Exploring Pune's Bookstore and Book Community Scene: A Comprehensive Guide

Shifting to a new city can be daunting. Upending your entire life and moving to a new place is not easy. The things that we consider trivial, matter a lot: A decent barber, a budget hygienic restaurant, the nearest wine shop, etc. We have to find and get accustomed to these new places.

For readers, some additional things are required, like finding the nearest independent bookstores, a second-hand book stall ( for budget constraints ), or a library ( for space constraints), etc...

So I've compiled a list with the help of fellow readers. Hope it helps you. I will be adding one or two comments regarding each place (Soon I hope).

I will also add book communities that are active in Pune (apart from this one obviously).

Bookstores in Pune

Independent bookstores ( English )

• Pagdandi, Pashan-Baner Link Road

• The Word Book shop, Camp

• Solanki, Camp

• Rohit Enterprises, Camp

Independent bookstores ( Marathi ) 

• Book Ganga, ABC Chowk (this Chowk has a lot of bookstores in the vicinity)

• Pustak Peth, Vanaz

• Akshardhara Book Gallery, Bajirao Road

• Mehta Publishing House, Sadashiv Peth

• Saket Prakashan, Papergalli 

Second-Hand Bookstores

• Deccan Book Stall, deccan chowk

• Book World, Fc road
  

Libraries

• Read and Brew, Wakad

• The Book Elf, Viman Nagar

• Just Books, Baner

• Bhavartha, Karve Road

• Vishwas Library, Anand Nagar metro station

• Pune Marathi Granthalay, Kumthekar road

• Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad, Tilak road

Raddiwalas

• Near Pashan Chowk, put the location pin here 

Book Fairs

• Lock the box by BookChor This event by BookChor happens every 2-3 months in Pune. You will find some really good books here ( you will have to spend some time finding them tho). Tip: Go with a big group and get the 3k-priced box. Go with a person who is good at organizing, so that you'll get more books in that box. We got like 70 books in 2 boxes worth 3k.

• Books by weight
  

Book Clubs in Pune

All book clubs that I mention here are non-commercial in nature and do not charge anything other than venue charges(if any).

I will try to mention parts of the book clubs that I think are different and unique.

• The Saturday Book Community A free for all readers community, where you come and just geek out. It's a place to socialize and discuss various literary topics from films to art and music. We also organize museum visits and treks. Check out our other initiatives.

• Pune Reads A silent book community at Kamla Nehra Park from 8 - 11 am every Saturday, where readers come from all over Pune to read silently. You can find people sitting quietly, reading in serenity under the huge trees.

• Pune Connects Join for long intimate discussions in comfortable settings. They also host art-related workshops like origami, art journaling, etc. apart from the usual book meet-ups.
  

• On The Same Page Join for a traditional book club experience: a book of the month. They also have the most diverse group of readers.
  

• Reading Circle The best part is the first 90 minutes, where you sit silently and read. After that, they have introductions and good discussions.
  

• The Lacuna Book Club A quaint, intimate book club that follows the traditional book club format. Their book selection is really thought out and they conduct discussions both online and offline.

• Bookaholics Book Club One of the oldest running book clubs in Pune. (maybe the oldest and most active). They are active on Facebook as well.

• The Pune Book Readers Club A book club that is active on Facebook and hosts numerous book-related talks and events every month.

* This list is still in progress. Do drop suggestions in the comments.