You can walk into any chain bookstore in Istanbul and find stacks of neatly ordered books. Normally, they have the recently published stuff, and bookstores like Remzi and the newly reopened Robinson Crusoe offer a nice selection of English-language books as well. Bookstores in and of themselves are wonderfully magical places – OK, I’m speaking for myself, but I know that many of you are like me. You are transported into a world of adventure and a treasure trove of possibilities. Before buying the book, you ask yourself which world will I visit and inhabit? You find your book and off you go.
Now imagine finding a bookstore that transports you into a treasure trove possibilities even before you find your book. That’s what Fahrenheit 451 did for me. Located in Galata, Fahrenheit 451 calls itself a recycling store. Second-hand books are placed side-by-side with Turkish vinyl records, and knick-knacks are so artfully displayed that they will seize your imagination. The whole ethos of recycling, repurposing and reusing invites you to wonder who owned the old Brownie camera and who sent the vintage postcards. And where did the old leather case travel? All the while giving you the option to give each item a new purpose and a new story. The same is true for the books. I have been wanting to read The Epic of Gilgamesh for about a year. The book kept popping into my head the way books do when the time is right for you to read them. But where would I find it? I’m a slow reader to begin with, so I wasn’t too worried. As I wandered into Fahrenheit 451, there on a stack of other English books was an old Penguin copy of The Epic of Gilgamesh with a rubber band holding it all together. My dream read was 12 TL.
I know you too will be able to find what you’re looking for at Fahrenheit 451. They have a small selection of foreign language books along with Turkish titles. There is also an ever-changing array of reusable items of every sort. The day I first found the store was one of those long dramatic Istanbul days, the kind we’ve all had if you’ve lived in Istanbul more than a week. I needed a break. While walking around my old Galata neighborhood, I discovered Fahrenheit 451 right around the corner from my old apartment. Somehow, chatting with one of the owners, wandering around the store and finding The Epic of Gilgamesh made everything better. It filled my life with magic and possibility.
Fahrenheit 451 will fill your life with magic and possibility as well. One of my favorite things about the store was a basket of books covered in brown paper out front. Don’t have anything to do tonight? Well, how about having a blind date with the book? Each book is wrapped with a description of its contents on the outside, just waiting to chosen. Go on, try it! At least you know where your book will be on a Friday night and you might even fall in love.
You can find out more information on Fahrenheit 451’s Facebook page.
Fahrenheit 451 Recycling Shop
Şahkulu Sok., Roberthan Apt. No. 11/B
Galata
Alba Brunetti is a contributor to Yabangee. She is a writer and editor, and to find out more about her work, visit www.albabrunetti.com or Twitter: @AlbaBrunetti
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Where did Robinson Crusoe move to (did it move)?
İts on the fourth floor of salt istiklal, the large exhibition space on the corner around tepebaşı
Next to the chamber of industry building