Shelves

Our floor plan is intentionally simple. Fiction runs along the longest wall so browsing can happen without blocking the door. Essays and criticism sit opposite, close enough that a novel and a companion essay can travel home together. Poetry holds the quieter north corner. Local interest — Cluj histories, Transylvanian walks, Romanian contemporary writing in translation — lives near the till, because visitors ask for it first.

We restock weekly rather than daily. That rhythm keeps the room from feeling like a warehouse and gives us time to read enough of what we sell to recommend it without bluffing. If a section looks sparse, it usually means we are waiting on a shipment or we have refused a box that did not fit the shop.

• Literary fiction New releases mixed with steady backlist. Romanian authors appear in both original language and English translation when editions allow. We favour narrative that trusts the reader and avoid stacks of trend reprints that will be forgotten by autumn.
• Essays & criticism Cultural writing, history for non-specialists, and books about how cities are made. Useful for students and for anyone who wants argument without jargon walls.
• Poetry Slim volumes, bilingual editions when we find them, and a few journals. Ask before you stack too many — the corner is designed for standing and reading a page, not for tumbling piles.
• Local & regional Guides that respect the place, memoirs with a Cluj or Transylvania thread, and maps that fold properly. We do not stock novelty souvenirs; if it is here, it is meant to be read.
• Staff shelf A short row that changes when someone finishes a book and wants to pass it on. Each ticket names the recommender. No anonymous “bestsellers” strip.

Second-hand arrives in small lots from private libraries and from readers who want books to stay in circulation. Every used copy is checked for missing pages and heavy underlining; we price accordingly and mark condition on the inner ticket. If you prefer only new stock, say so when you ask — we will not waste your time with foxed pages.

Browse without pressure. If you need a quieter hour, mid-mornings on weekdays are usually calmer than Saturday afternoons. We are glad to pull a shortlist for gifts, courses, or book clubs; tell us the constraint (budget, language, length) and we will work within it.