left speechless. How could he help this woman? He could not give her the medical help she needed, and he’d never been a woman faced with divorce, so he couldn’t imagine how she felt.

He felt lost. Asking himself, how can a librarian help a woman whose marriage is ending?

That very same day that Eko met Mina, he received a phone call. A woman in Malang City had 400 issues of Femina, a woman’s magazine, to donate. So he hopped on his bike, travelled to get them, and gave one to Mina in the hopes it’d help her. She took four copies, leaving him a note in exchange.

Four years later, in 2007, Mina returned to see Eko. She told him she had later read every Femina magazine, and she’d taught herself about fertility. Eventually, she and her husband managed to conceive. She had twins, and her marriage never dissolved.

A Young Man and His Father

Later in Eko’s time as a librarian, he met a young man who, despite being close to graduation, felt he had to drop out of school to be the head of his family. His father was sick, and they needed the money.

He asked Eko for advice one day, during a visit. Once again, Eko felt powerless. But he gave Tema, the boy, some books on reflexology, medicine, and ancestral heritage. Sure enough, 7 months later, the boy returned… still in his school uniform. He’d taught himself enough from the books to care for his father and continue his education.

From Location to Location

Eko’s library couldn’t stay in his home. The books soon outgrew the humble building, and his parents asked him to move. It took Eko moving more than ten times before his library found its home.

Eventually, a neighbour offered Eko land beside a graveyard, and, in 2008, he built a library from bamboo and asbestos, naming it Perpustakaan Anak Bangsa, or The Library of the Nation’s Children.

He and his sisters sold coffee, cigarettes, and fried snacks to pay for the electricity. He sold stories to newspapers, worked book fairs, and took little jobs here and there. When the money ran out, he even sold his TV and his motorcycle to keep the library going. He was determined to keep Indonesia reading, even if it was the last thing he did.

When things were dire, like after a storm, when a tree crashed into the roof, Eko even considered selling his kidney.

Donations and Stability

In 2011, Eko was saved when donors helped to rebuild the library into a proper concrete hall. They adorned the walls with medals, photos, and trophies, and soon, more than 8,000 members passed through the 72-square-meter space. According to Eko, an average of 50 people came in each day to read. Statistics suggest that in other parts of Indonesia, only one in 1,000 Indonesians reads a single book per year.

So 50 is pretty incredible.

Protector Of The Written Word

Eko spotted an issue in his home. He saw the lack of access to reading, to the written word, and he fought tirelessly to fix it.

His story is featured in Protectors of the Written Word alongside 24 others who have devoted their lives to sharing the joy of reading.

The book brings together inspiring journeys from around the world, written as a heartfelt love letter to everyone who believes in the power of books. You can order your copy here.

The post Meet the Indonesian Librarian on a Mission to Get the Nation Reading appeared first on Magazine.

CGI, Remakes, and the Evolution of Animated Film

Like anything, the film world developed. CGI became the new giant that dominated animated films like Moana, Frozen, and Zootopia. Then we saw the remakes of our old favourites, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Cinderella, to name just a few. We might have never believed what animation could transform into had we not lived it.

We may not have believed that one day, we would sit in a movie theatre, surrounded by the smell of butter and salt, and watch fire and ice and magic swirl lifelike onto the screen. Yet, there is still that little voice whispering that you may still long for the nostalgia of the hand-drawn animations. The imperfection and jovial humanness that comes from a pencil to paper, an artist’s imagination, and care for each element of a scene. 

Princess Tiana lit up by the golden glow of fireflies, Bambi padding through the snow with big, innocent eyes, and Cinderella’s ragged dress transformed to a cerulean-blue gown fit only for a princess. Even mere words can evoke the memory of the magic we experienced, as children or adults or somewhere in-between, magic made by artists and masters of their craft.

Pixar’s Gatto and the Revival of Hand-Painted Animation

Rumour has it – Disney might be looking to return to their humbler animation beginnings. ‘Humble’ is said lightly, since hand-drawn animation is an incredibly time-consuming craft and requires a lot of effort and human power. It seems, however, judging by the lasting power of these films within our memory, that the effort may pay off.

Pixar’s recent announcement of their first entirely hand-painted film, Gatto, has set off a flurry of excitement. The story, set to be released in summer 2027, follows a lonely black cat wandering the streets of Venice, navigating a journey of self-identity and fighting the superstition of unlucky black cats. The first photo of the film has been released, a blend of the old and new, an innovative take on hand-made art. 

What Loving Vincent Taught Us About Human Artistry

The only other fully painted film was Loving Vincent, a 2017 picture on beloved artist Vincent van Gogh, that used the skill and talent of over 100 artists in each and every frame. Loving Vincent took six years to make, with around 65,000 painted portraits used to animate the life of the ingenious Van Gogh. 

Shokunin, Wabi-Sabi, and the Beauty of Imperfection

The Japanese word shokunin is translated, roughly, into English as “artisan.” Translation, however, only goes so far. Shokunin are people who have often dedicated a lifetime to their craft, perhaps longer, sometimes even passed down from the family line for over one hundred years. They are people dedicated to creation, devotion, and the perfection of their craft, no matter the time or effort this may take. Hand-drawn and hand-painted animators share similar care. In our world full of movement and rapidity, spending hours, years even, drawing every frame by hand may seem absurd. But is, in fact, a quiet and important revolution.

Humans were never meant to move so fast; we are imperfect beings, and our art should reflect that. Vincent Van Gogh’s art was strange; it often mirrored his mental state, but it was vivid and raw and unabashedly himself. Our eyes are caught by things we don’t expect, and in a world of artificial intelligence and perfected images and texts, we crave a human fingerprint marking the art we consume. 

Why Audiences Crave Human-Made Art in the Age of AI

It is the reason why wabi-sabi saw such a surge in popularity, why people took to reading about it and adopting the philosophy into their own lives. This Japanese art, which accepts and embraces signs of wear or blemish, challenges modern pressure for perfection and youth. 

Wabi-sabi is free for interpretation and exists in anything and everything if we just choose to look for it. A floral arrangement with a wilting flower, a teacup with a tiny chip, or even the human beauty of a hand-drawn animation could all embody this gentle philosophy. 

Whilst Disney has merely teased, and not confirmed, a hand-drawn or hand-painted future, watchers should be quietly optimistic. If art were meant to be perfect tableaux, neither Picasso nor Modigliani nor Dali would have ever received accolades.

People are drawn to expression, art that cannot help but identify itself on the canvas, cannot help but have a unique perspective and personal touch. The world yearns for a future of the hand-drawn, and with some luck, we might just get it.

The post The Quiet Return to Hand-painted Animation appeared first on Magazine.

