Hexagon books
Bringing to light diverse cultures through a distinct selection of world literature and language instruction.
Bringing to light diverse cultures through a distinct selection of world literature and language instruction.
In his short story “The Library of Babel”, Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges imagines an infinite library containing all possible books in every possible language. In it, librarians roam through hexagon shaped rooms in search of meaning, proposing and debunking philosophical schools, founding religious sects, or exhausting themselves in search of the mythical text that holds the library’s secret. The story reflects our human limitations and our obsessive nature.
So, our Hexagon room is different. It wants to imitate a nook in Borges’s infinite library, and hold books from different parts of the world, written in different languages, reflecting different peoples and cultures. But you don’t have go on an existential crusade! The collection – even if it grows, as we hope it does – will always be presented in a way that allows you to browse, touch, and read every book. Although there are clear sections and signage – we even display world globes! -, we strongly recommend drifting through the store rather than aiming for a specific place. You may find books you never heard of before, or a classic that’s been on your list for a while, you might even find the national epic of that country you only hear about on the news, only now you can finally get a better glimpse of its culture, its people, and the art and beauty they make from their lives.
We buy used books in good condition, and are particularly interested in bilingual editions, books in foreign languages, and Manga.
Italian American communities are important cultural hubs in many American cities and their history of migration to the US is part of the American narrative. Yet, Italy itself has also become, since the 1990s, an immigration hub itself. The books selected represent both experiences, that of Italians in the US, and of immigrants in Italy.
John Fante – Ask the Dust (Sept 4)
Amara Lakhous – Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio (Oct 2)
Jhumpa Lahiri – Roman Stories (Nov 6)
Claudia Durastanti – Strangers I Know (Dec 4)
Most readers associate Latin American fiction with magical realism and its most iconic writer, Gabriel García Márquez. But a growing trend in Latin America fashions the supernatural in a different way, through horror narratives that explore the region’s difficult past and complex present.
Samanta Schweblin – Seven Empty Houses (Sept 11)
Mariana Enríquez - Things We Lost in the Fire (Oct 9)
Marina Yuszczuk – Thirst
(Nov 13)
Giovanna Rivero - Fresh Dirt from the Grave
(Dec 11)
Sid Lenington reads from his book Donovan's MIA
Giovanna Rivero - Fresh Dirt from the Grave
We currently offer Spanish and Italian classes. Our language lessons are based on the belief that frequency of instruction and a small classroom are best for fostering cultural competence and language fluency. Whether you want to learn basic phrases ahead of a trip, or delve more deeply into the language with the aim of achieving fluency, our courses, based on language immersion and practical situations, will help you learn useful skills and achieve your goals. Lessons take place twice a week in eight-week periods totaling sixteen hours of instruction.
French
From Jan 18 to March 8
Saturday 3:30-5:30
8 2-hour lessons $250 + textbook $50
Spanish
From Jan 18 to March 8
Saturday 1:00-3:00
8 2-hour lessons $250 + textbook $65
Italian
from Jan 14 to March 6
Tuesday and Thursday 6:00-7:00
16 1-hour lessons $250 + textbook $85
Originally from Honduras, I came to the US to attend Louisiana State University where I studied Spanish, Italian and Latin. I continued my studies at the university of Michigan which led me to a college professorship teaching Spanish and Italian, as well as Latin American literature and culture. I moved to Cleveland Heights 3 years ago to teach Spanish at a local high school. In 2024, I decided to pursue my dream of opening a bookstore, combining my 2 passions: languages and world literature.
My goal is to sustain a welcoming space that shines a light on diversity through the study of languages and the pleasure of reading.
Looking for something special? Have a question? Let us know, and we'll get back to you soon.
2184 Lee Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
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