Hi!
Today I will take you to the oldest bookstore in Kyiv. It's a place where you almost hear how books breathe and talk with each other.
You will find the location & link details about this historical place at the end of the letter.
So, Syaivo Knygy, the bookstore, opened in 1944, right after Kyiv was liberated from German occupation. At first, it was a small bookstore. Soon books demanded more space, so the bookstore moved to its current place.
War: Stop! Please, stop.
Bookstore: Hi! Why should I stop?
W: Why don't you mention that you know me? That we met before.
B: Oh, Lady War, don't you see how old am I? Of course, we met. I remember you.
W: Yesssss! Thanks God. So how are you?
B: Alive.
W: Yes, unfortunately.
B: What did you say?
W: Me? Nothing. It's probably the wind.
The bookstore saw many famous Ukrainian writers. They had reading evenings there. The tradition is still alive (I want to visit one of the reading evenings, maybe someday, and share it with you).
What kind of books can you find here? Mostly in Ukrainian. They have some in English but not a lot. Many books on our history and by Ukrainian authors.
W: You are boring.
B: And you, my lady, aren't very polite. Do you want any tea or coffee?
W: Never! Never offer the war tea. Only coffee. Yes, please. But you are still boring.
B: Could you tell me why did you come back?
W: In Ukraine? Oh, the point is that...
B: What?
W: I need power. And money. And this West with its democratic rules. Boring.
B: But we will make you leave. You know it. You won't get anything.
W: Please wake me up after your depressing monologue.
The bookstore has a mini-library for seniors. They can take a book home, return it and have a new one. At the moment, there are approximately 700 books. Everyone can bring some books for this mini-library (I will bring books next time).
B: Why are you lying on the floor? OMG. Sometimes, you behave like a baby. Choose any book you want. It will be my gift to you.
W: Are you kidding? The wars don't read books. We are busy.
B: With what? Killing innocent? Destroying everything?
W: Thank you for the coffee. I'm tired of you.
B: Just a second. I will show you something.
W: Oh no.
There are exhibitions in the bookstore. Today was the opening of the exhibition of a disabled young man from Lutsk.
People also can purchase suspended coffee for our soldiers (a suspended coffee is the advance purchase of a cup of coffee for someone who needs it).
And when I bought coffee, I was asked:
- Blue or yellow?
I said blue and got the blue candy. A very delicious one.
W: OMG. Are you finished?
B: Oh. You are still here. Now go. Please, go.
W: So you don't like me anymore?
B: Have I ever said that I liked you? Am I insane?
W: Haha. Look so.
B: Please close the door behind yourself.
W: Don't be rude. A kiss? Ok. Maybe a hug? No? I will be back, my darling, soon. I need to look around.
Some more pictures for you and promised details.
Syaivo Knygy. Velyka Vasylkivska Street, 6 (city center, near Khreshchatyk). Its Instagram is here.
I hope you will visit the bookstore someday. We will do our best to keep it. It will survive this war.
Hugs from Kyiv,
Yara (or Yaroslava)