J.R.R. Tolkien & C.S. Lewis: The Inklings

If you’ve ever read The Chronicles of Narnia and anything out of Middle-earth, you might not have noticed any similarities beyond their shared genre. And yet, their two authors were long-term friends. Tolkien and Lewis met at Oxford and became the heart of The Inklings, a group of writers who gathered to read aloud their works-in-progress over pints and pipes.

Tolkien shared early chapters of The Lord of the Rings with Lewis, who became one of its fiercest champions. Lewis, in turn, tested out his fantasy ideas on Tolkien, though Tolkien was famously less impressed with Narnia’s genre-mashing approach (Santa Claus in a mythic world? Aslan being an anthropomorphic Jesus? He had notes).

They disagreed, probably more often than they agreed, but that friction was productive. Each pushed the other toward greater things and better work. Without Lewis’s encouragement, Tolkien might never have finished his epic. Without Tolkien’s mythic seriousness, Lewis’s fantasy might never have found its depth. Together, the pair truly legitimized modern fantasy.

William Wordsworth & Samuel Taylor Coleridge: The Birth of Romanticism

This friendship pretty much invented a literary movement. In 1798, Wordsworth and Coleridge published Lyrical Ballads, a slim volume that detonated English poetry. It took a huge step away from the standards. Gone were stiff classical forms; in came everyday language, emotional honesty, and reverence for nature.

During their friendship, the two of them produced works that created a blueprint for Romanticism. Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Wordsworth’s lyrical meditations forged the way for something new. Their friendship, and the work that came out of it, showed that poetry could be intimate, mystical, and rooted in ordinary life. Even after they drifted apart, the shockwave of their collaboration never faded.

Mary Shelley & Percy Shelley: Love, Loss and Literary Legacy

Mary and Percy Shelley’s relationship was intense, scandalous, and tragically short. They were partners in life and art, reading each other’s drafts and ideas in a whirlwind of creativity.

It was Percy who encouraged Mary to expand a ghost story idea into what became Frankenstein. He edited her drafts, offered philosophical frameworks, and treated her seriously as a writer, a decidedly uncommon thing for a young woman in the early 19th century.

But this was no one-way street. Mary’s imagination and emotional intelligence grounded Percy’s idealism. Their work wrestled with creation, responsibility, and the limits of human ambition. Together, they forged a darker, more psychologically complex Romanticism, one that still defines modern science fiction and horror.

Virginia Woolf & Vita Sackville-West: The Bloomsbury Group

Virginia Woolf didn’t just fall in unlikely love with Vita Sackville-West; she transformed that love into literature. Their affair, conducted through hundreds of flirtatious, brilliant letters, inspired Orlando, a novel that bends gender, time, and identity into something dazzling and strange.

Both women were central figures in The Bloomsbury Group, a circle of artists and thinkers who rejected Victorian norms in favor of experimentation, honesty, and emotional freedom. Woolf’s modernist techniques met Vita’s aristocratic confidence and adventurous spirit.

Vita gave Woolf permission to imagine new ways of being. Woolf gave Vita literary immortality. Their friendship and romance helped open space for queer expression in literature long before it was safe, or common, to do so.

Ernest Hemingway & F. Scott Fitzgerald: Rivals in Paris

This was a friendship fueled by admiration, envy, and, to some extent, mutual damage. In 1920s Paris, Fitzgerald championed Hemingway, introducing him to editors and helping launch his career. Hemingway repaid him with loyalty and brutal honesty.

They drank together, fought together, and critiqued each other mercilessly. Fitzgerald envied Hemingway’s discipline; Hemingway pitied Fitzgerald’s fragility. In their relationship, each sharpened the other. Fitzgerald’s lyrical glamour and Hemingway’s spare realism came to define American prose.

Their relationship was messy, but it forced both men to confront what kind of writer they wanted to be. The tension between them helped shape the voice of a generation.

Ralph Waldo Emerson & Henry David Thoreau: Nature as Philosophy

Emerson was Thoreau’s mentor, landlord, and intellectual north star. He was the one who encouraged Thoreau to write, to trust his strange, independent vision, and to live deliberately. In turn, Thoreau took that advice very literally, moving into a cabin by Walden Pond.

Their friendship defined American Transcendentalism. Emerson’s essays articulated a philosophy of self-reliance and spiritual connection. Thoreau embodied it, turning daily life into literature in Walden.

They disagreed, sometimes sharply, but their discussions of theory and practice gave American writing a distinctly philosophical, nature-centered voice, one that still shapes environmental thought today.

Jack Kerouac & Allen Ginsberg: The Beats

If you’ve ever dreamed of ditching everything and hitting the road with a notebook, you can thank these two. Kerouac and Ginsberg were the emotional core of The Beats, a movement that rejected conformity in favor of spontaneity, spirituality, and raw truth.

They edited each other’s work, traveled together, and built a mythology of freedom that still echoes through culture. Their friendship taught literature to breathe, ramble, rave, confess, and live on the page.

Ezra Pound & T.S. Eliot: The Modernist Pairing

It would be fair to say that Ezra Pound was less a friend than a literary hurricane. When he encountered T.S. Eliot’s sprawling draft of The Waste Land, he attacked it with a red pen, carving it into the tight, devastating poem we all know (and some of us love) today.

Eliot called Pound “the better craftsman.” Pound believed in Eliot’s genius and bullied the literary world into taking him seriously. Their collaboration defined Modernism: it was fragmented, allusive, global, and unapologetically new.

The post These 8 Friendships Changed Literature Forever appeared first on Magazine.

There is no shortage of places for readers to visit when they reach Oxford. To make your exploration that bit smoother, we’ve whipped up our very own book lovers’ guide to the city to help you experience all of the city’s highlights.

Old Parsonage Hotel

The Old Parsonage Hotel is a superb place to base yourself while in Oxford if you’re after a literary-themed stay. A luxury 5-star, centrally located accommodation, reading enthusiasts are invited to stay in their high-end country-style property with trendy decor.

In total, the Old Parsonage Hotel has 35 suites, with a few notable options including the ‘Winston’ and ‘Randolph’ rooms. These have been named in honor of Winston Churchill and his son and feature specific features that represent him, such as images. Then there is the 36 St Giles option, which includes its own bookshelf desk area for guests to enjoy throughout their stay.

Address: 1-3 Banbury Rd, Oxford OX2 6NN, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Check-in time: 3:00PM
– Check-out time: 11AM

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Last Bookshop Jericho

Take a walk down Walton Street and pop into the Last Bookshop Jericho. Its red façade gives the impression of a small, unassuming shop, though inside lies one of the finest collections in the city. Across the shelving along the walls and the stock loaded onto the tables in the aisles, you’ll come across a range of themed options, including philosophy and poetry, as well as many rare covers.

