Meet your booksellers
Maria and Michelle met while working at the international school, shared a love for books and discovered a shared dream of owning a bookstore. And so they decided to make it reality.
Maria
Born in Guatemala and raised across six different countries, I have spent a lifetime gathering stories before choosing to put down my roots here in Trieste. My background in Social Anthropology and my career in UK public libraries, the WHO, an international school and refugee support have deeply shaped my love for community and culture. As a "smiley polyglot" who thrives on connection, I cannot wait to welcome you into our bookstore and share our passion for books.
Michelle
I have been lucky enough to grow up in South Africa and live in London before making Trieste my home. It may be a cliché, but reading, to me, is magic. I still remember learning to read and being amazed that these random squiggles on the page were able to take me into a new world. I can’t wait to have the chance to talk to people all day about books!
In Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere, Jan Morris described Trieste as a place that welcomes diversity and people who may not find a home elsewhere. It encourages the ideals of acceptance and kindness.
We wanted to embody these characteristics in a bookstore that celebrates the city we now call home, offers a curated selection of books that open our world, and creates a space that encourages connection.
We hope you will stop by, linger and hopefully find a story you connect with and that transports you.