Greta Livraria in Lisbon and Rare Birds in Edinburgh stand out as recent bookstores exclusively showcasing women’s literature.
Featuring carefully arranged tables and shelves filled with works penned by women, Greta Livraria’s compact setting belies its significant aspirations. Inaugurated earlier this year, this Lisbon bookstore is committed to spotlighting a group often marginalized and underestimated in society: female authors.
Described by founder Lorena Travassos as a “form of historical reparation,” the bookstore endeavors to address the enduring imbalances in sales and publications faced by women.
It marks the latest development in a trend of bookstores emerging across Europe with the purpose of amplifying the voices of female authors, both historical and contemporary. In Madrid, the crowdfunding campaign of 2017 gave rise to Mujeres & Compañia, while in Berlin, the bookstore She Said is devoted to works by female and queer authors.
Six years ago in Scotland, Rachel Wood initiated Rare Birds, a book subscription service, to champion women’s writing. Despite the wealth of talent among female writers globally, Wood had long sensed a lack of recognition for women’s literary contributions. She expressed her passion for the diverse and compelling works produced by women, emphasizing that Rare Birds serves as an opportunity to share these perspectives with a wider audience.
With the subscription service gaining traction — boasting members from over 20 countries — a physical store in Edinburgh swiftly followed suit.
The store’s opening in 2021 underscored the demand for an alternative bookstore experience, drawing thousands of visitors during its inaugural weekend. Rachel Wood noted, “Over and over, people tell us how exciting it feels to come into the bookstore and see every inch of shelf space devoted to women’s writing. Visually, it’s very impactful.”
Wood emphasized that the space is intentionally designed to elevate genres often labeled as “women’s interest,” placing them on equal footing with any other literary category. She remarked, “Women are so often treated like a monolith, as if we all have the same thoughts and desires just by virtue of sharing a gender. When you walk into the store, it’s instantly clear how far that is from the truth; the scope of ideas and styles and experiences is vast.”
Meanwhile, in Lisbon, Greta Livraria has evolved into the focal point of a community that regularly gathers at the store, celebrating its commitment to appreciating and validating diverse perspectives. The bookstore aims to carve out a literary landscape that better mirrors the richness of society.
According to Travassos, the feedback from visitors has been overwhelmingly positive. However, the online response has been more mixed. Travassos acknowledged, “On social media, the reception can sometimes be hostile. Nevertheless, those who frequent the store demonstrate a genuine need for this space, confirming that I’m on the right path.”
While sales have been robust, nearly 98% of Greta’s purchases are made by women. Travassos remarked, “It’s not entirely surprising, yet it’s unfortunate because men could benefit greatly from reading books authored by women. However, there’s still this lingering perception that a feminist bookstore is exclusively for women.”
Similarly, at Rare Birds, women constitute the majority of customers, but the community has gradually expanded to include men, as noted by Wood. She said, “Lots of people wander in off the street not knowing a thing about our store and are simply happy to browse whatever is there. At the end of the day, a good book is a good book.”