The Last Bookshop Jericho’s primary focus is on remainder and second-hand books, but there are a few new options in the store. In terms of pricing, it’s hard to beat this place, as you can easily stumble upon books for as little as a few Pounds.

Address: 25 Walton St, Oxford OX1 2HQ, United Kingdom
Opening hours: 
– Monday to Saturday: 10AM – 6PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 5PM

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Gulp Fiction

There are some bookstores out there that just know how to nail a unique concept, and one of them is Gulp Fiction. Here, they blend everyone’s favorite cocktails with a cracking line-up of literature, including bestsellers and new releases.

Gulp Fiction isn’t just any bar that sells cocktails in its shop; they have some interesting offerings, including their ‘Book Lover’s Happy Hour.’ Those who visit during this time can enjoy deals such as two-for-one drinks, three rounds of cocktails for set prices, and 10% off books. If that wasn’t enough, they also host a pub quiz where winners can secure vouchers worth £75 to use in their store.

Address: Unit 28, 29 Covered Market, Oxford OX1 3DU, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Wednesday: 10AM – 5PM
– Thursday to Saturday: 10AM – 10PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 4PM

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Blackwell’s Bookshop

Don’t you just love bookshops that have been around for years and still remain popular to this day? One of them is Blackwell’s Bookshop in Oxford. These guys have been selling books since 1879 and have opened 30 locations across the country, delivering a stellar selection of literature for people, libraries, and colleges.

Blackwell’s Bookshop’s inventory is sizable to say the least. Visitors are treated to lots of general fiction and non-fiction options. They also house a wealth of signed texts and rare written material, with some items from pre-1650.

Address: 48-51 Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BQ, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 9AM – 7PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 5PM

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Blackwell’s Sci-fi, Manga & Games

Did you know Blackwell has another shop on Broad Street dedicated to sci-fi, manga, and games? A specialty bookstore directly across the road from their main branch, it’s the first choice for many looking for graphic novels and science fiction.

The interior is tidy and modern with a multi-level layout. Manga and games dominate the first floor, with a solid range of fantasy titles available upstairs on the second.

Address: 27 Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BS, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 9AM – 7PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 5PM

Duke Humfrey’s Library

The Duke Humfrey’s Library is one of those that will really blow you away. Part of the Bodleian Libraries, it is the University of Oxford’s oldest reading room, which was built between 1450 and 1480. Among its finest features are the medieval design, dark-oak accents, and arched windows that truly make this place stand out. It’s no wonder this one earned 4th place on our list of the most beautiful libraries in the world for 2025.

If you have plans to visit the Duke Humfrey’s Library, you can only gain access by going on a guided tour. These last only 30 minutes, with tickets available to purchase in person. However, during certain periods, some are released online. For this reason, it’s best to show up well in advance to get tickets, especially for anyone who only has a day to spare, as they sell out fast.

Address: University of Oxford, Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BG, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 9AM – 5PM
– Saturday and Sunday: Closed

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Radcliffe Camera

Did you really think we would close off our book lover’s guide to Oxford without mentioning Radcliffe Camera? Following a Palladian design, it makes a strong impression with its huge dome and decorative columns. The library itself serves as the repository for the Bodleian Library’s film, history, and English archives.

As with many libraries in Oxford, the only way to visit Radcliffe Camera is to take a guided tour. The good news is that there’s currently a tour available which takes you to both this one and Duke Humfrey’s Library.

Address: Radcliffe Camera, Radcliffe Sq, Oxford OX1 3BG, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 9AM – 9PM
– Saturday: 10AM – 6PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 7PM

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All Souls College Library

Yes, there is another library in Oxford with a historic collection, and that’s All Souls College Library. You’ll find an assortment of 185,000 books here, some dating back to the pre-1800s, alongside 11th-century manuscripts that are amazing to witness.

All Souls College Library is visually striking, with dark bookcases framed by a surrounding balcony with railings and fabulous floor designs. In front of the shelves stands a large white statue, while the upper windows let in fresh light.

Address: All Souls College, High St, Oxford OX1 4AL, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Thursday: 10AM – 5PM
– Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: Closed

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The Fellows’ Library

Adding to Oxford’s list of gorgeous libraries, the Fellow’s Library was constructed between 1676 and 1677 and, even after its 2008 renovations, has retained much of its historic charm. The estimated size of the collection is around 11,500 texts, including notable picks such as a Greek Bible from 1545.

Access to the Fellow’s Library is only possible by making an appointment directly with the Fellow in advance, which can be arranged via email. Please ensure the appointment is made at least one week before your visit to Oxford.

Address: Turl St, Oxford OX1 3DW, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 9AM – 5PM
– Saturday and Sunday: Closed

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Christ Church Library

Located in a Georgian-era building, Christ Church Library boasts one of the most extensive holdings of early printed texts in the city. Around 80,000 books from this period can be found here, along with more than 1,500 manuscripts.

Christ Church Library is separated across multiple sections, including the Main Library, Burn Law Library, and the Upper Library. Certain areas, such as the Upper Library, are accessible to the public, but visits are granted only to those who contact library staff directly.

Address: 27 Oriel Square, Oxford OX1 4EJ, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 8AM – 1AM
– Saturday and Sunday: 9AM – 1AM

St Philip’s Books

Those hoping to freshen up their stock of secondhand volumes back home should swing by St Philip’s Books. Focusing on pre-owned and rare material, you can find all sorts of covers here on topics such as theology and history. There are also a few unique sections, including options specifically related to Oxford, as well as some on Catholicism.

In total, St Philip’s Books’ collection exceeds 10,000 books. As a result, the shop can feel slightly cramped, but it’s quiet enough that you won’t feel too claustrophobic. Plus, the staff here are brilliant and know exactly where everything is, so you’ll be able to locate anything you’re searching for, especially if you already have a title in mind.

Address: 82 St Aldate’s, Oxford OX1 1RA, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 10AM – 5PM
– Sunday: Closed

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Oxfam Bookshop

You can bet a second-hand book chain as big as Oxfam has established a presence in Oxford. They have multiple locations in the city, but their shop over on Turl Street has been hailed for its variety of topics. You’ll be able to get your hands on books related to religion, food, politics, and pretty much anything else you can think of.

If you’re on a tight budget, Oxfam is the place to go as they stock quite a few discounted titles, ensuring everyone has something to read. Best of all, they regularly update their shelves as the shop gets lots of donations, so every time you visit, you’ll have more new options to discover.

