The Premiere Bookshop in Bangalore, long a refuge for the literary set, is closing. The Bangalore Buzz blog reprints a story from the local Deccan Herald.
Even in the old Bangalore which stood out for its hospitality, grace and charm, Shanbhag was unique. He was personally acquainted with all his customers, and all his books. He encouraged the browser, although in his shop, browsing was a contact sport.
Over the years, informal rules had to be observed. You could, of course, spot your own favourite, but it was best to leave the actual pulling out of the book from the pile either to Shanbhag or one of his assistants to whom he was constantly reeling out names, positions, directions, and occasional anecdotes.
The shop hasn’t changed in 35 years, and neither has its proprietor. Those who knew him with a full head of hair are long gone.
Also: The SF Chronicle talks to Mary Karr, poet and memoirist. Michelle Tea interviews Carol Seajay, founder of Feminist Bookstore News (now replaced by Books To Watch Out For). And Liz Henry translates Salome Urena de Henriquez, one of the Latin American poets she's been excavating.
All these brilliant people -- if I can't have them on my shelves, at least I can have their books.
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