For the second year in a row we had the pleasure to get invited to the Taipei Art Book Fair. The original plan was to go there ourselves. But as it happens: something came in between...It turned out that one of the good things about books and magazine is that they don't spread anything but joy and togetherness – so they went instead. Within our contribution box for this year's TABF - a platform for artists and independent publishers to showcase what they've got - we packed a huge stack of the nicest, refreshing European printed matter. Next to a range of COVID inspired paper works as Home Alone: A Survival Guide by Max Siedentopf, a photographic diary of the lock-down by Stanislaw Boniecki or Isolate Zine, magazines as the very first issue of Alien from Portugal, The Politics of Public Space, SICK Magazine, Hinterlands and small independent publishers as Happy Potato Press, mono.kultur or Real Review were presented in Taipei. Even though, the first thing which came to our minds while looking at these pictures was: 'Keep the Social distance, pals!' it made us incredible happy to see the buzz at these 3 days venture into independent publishing. Well, all good things come in threes: See you next year TABF! And this time in real!

For Mark Kiessling of Berlin bookshop and magazine store Do you read me?!, the crisis has been an experiment in growing e-commerce. ‘Our store isn’t big, but we have lots of magazines, books and people – normally. We closed on 16th March to avoid putting our staff or customers in danger, and we reopened after a month. Now only three people can enter at the same time and everyone has to wear a face mask. Some people don’t believe in this or think they won’t get ill, so you have to talk with customers if they’re not wearing one. People are learning that this is a new kind of normal, so behaviours are becoming more like routines. We still had pick-up orders when we shut, so if somebody ordered a book online or called us, we handed it out at the store. We also communicated more than ever via Instagram, which helped to bring in business. We managed around 10-15% of our normal sales during this time. Our online sales are doing better because we’ve pushed it quite a lot, but it’s much more work. All the shipping, finding the right price, packaging, things getting lost, people not being at home and dealing with shipping companies. We had lots of trouble and going forward we need to change how we set up our e-commerce. It’s just not comparable to buying in the store. Even if you’re open for only 3-5 hours a day, we’ll have more turnover than what we have online. I believe magazines and books are best bought when you hold them in your hands, when you feel the paper, weight and printing quality. Sitting in a store and talking to people – it’s just more of a direct relationship than sitting in front of a computer.’ Thanks for the phone call Courier Media! Next time hopefully in flesh again!

After 12 exciting years, Jessica Reitz leaves do you read me?! on May 31st, 2020. Founded in 2008 with Mark Kiessling and supported by countless magazines, publishers, lovely customers and staff, they jointly led do you read me?! from an idea to an internationally renowned and successful magazine and bookstore. From June 1st, 2020, Mark Kiessling will take over as sole proprietor and continue the journey with the highly appreciated do you read me?! team. We wish Jessica all the best and good luck!

As you know, our shop in Berlin has temporarily closed in order to help slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus. If you’ve visited the shop, you’ll know it can get pretty cosy when it’s busy, and keeping to the recommended social distancing guidelines would be pretty much impossible in our space.⁠ ⁠ The German government has ordered all shops to close, except essential ones like supermarkets – and bookstores! And while we agree that books are essential, we care more about keeping you safe.⁠ ⁠ So, in the next months, we and all the independent publishers from all over the world who sell their publications through us are going to need your help. ⁠ And since you probably need something to read to pass some time at home, check out our online shop for our full selection of beautiful, unique books and magazines. If you can’t decide right now, you can always buy a gift card to spend now or later. Or if you’ve got loved ones you can’t visit right now, or you just want to put a smile on someone’s face, we will deliver worldwide as long as possible. ⁠ ⁠ Your support is going to be really important to us at this time, to take care of our community and to make sure that we can carry on bringing you the very best of independent print in the future.⁠ Please pass on the message!⁠ ⁠ Stay safe. Say home. And we are really looking forward to welcome you to our shop soon to browse and chat!⁠

Stay home, take care of yourself, finally take care of all the things in your household that were always left undone, and then support your favorite bookstore!⁠ Our online shop is still up and going. We will take away your boredom with unique magazines and books and you can help us getting through this. Its basically a win-win situation.⁠ ?⁠ And yes, we ship world wide! photo credit: Otto Kaan ⁠ Featured in MacGuffin #4 THE SINK

To help to contain the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the safety and well-being of our community, friends and our staff, our store will be closing temporarily.⁠ For everyone at home in need of something to read, our online shop is staying open! Store-pickup for online orders will be available by prior arrangement. We hope to welcome you all back soon, but for now: stay home and stay healthy.