Address: 15 Turl St, Oxford OX1 3DQ, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 9:30AM – 5:30PM
– Sunday: Closed

Arcadia

If we had to sum up Arcadia in one word, it would be adorable. This rare and vintage bookstore is on the smaller end of the scale, but it’s oozing with charm. Between the abundance of flowers sharing the space with a delightful line-up of second-hand texts, and the small row of covers tucked beneath the front window, there’s such a lovely atmosphere here.

Not only does Arcadia showcase many great titles, but they also sell a variety of other items, including newspapers from previous periods and postcards. You won’t be able to miss it as you walk down St Michael’s Street, as they often have a brown table with wooden baskets of books out front, up for grabs.

Address: 4 St Michael’s St, Oxford OX1 2DU, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 10PM – 6PM

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Waterstones Oxford

Waterstones is a well-known name across the UK, as it’s one of the country’s leading chains. They recently opened a new shop in Oxford on Queen Street, and it’s a real treat for bookworms. Spanning two floors, the main level is reserved for the latest written works, while the lower level offers a diverse mix for everyone to have a look.

This Waterstones store is far more than just a place for people to come and restock their personal libraries. There is also a café on site, which draws many for its hot drinks, and the shop regularly hosts events like its upcoming one with bestselling author Maggie O’Farrell.

Address: 22 Queen St, Oxford OX1 1EP, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 9AM – 8PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 5PM

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Daunt Books

Are you interested in world literature? Daunt Books has an abundance of travel and international books, with each shelf organized by different regions around the world. So, no matter if you’re looking for something from Southeast Asia or India, you’ll find it here. It’s not one of those places where you have to go rooting around, either, as the sections are well-lit with their own spotlights.

While it might be tempting for some to order what they need from their website instead of visiting their physical location, their online options are limited compared to what you can get in-store. Plus, if you have kids, their children’s options are fantastic, with plenty of stationery items too.

Address: 247 Banbury Rd, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7HN, United Kingdom
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 9AM – 6PM
– Sunday: 10AM – 5PM

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The post The Ultimate Book Lover’s Guide to Oxford appeared first on Magazine.

A father recently discovered that his daughter had borrowed the exact same book from her school library that he himself borrowed from the very same library 34 years ago. Same title. Same place. Different generation.

If that doesn’t sound like the plot of a heartwarming family movie, I don’t know what does.

Back to 1991: A Boy and A Book

So let’s rewind the clock.

It’s 1991. A young boy, Jacky Tan Kok Leong, wanders into his school library. Maybe he’s dodging homework. Maybe he’s looking for adventure that doesn’t involve algebra. The shelves are tall, the air smells faintly of paper and glue, and somewhere between the rows, one book catches his eye.

He borrows it.

He takes it home.

He reads it.

Then life happens. School ends. Years pass. The memory of that book fades into the background. It’s not gone, just tucked away somewhere in the attic of his mind.

Fast forward more than three decades.

That boy is now a father.

A Young Girl’s Journey to the Library

Years later, his daughter walks into her school library, likely the same one he once knew, maybe with fresher paint and newer chairs, but still holding that quiet magic libraries always have.

She browses.

She finds a book.

She borrows it.

And without realizing it, she picks up the very same title her father once held in his own hands all those years ago.

She takes it home, ready to lose herself in the pages.

When her dad discovers this, the moment hits him like a soft emotional punch. A strange, wonderful feeling of time looping back on itself, of seeing your child unknowingly mirror a tiny piece of your past.

He says he would “cherish this wonderful fate and read the book again.”

Honestly? Who wouldn’t? Clearly, the universe wants him to revisit the story.

Cue the Internet Melting

Naturally, once this story made its way online, people lost their collective minds in the best possible way. “This is so wholesome,” one person commented. “It’s like destiny,” said another.

Others started asking practical questions: How is the book still in such good condition? Is it really the same physical copy? Do school libraries even keep books that long?

And sure, it’s possible the library replaced the original copy over the years. Maybe it’s a newer edition. Maybe the old one was retired and reborn in a shinier jacket.

But that’s not really the point.

The magic lies in the continuity of the story. The fact that the same title, the same narrative, the same adventure was waiting on the same shelves, ready for the next generation.

That’s what makes this feel special.

A Metaphor for Parenthood

Parenthood is full of moments where you see yourself in your child. The way they laugh. The way they sulk. The way they hold a pencil or frown at homework.

But this? This is different.

This is a quiet echo of the past, a reminder that your child is now living in a world that once shaped you. It’s a reminder that while they may be growing up to be like you, you were also once like them. You might be older now, wiser, more sensible. But at one point in your life, you were just like them. The young kid, picking up a book, is learning for the very first time.

It’s also a reminder of the importance of stories. Proof that stories outlive us, that libraries are our own local time machines, and that something as simple as a book can bridge decades.

Libraries: The Unsung Time Capsules

Libraries are vastly underrated marvels, especially primary school libraries. They’re one of the few places where time doesn’t rush. Where stories sit patiently, waiting for the next person to dive in for their next adventure, guided by curiosity.

Every book on those shelves has lived multiple lives, and will continue to do so until the pages become unstuck. They’ve been carried in backpacks, read under blankets with lights, scribbled in by accident. Returned late. Lost. Borrowed again. Each time they’re taken out, the books gain stories. Their written story may not change, but the book’s story does.

And in this case, one book waited long enough to have visited the same family twice.

That’s kind of incredible.

A Valued Moment Between Parent and Child

Now this dad gets to do something special. He gets to say, “I read that one too.” He gets to compare notes.

He gets to hear what his daughter thinks of the characters, the twists, and the ending. He gets to remember what he felt when he first turned those pages.

It’s no longer just a book. It’s a shared experience across time. And one day, maybe his daughter will tell her child about it. “Did you know your grandpa read this when he was my age?”

And just like that, the story grows roots.

The post Father And Daughter Borrow Same Book 34 Years Apart By Chance appeared first on Magazine.

A Proposal Straight Out of a Storybook

When we think of romantic proposals, our minds might immediately wander to candlelit dinners, beaches at sunset, or even surprise trips. But for Luis and Alyona, their love story had always been a little more literary, and their interests were very much bookish. So why not get engaged in a bookstore?

Instead of a big city rooftop or a grand public spectacle, Luis chose Capital Hill Books in Denver, a charming, locally owned shop filled with the scent of old pages and stories waiting to be explored.

The moment they shared has since gone absolutely viral online, capturing hearts everywhere as a tender example of how simple, personal moments can be the most memorable.

Where They Began: Sweet Beginnings and Quiet Intimacy

So let’s rewind just a bit to where Luis and Alyona met. The pair managed to skip the apps and the awkward blind dates. They met organically through mutual friends at a board game night back in September 2022, not long after Luis moved to Denver. Sparks flew fast, and their relationship quickly grew into something deeply comforting and joyful.

