Canetti’s Bookshop: Orinda’s Hidden Gem

Independent bookstore in Orinda is under-the-radar but worth a browse.

By Whitney Medved

I recently found myself in Orinda—in that shopping complex near the old theater—with a little bit of time to burn between commitments. I was parked right in front of the Longs Drugs, and was stuck in the age-old conundrum: should I stay or should I go. Right as I was going to reach for my door handle, on a whim I rerouted my course for the small bookstore across the street.

Canetti’s Bookshop is an excellent little independent bookseller. Shops like these seem few and far between this side of the tunnel, as people tend to gravitate instead towards the Starbucks of the literary world—Barns & Noble, Borders, heck, even Target.

Sometimes the selection at these new and used independent booksellers is scant, and the stock doesn’t include much more than bad sci-fi or romance novels printed on poor paper, pages yellowed with time. Immediately after walking in though I was impressed. I saw titles and authors both familiar and unfamiliar, many of quality repute. The space is small, with bookshelves lining all the walls and display tables down the middle of the store showcasing an array of prose including fiction and non-fiction. The smallness adds intimacy though, it feels less overwhelming and daunting than mega-stores. You feel like you might actually be able to get through some of the material.

And the vibe was good. As I said before, the store was small. Books were arranged by “Literature,” “History,” “Travel,” and “Poetry” sections to name a few—all labeled by hand-written note cards. A CD of some French singer melodically crooning was playing at a barely audible decibel level, great for nonchalantly thumbing through book spines and perusing first pages. The man working quietly sat reading at his table in the back, and the only interaction we had was his simple nod and gracious “thank you” as I snagged a few business cards on my way out. He was not over-bearing, too friendly, or in-your-face, and allowed me space and privacy to explore at my own leisure.

In many ways these small bookstores are just like boutiques. No, they don’t have multiple copies of everything ever written in every edition ever published. That can be a little inconvenient sometimes, but just don’t do your school book shopping there. For pleasure reading on the other hand, a mish-mosh of quality though perhaps unfamiliar genres and authors is oftentimes the best way to stumble into something refreshing and new. Plus, shopping at places like Canetti’s Bookshop stimulates the local economy, and helps support your community!