Another Country
Walking into Another Country in Kreuzberg is like walking into the living room of someone who wasn’t expecting company; a comfy mess of chairs, books and coffee mugs. Maverick Alan Raphaeline considers his second-hand shop more of a library; if you choose to return a book you will get your money minus €1.50 back. Some books are not even for sale and are only available for reading in the shop. This goes especially his large science fiction collection in the basement. Alan stocks a broad of fiction, but especially crime and sci-fi. All events are very social, with a weekly film night, TV-night and dinner night. A poetry-writing group will be starting up in the autumn. The shop also hosts the British Council’s Kreuzberg reading groups (www.britishcouncil.de).
Another Country, Riemannstraße 7, Kreuzberg, U-Bhf Gneisenaustr., Tel 6940 1160, www.anothercountry.de
Books in Berlin
American David Solomon has run Books in Berlin in Charlottenburg since 1993, but he’s now gradually transforming the store into a language school. You can still browse through a varied selection of new and second-hand novels, biographies, philosophy and history books, though. You can also trade books and get rare American literature by special order. They host readings by a mix of political speakers, local writers and poets.
Books in Berlin, Goethestraße 69, Charlottenburg, U-Bhf Ernst-Reuter-Platz, Tel 313 1233, www.booksinberlin.de
East of Eden
East of Eden in Friedrichshain has a cosy, grungy atmosphere with gentle music, couches and several connected rooms, that make the place seem smaller than it is, packed with kilomtres of second hand literature to explore. British owners Mark Mulholland and Alan Garvie try to stock a bit of everything, from modern fiction to antiquarian editions; so if you are looking for a leather-bound Rudyard Kipling, this is where to go.
East of Eden, Schreinerstraße 10, Friedrichshain, U-Bhf Samariterstr., Tel 423 9362, www.east-of-eden.de
Marga Shoeller Bücherstube
Marga Shoeller Bücherstube in Charlottenburg is just what the name suggests: an arrangement of cosy rooms with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that were once included on the list of Europe’s 10 best bookstores. The English section covers fiction, biography, feminist literature, modern thinkers. A great place to browse, with occasional English readings.
Marga Schoeller Bücherstube, Knesebeckstraße 33, Charlottenburg, U-Bhf Uhlandstr., Tel 8862 9320
Saint Georges Bookshop
Saint Georges is a neat, selective little shop in Prenzlauer Berg, owned by Englishman Paul Gurner. Second-hand books cover mainly history and fiction of a certain level of quality, Paul emphasizes. He also has a good selection of new books and takes orders. His quality consciousness also applies to the Tuesday film nights, when you can sit back in a Chesterfield sofa with a glass of wine and enjoy two ‘art house films, not blockbusters’, on a pulled-down screen.
Saint Georges Bookshop, Wörther Straße 27, Prenzlauer Berg, U-Bhf Senefelderplatz, Tel 8179 8333, www.saintgeorgesbookshop.com