They made things official on Valentine’s Day 2023, and from that point on, it was clear that they were meant for one another. The couple thrived in the quiet moments spent together, whether that involved a cozy night at home or wandering through bookstores browsing titles.

That love for simplicity and shared downtime is what inspired Luis’s engagement idea. He knew a big public display wouldn’t suit their style, but a heartfelt bookstore moment definitely would.

Setting the Scene: After Hours at Capitol Hill Books

After scouring the city for the perfect bookstore, Luis found Capital Hill. With fingers crossed, he approached the owner with an idea: a private, after-hours proposal that would feel magical but still authentically them. The owner happily agreed, giving Luis the perfect canvas for what would become one of the most romantic nights of their lives.

Luis personalized the store, adding string lights, charcuterie, roses, and candles, and, perhaps most importantly, he played their favorite song: Meet Me in the City.

And then, he waited.

A Clever Note and a Trip Downtown

The evening began at their home, not the bookstore. Luis left Alyona a handwritten note: a sweet little riddle involving books, rings, and eternity, asking her to meet him “in the city” at 6:15 PM.

He even rigged their old boombox to play the first notes of “Meet Me in the City” while she read it.

As Alyona got ready, she was filled with excitement and a little nervous anticipation, unaware of what exactly awaited her.

When she walked through the bookstore door that evening, everything came into focus: dimmed lights, the smell of old books, and Luis, waiting for her with a bouquet and tears in his eyes.

The Heartfelt Moment

Once inside, Luis started speaking from the heart. Though he had practiced what to say for months, the moment he saw her face light up, he forgot every scripted word. But it didn’t matter, because what he felt came through even stronger.

He told her she was his best friend, that he chose her “today, tomorrow, and for the rest of his life,” then dropped to one knee with a stunning custom-designed oval diamond ring they’d created together with a local jeweler.

Alyona’s reaction? Pure emotion, tears, and a shaking head yes (even if she might’ve forgotten to say it out loud at first). She melted into his arms, overwhelmed by how perfectly Luis had captured the moment and how true it felt to who they were as a couple.

Viral Love: When the Internet Cheers Along

Of course, the sweetness doesn’t just stop there. The moment resonated with the world. Videos and photos of the proposal were shared across platforms like TikTok and Instagram, instantly going viral.

People everywhere were captivated not by grand gestures or over-the-top theatrics, but by this intimate night that felt like something out of a romantic novel. It was heartfelt, simple, and personal… a true reflection of Luis and Alyona’s shared love for one another and for quiet happiness.

Reflections on Love, Books, and Moments That Matter

After the proposal, the couple soaked in the rush of emotions, from the butterflies beforehand to the pure joy afterward. They took pictures with some of their favorite books and reminisced about everything that brought them to that night.

Alyona described how overwhelmed she felt the second she stepped inside the bookstore, and Luis couldn’t imagine a more perfect evening. He said he was “intoxicated by the smells of the old dusty books and the dim lights,” and that sentiment struck a chord with so many who watched their moment unfold online.

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Love, Language, and Human Connection

Love at first sight, when you are a child, seems like a feasible experience. Caught eyes, the sudden realisation that this person will be the subject of your heart’s desires. When we grow up, we learn that knowing someone is more intimate, because in knowing someone, you learn they are not perfect, but that you love them still. 

Contrary to popular belief, the majority of our communication is through our physical language, the way our pupils dilate, and how we relax around someone we love and trust. Our words and language are used to speak such feelings, to specify and articulate the warmth in our chest, the preoccupation in our mind. Sometimes, such feelings, in their intricacies, are specific to certain languages and cultures. Meaning, on occasion, you may not be able to say exactly how you feel in a language that is not your own.  

In English, we have one word for love: love. Of course, there exist similar words like affection, passion, or devotion, but none of these has the same exact meaning. They are facets, reflections of love, rather than words that embody the whole. If we traverse the world, we will find hundreds of other words that describe their own interpretation of love, all resisting simple translation.

Jeong and Collectivist Love

The Korean word jeong means love in a certain sense. Again, there is no one definition, even amongst Koreans. It is a type of love extending beyond just people, an attachment to objects or places, or even homes. Western societies tend to be built upon ideas of individualism, and jeong is born out of collectivist ideas of social responsibility.

Although there is no one sole understanding of jeong, most agree that it is something to be experienced, rather than described. It can be simple actions between strangers, the owner of the bakery giving you an extra pastry, keeping the door held open for an elderly woman, or offering a stranger a kind conversation.

Koi no Yokan and Romantic Premonition

Koi no yokan is a Japanese phrase that encapsulates the feeling of that heart-stopping first encounter. The type of encounter that serves as a premonition of the love to come. People will have many loves over their lifetime, but it is rare to experience this kind of premonition, this burning feeling that tells you this may be something more than just attraction.

Koi no yokan is a soft, slow-burning feeling. Something that grows and blooms, needing water and sunlight, differs from the Western idea of ‘love at first sight’.

Mamihlapinatapai and Shared Longing

The Yaghan are an Indigenous community living at the tip of South America, a place some people call ‘the edge of the world’. The last fluent speaker of Yaghan passed away in 2022, but the language is not yet extinct. Many consider the language simply lying dormant, waiting to be revitalised.

The Yaghan word mamihlapinatapai describes, most generally, a look of longing shared between people. A silent, shared wish that both want to initiate something deeper, but neither wants to be the person to instigate it. Words like these hold their own worlds and philosophies, and argue that language and their cultures must be protected.

Philautia and the Importance of Self-Love

The ancient Greeks had a word for the love that we reserve for ourselves, called philautia. A kind of self-love that allows us to protect our own well-being and not sacrifice it for the pleasure of others. Philautia does not have narcissistic tendencies; it is not to navel-gaze or concentrate only on our own problems, but rather, it is to practice self-compassion and set healthy boundaries.

The ancient Greeks knew that self-fulfilment is vital to happiness, but that we cannot use this as an excuse to abuse others to achieve our own goals. The nuance of language means words like philautia guard their beauty and subtlety through resisting translation. 

Ya’aburnee, Mortality, and Devotion

Ya’aburnee is an Arabic word that does something the Western world is afraid of – it references the eventual passing of life. In English translation, ya’aburnee means ‘you bury me’, but its meaning is far deeper. Often used amongst familial relationships and romantic relationships, it describes loving someone so much that you cannot possibly imagine living without them.

So, in saying ya’aburnee, you are professing that you hope it is you who passes first, because to bury them would be to live in a world without them. Call it morbid, but it expresses a feeling many of us have burning within us but can never speak out loud.

