How did this place come about and what made it different from the start?
It was born from the idea of bringing rare, unique, collectible, and hard-to-find books to readers in different parts of the world. From the beginning, we sought to offer a different perspective on books, as a discovery.
What part of the day, space, or creative process do those who work here enjoy the most?
Primarily, the search for different titles is always a pleasure, finding pieces that we know are special and that will appeal to the reading public.
If someone is coming in for the first time, what should they not miss?
The poetry section. For us, it's a special corner, because in large bookstores it's difficult to find a variety of poetry books, and we, as poetry enthusiasts, try to make it more accessible to people.
What has been an interesting challenge that has made you rethink something about the project?
We believe that adapting to different online sales channels is important, given that people often diversify how they buy books. Some readers may search on social media, while others may feel more comfortable choosing a physical storefront. Therefore, we have tried to achieve a balance of spaces that brings together readers looking for the books we offer.
What influence, idea, or reference continues to shape the way you work today?
The idea that books are often those silent companions that bring a space to life. And we are pleased to contribute to that.
What place, project, or person has inspired you recently and why?
We are inspired by our sister secondhand bookstores, because in each one there is always a special title, a bookseller to explore, collections we didn't know existed. Learning about books never ends.
If your space could invite someone to collaborate for a day, who would it be and what would you do together?
We would love to organize poetry and short story readings with young writers from different parts of the country.
Is there any object, corner, or detail of the place that has a story that few people know?
The photographs we found inside the books. Several of them have sparked stories about that past we don't know but which are now part of our bookshelves and, therefore, of our lives.
If this project were a city, a book, or a record, which would it be and why?
It would be like the story "La casa inundada" by Felisberto Hernández, only instead of water, it would be full of books.
Answers by Fernando Bautista, founder of Librería La Casa Inundada.
