Quietly pushing back this phenomenon, Books and Brews, a bookstore cafe has created a space where books, creativity, and calm moments invite a new generation to rediscover the joy of reading.
Started in June 2025, "Books and Brews is a space we created with a lot of heart," says Emiiaka Shabong, reflecting on a venture that feels less like a business and more like a community living room. "We wanted it to feel like a place where people can slow down and feel comfortable; whether that's through a good book, a cup of coffee, or even picking out stationery or art supplies."
That idea of slowing down lies at the heart of World Book Day, where Sunday Shillong discovers not just as a nostalgic longing, but as a deliberate cultural intervention.

Reclaiming the Joy of Browsing
Located in Laitumkhrah, the idea for Books and Brews was born out of a gap that many readers in Shillong had quietly felt. "We truly felt that Shillong lacked a physical bookstore where people could walk in, browse through books, and take their time choosing what they love," Shabong explains. In an era dominated by one-click purchases, the tactile intimacy of reading, holding a book, flipping its pages, stumbling upon an unexpected title had begun to fade.
"Shopping online doesn't offer that same experience," she adds.
Alongside Iaimanbha Warjri, her husband, she set out to build something that would. What began as a love for books gradually evolved into a broader vision: a space where storytelling could exist in many forms. "We realised that storytelling goes beyond books-it can come through writing, art, and imagination," she says. That realisation expanded the store into a hybrid space - part bookstore, part café, part creative hub.
The result is a family-run venture grounded in a simple but powerful idea: that reading culture doesn't just survive, it thrives. This, especially more so, when it is made accessible, inviting, and human.

Against Digital Rush
Ironically, the very digital saturation that many believe has diminished reading habits has also created a counter-desire. "Interestingly, the digital world has made people crave physical experiences even more," Shabong notes. "Many of our visitors come in looking for a break from screens as a chance to slow down, browse books, and just spend some quiet time."
On any given day, the space fills with a cross-section of the city with students seeking recommendations, parents guiding their children toward their first books, and older readers rediscovering the joy of unhurried browsing. "Our customers really range from the youngest readers to the oldest, and that mix is what makes the space feel alive and meaningful."
It is this intergenerational exchange that speaks to a deeper truth about reading culture: it isn't built through grand campaigns, but through small, shared rituals choosing a book together, discussing a story, or simply sitting in companionable silence.

Making Reading Feel Like Home
Across many cities, bookstores have struggled to stay afloat, often cited as casualties of dwindling readership. But Books and Brews approaches the challenge differently by redefining experience.
"For us, it's about making reading feel easy and welcoming again," Shabong says. "We've created a space where people can walk in, take their time, and explore books without any pressure."
This sense of ease is carefully curated. The shelves balance light reads with meaningful literature, while also spotlighting local voices which is an important section to ensure that Khasi culture and regional narratives are not just preserved, but celebrated.
"That connection makes a difference," she says simply.
Beyond books, the space extends into a small in-store library of pre-loved titles, creative supplies, and a café that seamlessly blends into the browsing experience. It is not unusual for a visitor to arrive for coffee and leave with a novel or for a child to walk in for a toy and discover their first book.
"Those little crossovers are always special to witness" she adds.

Coffee and Characters
The idea behind the cafe was always intended to be an extension of the bookstore's philosophy. Shabong describes it as "Simple, cozy, and comforting." The menu features coffee, tea, mocktails, and quick bites that have been thoughtfully curated to complement reading rather than distract from it.
In a playful nod to storytelling, beverages are named after book characters and popular cartoons. One standout favourite, the "Kuromi's Starry Mocha," has found admirers across age groups, turning a simple drink into a conversation starter.
Collaborations with local brands add another layer of rootedness. Baked goods from De Grazia and tea leaves from Denmar bring the flavours of the region into the experience, reinforcing the idea that reading, like food, is deeply tied to place and memory.

The Power of Small Moments
For Shabong, the most rewarding part of the journey isn't expansion or scale but the everyday interactions. "Helping someone find a book, having small conversations, and just watching how everyone experiences the space differently… it's beautiful to see all these little moments come together" she says.
Those moments often linger. A child returning, excited about a book they've just finished. A visitor who "lost track of time" while browsing. Someone quietly expressing that this was "the kind of bookstore they always wished the city had."
Shabong describes her fulfillment by saying "Those little words and moments stay with me, and they constantly remind me why we started Books and Brews in the first place."

Building a Culture, One Page at a Time
Of course, the journey hasn't been without its challenges. Introducing a bookstore café in a city where the concept is still new, requires patience. "Building awareness takes time, and so does cultivating a reading culture," Shabong admits.
Yet, slowly, through word of mouth and social media, the idea is taking root. And perhaps that is the most fitting metaphor for reading itself as something that grows quietly, steadily, and deeply.
On World Book Day, her message is refreshingly simple: "Reading doesn't have to be something big or overwhelming but it can be as simple as a few quiet pages a day."
In a world that constantly demands speed and attention, that suggestion feels almost radical.
Sometimes building a reading culture doesn't begin with grand initiatives. It begins with a small, inviting space, a warm cup of coffee and the quiet decision to turn one more page.