Kilig and the Thrill of Romance

Have you ever experienced the rush of adrenaline following a romantic encounter, a first date filled with butterflies, or a catching of eyes on separate ends of a room? The Filipinos describe such a feeling as kilig. You can feel kilig in many alternate moments; it is a shudder of delight that runs through you after a moment of romance. The Tagalog word fills a gap in the English language and has consequently been added to the Oxford dictionary.

When we cannot translate, we add, we develop, and we transform. Although the words to describe love are different in each respective culture, the fact that it exists at all is constant across the world, across all of history. These six words may not have a direct translation, but they define feelings that exist within us without definition. As our world grows more interconnected, our understandings of love will too, and there is a certain kilig in that.

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Some of the most brilliant writers who ever lived poured their rawest selves into letters. They were just trying to say, “This is what you do to me.” What came out was poetry.

Vladimir Nabokov to Vera Nabokov

“My sun, my soul, my everything. I love you, my life, beyond all words, beyond all reason, beyond all smiles and tears.”

Nabokov, the master of language, reduces everything here to the simplest truth: you are everything. There’s no metaphor, no flourish… just total surrender.

“Beyond all words” is particularly striking coming from a man whose entire life was built on them. It’s as though he’s admitting defeat. Language can do many things, but it cannot fully hold what he feels for Vera.

This is love as absoluteness. Not romance as decoration, but as gravity.

It doesn’t stop there, either. Nabokov wrote lots about his love, including: “Perhaps this is how the whole enormous world, shining all over, can be created — out of five vowels and three consonants.”

Franz Kafka to Milena Jesenská

“You are the knife I turn inside myself — this is love.”

Kafka doesn’t offer comfort. He offers truth, sharp and unsoftened.

This isn’t love as safety. It’s love with intensity. As self-recognition is so powerful, it hurts. To love someone is to be opened by them, to be made vulnerable in ways you can’t control.

It’s unsettling. And it’s real.

For Kafka, love isn’t warmth. It’s a transformation — and transformation always cuts.

Oscar Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas

“I love you, I love you, my heart is a rose which your love has brought to bloom, my life is a desert fanned by the delicious breeze of your breath, and whose cool springs are your eyes; the imprint of your little feet makes valleys of shade for me, the odour of your hair is like myrrh, and wherever you go you exhale the perfumes of the cassia tree. Love me always, love me always. You have been the supreme, the perfect love of my life; there can be no other.”

Wilde writes like a man who believes love should be extravagant. His metaphors bloom and spill. Deserts become gardens. Footsteps create shade. A beloved becomes weather, landscape, perfume.

This is love as art.

But beneath the lush imagery is a fragile plea: Love me always. It repeats like a prayer. Wilde, so brilliant and flamboyant in public, reveals a deeply human need to be chosen again and again.

It’s beauty wrapped around vulnerability.

John Keats to Fanny Brawne

“Love is my religion — I could die for that — I could die for you.”

Keats writes like a man already half aware of his own mortality. His love is consuming, almost frightening in its intensity.

He cannot exist without her. He feels himself dissolving. Love overtakes everything: his thought, purpose, and faith.

This is devotion in its rawest form. Not polite. Not restrained. It is love as total surrender.

For Keats, love is not a part of life. It is life.

Virginia Woolf to Vita Sackville-West

“Look here Vita – throw over your man, and we’ll go to Hampton Court and dine on the river together and walk in the garden in the moonlight and come home late and have a bottle of wine and get tipsy, and I’ll tell you all the things I have in my head, millions, myriads – They won’t stir by day, only by dark on the river. Think of that. Throw over your man, I say, and come.”

This letter is a whisper of rebellion.

Woolf doesn’t dress her desire in tragedy or torment. She offers Vita moonlight, wine, and a world that only awakens in darkness. She invites her into imagination itself.

It’s playful. It’s daring. It’s tender.

What makes it poetic is its intimacy. The sense that love is not just passion, but shared wonder. A private universe built from walks, words, and wine.

Anaïs Nin to Henry Miller

“You live in the realm of the senses, and I in the realm of the spirit — but together we make the whole world.”

Nin sees love as completion.

Two halves. Two modes of being. Sensual and spiritual. Body and mind. Neither is enough alone.

Together, they become whole.

It’s a beautiful vision of partnership. Not sameness, but harmony. Love as expansion. As a way of becoming more than you are by yourself.

 Albert Camus to Maria Casarès

“I love you with a kind of rage, as one loves only once in a lifetime.”

Camus names a feeling most people recognize but rarely admit. This is not calm love. It is urgent and consuming. A love that knows itself to be singular, not meant to be repeated. There is no promise of forever, only the certainty of once.

To love once is not about time, but scale. This love takes everything and sets a measure nothing else can match.

For Camus, love is not meant to comfort. It is meant to alter you. It burns because it is real, and once it happens, it stays.

Emily Dickinson to Susan Gilbert Dickinson

“Susie, you make me drunken — I reel in your presence.”

Dickinson’s love is soft, shy, and devastating in its simplicity.

She doesn’t need grand metaphors. One sentence does everything: You undo me.

In another letter, she worries about her appearance, about being unworthy, about arriving “soiled and worn.” And yet, she trusts that their hearts are “always clean, and always neat and lovely.”

It is love without performance. Love as quiet certainty.

The post 8 Beautiful Love Letters That Read Like Poetry appeared first on Magazine.

Altstadt Vienna

This boutique hotel makes a point of filling its bright, stylish interiors with distinctive artworks, sometimes owned by the hotel, and sometimes on loan from museums. It also has a series of themed suites, a few of which come complete with their own personal mini libraries.

Even if you don’t book a suite, you can still enjoy the library in the hotel’s Red Salon—a sort of lounge/café where you can enjoy anything from tea and cake to whiskey and snacks. While much of the book collection is in German, there’s also a nice selection of art books that you can enjoy no matter what language you speak.

Address: Kirchengasse 41, 1070 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Check-in time: 2PM
– Check-out time: 12PM

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Vienna City Library

Vienna City Library is the city’s official research library and archive, and being set on the fourth floor of Vienna City Hall, a grand and stately building in peak Gothic Revival style, its official status will likely never be in doubt. It has a long history behind it as well, having been founded in 1856 and moved to City Hall in 1886.

The library currently holds hundreds of thousands of books, posters, musical scores, and a host of special collections and archives. In more recent years, it’s also been working to digitize its collection.

Address: Felderstraße 1, 1010 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Thursday: 9AM – 7PM
– Friday: 9AM – 5PM
– Saturday & Sunday: Closed

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The University of Vienna Library (Universitätsbibliothek Wien)

With a whopping seven million items, the University of Vienna Library stands undefeated as Austria’s largest academic library. Housed mainly in the university’s historic main building, the library collection traces its origins to 1365 with Duke Rudolf IV’s publica libraria.