We warmly invite you to discover with us the first issue of Lissome. A reading soundtracked by live music will guide you into the conscious, calm, and gracious world of Lissome.⁠ So if you are interested in New Years resolutions which are not solely existing in order to break them but actually transform the way we live as well as re-imagine our role as humans in an endangered ecosystem we are happy to see you on Tuesday the 21.01.2020 at 6.30 pm in our store in Auguststraße 28, Berlin-Mitte⁠. If that doesn't sound like a good start for this year...

We warmly invite you to the launch of Matto #3. Our last event of the year 2019 presents to you the beautiful and rather new publication Matto - a Paris-based biannual magazine on contemporary art, featuring studio visits and conversations with artists and designers, focused on highlighting those whose creative authenticity translates seamlessly into their own radical craft. In their third issue they also feature two beloved Berliners - fashion designer Kostas Murkudis and photographer Thomas Hauser. The latter will come around as well. So swirl by and check out this striking new star on the sky of independent publishing, drink a beer or tea or just hang out before you all head home for Christmas.   Starting at 6pm December 18th Auguststraße 28, 10117 Berlin

Because all good things come in threes, we have one more dazzling event for November to announce: the ladies of the Berlin based magazine Almost 30 will swing by to read a bit from their Value issue. Frankly, your biological age doesn't have to be 30 to join us. Since nobody really knows what it actually means to be a grown-up, we think it's best to listen to what it feels like – from day to day - with all its challenges, doubts and beauty. And in case, you're wondering what the new decade will bring - no worries, the magical Lori Haberkorn (Empowerment & Moon Coach) will read the tarot cards for you. When? 7pm, Thursday, 28th of November! Where? Right here in our little shop! What to bring? Frankly, just yourself – and maybe some friends!

Oh girls and boys, we just can't get enough of this guy! The one and only – Stefan Marx – is coming back again. This time he will happily sign his latest book 'Berlin Drawings' for us. It is no secret that Stefan Marx finally moved to Berlin about one and a half years ago and luckily, scribbled down his experience of the capital's hurly-burly and its charismatic inhabitants. Charming as ever, this little book in pink is for Stefan Marx lovers (as we are), Berlin lovers, and for everybody who planned to do her or his Christmas shopping before the 23rd this year! When? 5pm, Saturday, 23rd of November! Where? Right here in our little shop! What to bring? Frankly, just yourself – and maybe some friends!

What a blast! Tissue Magazine is back!!! Our friends behind the notorious magazine took their print sabbatical rather seriously. After nearly 5 years N°666 will be finally launched in Tokyo, Amsterdam, Kiev and – surprise, surprise – at do you read me?!⁠ One thing is for sure: The waiting was worthwhile! This issue comes with contributions from Wolfgang Tillmans, Jonathan Messe, among many others, while spotlighting quintessential topics as depression, cryptomining, sauna trance, free radicals and asexuality. In case you want to be one of the lucky few ones and get a copy of this limited edition of only 666 in your fingers, you better drop by and celebrate with us!⁠ ⁠ When? 7pm, Saturday, 16th of November! Where? Right here in our little shop! What to bring? Frankly, just yourself - and maybe some friends! In case you can't be there: pre-order your copy here!

Much has been said about Berlin's notorious art scene since the Berlin wall came down. 30 years later fairs, museums, galleries, and private collections are opening their doors between the 11th - 15th of September for the 8th Berlin Art Week. Under the motto 'Berlin: Where are we now?' the once acclaimed art capital proves once again that despite its criticised lost freedom in favour of commercialisation this year's Berlin Art Week is anything but dusty. As always, we are open too and more than happy to see you drop by in our little Shop located in-between all the galleries in Auguststrasse. With a little help of the art muse's patronage we curated some books and magazines for you to get fully immersed into this years Berlin Art Week.