Friends call this place a “green temple.” Is it an escape from reality, or a quiet way of resisting it?

It is simply an essence of life, something that exists both inside and outside of us.

You opened a bookstore in a time when attention is collapsing into screens. Is this a deliberate decision, or an emotional one, or perhaps even a political act?

We think it is an exaggeration to say that everything has become screen-based. Everything has its own place, and books are among those things that will always have their space and meaning. This bookstore is more a realization of thoughts we have carried for a long time. Maybe the best way to describe it is that it naturally fits the flow of our lives right now.

Since opening the shop, what new books have you personally read? Which one stayed with you the most, and why?

I personally started reading more after opening the shop. The environment is welcoming, and being surrounded by books naturally awakens curiosity. But it is difficult to mention just one book. Every book has its own place and leaves something behind.

How do you decide which books deserve to be on these shelves? Where do you find or source them?

We mostly choose books from publishing houses, guided by our own literary taste. We do some research, but in the end, we simply want to have good books. We especially enjoy exploring modern Armenian literature, which holds many hidden jewels within it. At the same time, we also prioritize giving space to self-made zines and independent publications. I think we want the bookstore to remain as diverse as possible.

What is a book you would insist everyone in Armenia read today? And what would that change, if anything?

Read as much as you can. Every book has something to give, and the change will come by itself.

Who is not represented on your shelves? Is absence also part of your curation?

We deliberately choose not to include nationalistic books, so yes, absence is also part of the curation.

Who are the people who come here to buy a book? Do you recognize a certain type of visitor, or does the space attract unexpected ones?

Just people, very different people. There is no type, no race, no gender. It is, and should be, open to anyone who wants to come in, as long as we are here.

What new idea or concept did you bring to Dilijan with this space? What didn’t exist here before?

Before there was no bookshop in Dilijan, now there is.

Is this place about preserving something… or preparing for something that hasn’t arrived yet?

Nothing that big. It simply exists, and that is the coolest part of the story.

Dilijan Bookshop

Dilijan, Maxim Gorky St 52/1

@bookshop.dilijan