Of course, with a collection that massive, not all of it can be stored in one place—it’s actually divided up into 40 locations across the city. But even so, the main branch is well worth a look, with many antique volumes and a combination of stunning classical architecture and sleek, modern design.

Address: Universitätsring 1/Stiege 2, 1010 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 9AM – 6PM
– Saturday & Sunday: Closed

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Pickwick’s

This bookstore and café/bar seamlessly combines a love of reading with a small taste of Vienna nightlife. It specializes in English-language books, with a selection of new and secondhand titles, as well as international DVDs for film lovers.

On top of that, Pickwick hosts a slew of both weekly and monthly events, including karaoke nights, quizzes, games, and loads of live music events featuring jazz, Latin American guitar, and more. Its open layout is lined with bookshelves and movie posters, making for a fun and interesting aesthetic.

Address: Marc-Aurel-Straße 10-12, 1010 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Thursday: 4PM – 12AM
– Friday & Saturday: 12PM – 4AM
– Sunday: 12PM – 12AM

Shakespeare & Company Booksellers

Though not affiliated with the famous Shakespeare and Company located in Paris, this Shakespeare & Company was inspired by that store, opening the Vienna community to English-language literature since the 1980s.

It’s small but not cramped, with smooth, high ceilings and a cozy, open layout that makes it feel intimate and welcoming. It contains a wide range of both contemporary and classic works, plus plenty of Austrian titles translated into English—especially handy for those who want to know more about the country but don’t yet speak the language.

Address: Sterngasse 2, 1010 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 9AM – 8PM
– Sunday: Closed

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Buchhandlung Frick

You want history? You’ve got it. Buchhandlung Frick is a Viennese bookstore chain that first opened in 1752. It was recognized by Austria’s Imperial and Royal Court in the 1870s and has only grown from there, experiencing especially rapid expansion in the 1990s.

Nowadays, it carries 14 million titles in multiple languages, including German, English, and Russian. It also sells stationery and various gift items. Its flagship store catches the eye with its arched brick ceiling and distinctive, historic architecture.

Address: Graben 27, 1010 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 9AM – 6PM
– Saturday: 10AM – 7PM
– Sunday: Closed

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Buchhandlung Herder

Though it’s gone through a few name changes in its time, including “B. Herders Verlag” and “Herder Zach-Buch GmbH,” Buchhandlung Herder has been around for a long time as both a publishing house and a bookstore.

The shop’s collection contains both fiction and nonfiction, mostly in German, with a decided leaning towards the subjects of theology, spirituality, and philosophy, plus a large children’s section that even comes with a colorful play area, complete with a slide and plushies.

Address: Wollzeile 33, 1010 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:

September to June:
– Monday to Friday: 9:30AM – 6:30PM
– Saturday: 9:30AM – 6PM
– Sunday: Closed

July and August:
– Monday to Friday: 9:30AM – 6:30PM
– Saturday: 9:30AM – 1PM
– Sunday: Closed

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Austrian National Library

The Austrian National Library (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek) may well be Europe’s largest Baroque library. With towering wooden bookcases decorated in gold filigree, Roman-esque statues posturing on pedestals, and a ceiling fresco to rival the Sistine Chapel, it’s no exaggeration to say its grand State Hall is absolutely dazzling.

The library holds eight million items across special collections, globes, papyri, and four museums, bridging local heritage with modern research.

Address: Josefsplatz 1, 1010 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday to Sunday: 9AM – 6PM
– Thursday: 9AM – 9PM
– Monday: Closed

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phil – Café, Bookstore & Bar

For a taste of more contemporary style, slide on over to phil, a hybrid café, bookshop, and bar in the hippest retro chic design you’ll ever see. Opened in 2004, it carries around 4,000 books, with a focus on off‑mainstream titles, and hosts plenty of events, such as readings, book presentations, and even live DJ sets.

On the café side of things, there’s an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients plus coffee and a wide selection of beers, wines, and more.

Address: Gumpendorfer Str. 10 – 12, 1060 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday: 2PM – 9PM
– Tuesday to Thursday: 9AM – 10PM
– Friday & Saturday: 9AM – 11PM
– Sunday: 9AM – 9PM

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COMIC Treff

Comic Treff is a veteran comic book chain in Vienna with three locations, but they don’t only sell comics, manga, and graphic novels in German and English. Their shelves are filled with basically anything one’s geeky heart could desire: merchandise, Funko Pops, action figures, costumes, and trading cards from Marvel, DC, Panini, and more.

The chain has been in operation for decades now, and stocks weekly U.S. releases to keep its eager regulars up-to-date on the latest.

Address: Barnabitengasse 12, 1060 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Wednesday & Saturday: 10AM – 6PM
– Thursday & Friday: 10AM – 7PM
– Sunday: Closed

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Thalia Wien

Moving on to Austria’s largest bookstore chain, Thalia Wien is part of the Thalia group, which has over 350 stores across multiple countries. Its flagship store in Vienna is especially massive, spanning several floors with loads of books in German and English, offering enough variety to satisfy even the pickiest of readers.

The top floor has a café with a view overlooking the city streets below. The menu has a range of coffees and cakes on offer. There’s even an elaborate play area for kids to enjoy.

Address: Mariahilfer Str. 99, 1060 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Wednesday: 9AM – 7PM
– Thursday & Friday: 9AM – 8PM
– Saturday: 9AM – 6PM
– Sunday: Closed

Library of the Austrian Chamber of Labor

The Library of the Austrian Chamber of Labor is Austria’s premier specialized library for social sciences. Founded in 1921 to support workers’ education and the labor movement, it holds roughly 500,000 physical items and 25,000 digital materials (e-books, audiobooks, etc.) on politics, economics, sociology, labor history, and related fields.

It’s clean-cut and well-organized, freely accessible to the public, and provides important resources to locals.

Address: Prinz-Eugen-Straße 20-22, 1040 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 10AM – 7:30PM
– Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Buchcafé Melange

This book café is decorated more like the inside of someone’s home than a shop or eatery, complete with vintage furniture and lacey doilies on small tables. Coming here doesn’t feel like a quick stop and shop, but a warm, cozy visit with a long-time friend.

The book collection is mainly German with a small English-language section. The café has very limited seating, but a delicious offering of coffees and sweet treats. It also holds book readings roughly once a month in a close-knit environment.

