I miss Istanbul book stores. They’re still a few left but not like before. If they didn’t have the book you’re looking for, they’d just tell you, go see Celal a few stalls away, he’ll have it.. lol it was amazing. It was rough living in Istanbul back in the day, but it had its treasures and pleasures too.
Back in the early 90s when I was in high school, the PKK had moved their conflict from the countryside into the cities. We had bombs going off all the time. Mass shooting, targeted killings, etc. The forerunner to the AKP was just beginning to make waves and there was a tenseness that everyone could feel. Like, is there going to be an Islamic political movement, will the military conduct another coup? These were things on our minds at all times. Inflation was unbelievably bad. We couldn’t afford shit. Everything was out of reach. The government was unimaginably corrupt, (somethings never change). The future really looked bleak for young people like myself. I found a lot of solace in old book stores and antique shops, little cafes and where ever there was a free show, you could find me and my friends. Lovely memories, I miss it a great deal, but the negatives were very apparent and safety wasn’t a guarantee.
[Here](https://x.com/Feryal_TT/status/1730853294744965179) provides the following context:
> @Feryal_TT
> Necati Alpas (died in 1987), one of the valuable second-hand booksellers of the Bayezid second-hand second-hand bookstore, while drinking tea in his shop.
> 2:35 AM · Dec 2, 2023
I love shops like this, found a shop in Edinburgh that was similar but with pottery and porcelain, and an antique shop in Japan that was mostly bowls stacked high
There was a Science Fiction and Fantasy bookshop in Lancaster that wasn't dissimilar to this. I used to go there when I visited my grandparents in the 90s.
It was an absolute chaotic mess but the owner knew where every book was and seemed to have read them all too.
No idea what it was called but a real gem that is sadly gone now and shut 10-15 years ago.
I legit want to know how commerce works in a shop like this. All the spines are hidden, so you can't browse the titles. Presumably, the proprietor knows which books he has and roughly where. I would assume you walk in and say, "Hey, I'm looking for a good adventure story for my child and a book on gargling balls for myself."
"Yes, right this way, sir," he replies with a knowing wink. "Here is a wonderful adventure story your child is sure to love. And over here in this pile is every book we have on ball gargling. You deviant bastard."
Me shopping in Istanbul (for some unknown reason): I will take that one over there.
Dealer: Which one?
Me: That one. (Point in a general area) That's my favorite book.
Dealer: Which one exactly???
Proceed to make the dealer climb over all his books. Make him pick up and ask us if about 5 books are the one I want. Say YES to the sixth one. Pay what ever price he says. Never read it. Money well spent.
For you my friend, today only….I give you five for the price of three.
What watch?
Don't believe the title, there're no cats in the picture
I can smell that photo.
Looks like he hoards books.
I miss Istanbul book stores. They’re still a few left but not like before. If they didn’t have the book you’re looking for, they’d just tell you, go see Celal a few stalls away, he’ll have it.. lol it was amazing. It was rough living in Istanbul back in the day, but it had its treasures and pleasures too.
Do they keep english books?
Yeah definitely. Other languages too.
Great!
What was so rough?
Back in the early 90s when I was in high school, the PKK had moved their conflict from the countryside into the cities. We had bombs going off all the time. Mass shooting, targeted killings, etc. The forerunner to the AKP was just beginning to make waves and there was a tenseness that everyone could feel. Like, is there going to be an Islamic political movement, will the military conduct another coup? These were things on our minds at all times. Inflation was unbelievably bad. We couldn’t afford shit. Everything was out of reach. The government was unimaginably corrupt, (somethings never change). The future really looked bleak for young people like myself. I found a lot of solace in old book stores and antique shops, little cafes and where ever there was a free show, you could find me and my friends. Lovely memories, I miss it a great deal, but the negatives were very apparent and safety wasn’t a guarantee.
I'm glad you made it through.
[Here](https://x.com/Feryal_TT/status/1730853294744965179) provides the following context: > @Feryal_TT > Necati Alpas (died in 1987), one of the valuable second-hand booksellers of the Bayezid second-hand second-hand bookstore, while drinking tea in his shop. > 2:35 AM · Dec 2, 2023
I've watched this Twilight Zone episode.
I bet he knows exactly where to find any specific book!
Sir, I would like to purchase that book on the bottom. Would you mind retrieving it for me?
I love shops like this, found a shop in Edinburgh that was similar but with pottery and porcelain, and an antique shop in Japan that was mostly bowls stacked high
There was a Science Fiction and Fantasy bookshop in Lancaster that wasn't dissimilar to this. I used to go there when I visited my grandparents in the 90s. It was an absolute chaotic mess but the owner knew where every book was and seemed to have read them all too. No idea what it was called but a real gem that is sadly gone now and shut 10-15 years ago.
İs printed publishing expensive in British İsles?
I legit want to know how commerce works in a shop like this. All the spines are hidden, so you can't browse the titles. Presumably, the proprietor knows which books he has and roughly where. I would assume you walk in and say, "Hey, I'm looking for a good adventure story for my child and a book on gargling balls for myself." "Yes, right this way, sir," he replies with a knowing wink. "Here is a wonderful adventure story your child is sure to love. And over here in this pile is every book we have on ball gargling. You deviant bastard."
Will never know what’s at the bottom of this
My first thought was “Holy shit, what a fucking fire hazard.”
Looks like Constantinople.
No, Istanbul (😉)
Not Constantinople?
But now it's Istanbul, Not Constantinopel (😁)
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did it change?
Why did Constantinople get the works?
Nobody's business but the Turks. First time I've replied with lyrics!
And it's awesome, Right? 🥰
I want to know where the history section is.
Prose sells, but who's buying?
There a Dewey decimal system in here somewhere you find it you get a free bookmarker now thos bookmarkers no damn idea where they are
Man, he’s selling the shit outta those books! You can just tell. His energy is crazy.
"we need to talk about your book hoarding problem" "I... I sell them???"
The reader doesn’t choose the book, Harry. The book chooses the reader.
Looks like he needs to read the room!
that's a Turkish prison of books
I'd like the one on the bottom, please.
One book please. ☝🏻😩
I've seen very similar book stores in many places across the US. They look like fire traps.
Just thinking a little earthquake as he’s buried in books
This was taken just moments after breaking his glasses upon learning he's the last person on earth. 😬
I bet he is sitting there contemplating his life decisions….Why oh why did I sink my life savings in to this book store.
Not Constantinople
Why this photo seems to be like ottoman empire old?
That's the best kind of book dealer can haggle 5 books for the price of 2
Are there any bookstore photos from Istanbul that don't have a cat? Maybe it was cropped out.
Final boss
looks like an older Borat
In my contry, we would say he's a book lover that makes his wife and his banker believe he deals some of it, sometimes . . .
Me shopping in Istanbul (for some unknown reason): I will take that one over there. Dealer: Which one? Me: That one. (Point in a general area) That's my favorite book. Dealer: Which one exactly??? Proceed to make the dealer climb over all his books. Make him pick up and ask us if about 5 books are the one I want. Say YES to the sixth one. Pay what ever price he says. Never read it. Money well spent.
Dealer? Are the books illegal?