Literature And Latte At Literati

What you see – Amble through the streets of Calangute in Goa and you are bound to stumble upon Literati, a charming bookshop and caf. Located opposite Tarcar Ice Factory in Gaura Vaddo, it has a clearly demarcated signboard. A five to ten minute walk from here, will lead you straight to Luma Super Market, Calangute Mall or to the beach.

Run by Diviya Kapur, Literati operates out of a100-year old Portuguese house with plush lawns and a well-tended garden. As you enter the long verandah, you will notice a handful of business cards that visitors are freLiterati, Goae to pocket, along with pamphlets and other informative booklets on upcoming art exhibitions or plays.

The titles on display vary from new additions stocked in the first room to second hand copies in the back. The books are some of the most interesting available in print.

With a couch and a few chairs, Literati, a veritable temple to the written word, is an ideal place to sit back and immerse in literature while sipping a coffee or munching a sandwich from the home kitchen. Dont hesitate to approach the friendly staff for queries, for locating a book within the confines of the bookstore or finding an edition online or about upcoming events.

What you get – Literatis extensive book collection has been molded according to customers preferences since its inception in 2005. The sections that are big are literature, Indian fiction and non-fiction, childrens books, religion and spirituality. The Goa section is another major draw, which includes prominent books like Goa: A Daughters Story by Maria Aurora Couto, Ferry Crossing Short Stories from Goa edited by Manohar Shetty, These Are My Children by Damodar Mauzo and Reflected in WaterWritings on Goa edited by Jerry Pinto among others. It stocks foreign language books as well, including some in French, Portuguese, Italian, German and Russian.

Literati has, over the last couple of years, hosted events with internationally acclaimed authors such as Amitav Ghosh, Sudhir Kakar, William Dalrymple, Dayanita Singh, Amruta Patil, Zai Whitaker, and Zac OYeah. There is also a book club where 12 to 15 literary enthusiasts meet regularly every week to discuss a book. Sometimes even passersby join in for the discussion, followed by an evening of pot luck.

Keen to help turn bored and unhappy children into literate and fulfilled ones, the bookshop has set up a mobile library project, BeBook, for deprived children in Goa, which is supported by the charitable Tara Trust. With readings and interactive workshops, it aims to involve children in books and arts and inculcate the experience that reading and learning is fun.

Literati also runs a basic home caf which offers brownies, quiche, idli, dosa, tea, coffee, pasta and quiche. However, these items are subject to availability. At times, some eatables may be replaced by other options. The caf facility is only open to customers who have purchased a book and want to enjoy a read and a coffee on the premises. A large couch and two smaller seats arranged around a table in the front room, and a couple of chairs and a table at the back serve as seating space.

Our verdict – Literati is perfect for people who are interested in books and cultural activities. The fact that it runs out of an old Portuguese house, lends to its allure. However its tottering sections of books could be kept in better order to speed up the book-finding process. Whether a discussion on translation or a book reading, if one pops into Literati there is always some activity or the other on the agenda. Literati doesnt provide home delivery service. However, if a customer is in the vicinity of the bookshop, they might make an exception. So, call and enquire before ruling out that possibility. Also, it has ample parking space.

Anytime between 10 AM – 6.30 PM (Closed on Sundays)

More Literature Articles