Address: Mariahilfer Str. 215, 1150 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Friday: 11AM – 1PM & 2PM – 6:30PM
– Saturday: 11AM – 5PM
– Monday & Sunday: Closed

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Book Flea Market in Rudolfsheim (Rudolfsheimer Bücherflohmarkt)

If you’re looking for a more freestyle, outdoor shopping experience, no worries. Vienna has its very own book flea market. Positioned in front of Rudolfsheim Parish Hall, around 40 booksellers gather almost every Saturday morning to peddle used books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, and even games.

This book flea market draws collectors and casual browsers alike to its outdoor stalls. The proceeds for the sales also go to a good cause—specifically, to charitable projects run by the parish itself, some of which you can see here.

Address: Meiselstraße 1, 1150 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Saturday: 9AM – 1PM
– Sunday to Friday: Closed

Buchkontor

Buchkontor is an independent neighborhood bookshop opened in 2009. The interior is bright and welcoming, its walls a calming shade of green and a colorful corner set aside for regular readings. Its book collection is also a bit unique for the area in not only offering German titles, but Spanish ones as well.

The store is especially friendly to children and young readers, and was even named Austria’s “Bookstore of the Year” in 2019. Its reading club and story times alike make it a beloved community icon.

Address: Kriemhildpl. 1, 1150 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Wednesday & Friday: 9:30AM – 6PM
– Thursday: 9:30AM – 7PM
– Saturday: 9:30AM – 2PM
– Sunday: Closed

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Hartliebs Bücher

Founded by bookseller Oliver and Petra Hartlieb, this independent shop is filled to the brim with books: lining shelves, stacked on tables, and filling up rotating racks posted outside. However, it never gets to the point of overflowing, and there’s a decided neatness that’s appealing to the eye and makes searching easy.

The bookshop also hosts quite a few events throughout the year, including author signings, book discussions, a regularly held literature circle, and more.

Address: Währinger Str. 122, 1180 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 9:30AM – 6:30PM
– Saturday: 9:30AM – 1PM
– Sunday: Closed

Buchhandlung List – Internationale Literatur

As you might’ve guessed from the “Internationale” in this bookstore’s name, its specialty lies in spotlighting international literature and titles across multiple languages, particularly German, French, Italian, and English. Even the staff is multilingual—perfect for both travelers and local ex-pats.

The interior has an eclectic sense of style, stacking books high on miniature shelves along staircases, setting a moped behind a glass display case, and hanging a Harry Potter-inspired paper mural from the ceiling.

Address: Porzellangasse 36, 1090 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 10AM – 6:30PM
– Saturday: 10AM – 4PM
– Sunday: Closed

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o*books

o*books is an independent bookstore that focuses on queer, feminist, intersectional, and diverse literature in German and English, including children’s books. The decor is a mix of this and that—both wooden and metal bookcases, a variety of houseplants placed on shelves and tabletops.

The area in the back is especially nice for reading, with large windows that let in plenty of natural light and a comfy sofa perfect for settling in.

Address: Bruno-Marek-Allee 24/1, 1020 Wien, Austria
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 9AM – 7PM
– Saturday: 9AM – 5PM
– Sunday: Closed

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What’s Going On?

At its core, this is about looking at the bigger picture. It’s about remembering, or rather considering, that people who are having to rely on food banks are likely to be struggling in more areas than just filling their kitchen cupboards. Yes, a food bank feeds people, but what about all the other shortcomings in these folks’ lives?

Like reading. Like education, creativity, and inspiration. That’s where books come in.

A charity called Bookbanks was born out of exactly this realization. It was started by Emily Rhodes, a writer and critic who, while volunteering at a food bank in Newington Green, north-east London, had a thought: Why shouldn’t people picking up essentials also have access to something nourishing for their minds? And so she began giving away her own books alongside food. It didn’t stay small for long.

With support from bookshops, libraries, publishers, and individual donors, Bookbanks quickly grew into a proper charity that partners with food banks across the UK to bring free, high-quality books to people who might not otherwise have access to them.

Why Books at Food Banks?

At first, you might think: “Food banks give out food. That’s their job. Why books?” But that’s exactly where the magic is. Bookbanks knows what we sometimes need reminding: books aren’t luxuries; they’re tools for connection, learning, and hope.

Last year’s data showed that more than one in 12 children in the UK does not have a single book at home. That’s heartbreaking. And that’s just children and ownership. It doesn’t even touch on how many adults struggle to access reading material.

Reading for pleasure has been shown to be one of the strongest predictors of future success in life. It’s linked to improved mental well-being, better academic outcomes for kids, and a higher quality of life overall. And yet, too many people live in “reading deserts” where books are scarce or treated as an unaffordable extra.

So Bookbanks is stepping in. It’s taking books to the frontlines, to the people who can’t afford a trip to the local bookstore, or who don’t have time for a trip to the library as a family. It’s spreading joy in the form of inspiration, creativity, and learning.

What Actually Happens at a Bookbank?

If you imagine a cart of dusty books in the corner of a charity hall, let me stop you right there. That’s not this. Picture instead something more like a book stall, cheerful and inviting, with books laid out like treasures: picture books, novels, poetry, cookbooks, children’s books: the whole range.

The books are free to browse, take home, and keep forever. There are no library cards. No returns. No judgment. This is about ownership, which is something that’s deeply meaningful, especially for children.

The stalls are run by volunteers who come from the book world, we’re talking librarians, booksellers, writers, publishers… people who don’t just know books, but know how to chat about them in a way that’s warm and personal. They help food bank visitors find books they’ll love, whether that’s a first picture book for a toddler or a novel for someone rediscovering reading after years away.

More Than a Handout

There’s something quietly revolutionary about this. It’s not just charity; it’s community building. Food banks have historically been seen as emergency services — a safety net when things have gone wrong. But by introducing books, Bookbanks helps reshape that narrative. Rather than just survival, there’s culture, conversation, and curiosity.

Books act as social glue, linking people together not through need alone but through shared stories and ideas. It’s especially important when as many people are struggling day to day as they currently are.

In a practical sense, this addresses what some call literary poverty, that is, the lack of access to books and reading opportunities across certain communities in the UK. Bookbanks literally brings books into the places where people already are, often filling gaps where libraries are inaccessible because of location, opening times, or lack of fixed addresses.

Spreading Across the UK

This isn’t just a London idea anymore. Bookbanks has spread to Norfolk, and now there are spots opening in Manchester and other parts of the UK. They’re handing out over a thousand books every month, and local groups are throwing in their own flavour: author visits, storytelling sessions, and community read-alouds.

Campaigns like Get Britain Reading are helping amplify the effort, encouraging donations and volunteer support from all corners of society. Partnerships with organizations like Bookshop.org mean that when you buy certain books, it also helps fund more book donations.

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