Inside book homes: Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan

During a recent trip to Michigan for a conference, I finally had the chance to visit a bookstore I’d read so much about. I first learned about Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor through a book, It was a compilation of stories written by customers on a public typewriter placed inside the store - Notes from a Public Typewriter by Michael Gustafson, the owner, and Oliver Uberti. As a typewriter enthusiast myself, I was immediately drawn to the shop’s charm and its celebration of analog creativity. I was thrilled to find it nestled in a beautiful corner of downtown Ann Arbor.

The bookstore was a beautiful space, spread across three thoughtfully arranged stories. It radiated a genuine love for books. Maybe I haven’t been to enough bookstores lately, but the selection felt especially intentional: every cover and topic seemed carefully chosen, as if no book ended up on the shelf by accident. It was clear how much care and passion had gone into curating this space. The thoughtfully designed merchandise - prints, t-shirts, mugs, hats, postcards - made it clear just how much this place means to its owners.

In the basement sat the public typewriter, though unfortunately, its ribbon was out of ink.

I still left with a book - a graphic memoir about the loss of a dog, among other themes - which spoke to me deeply, since I recently adopted a pup and can’t imagine my life without her.

We also had a chance to see the famous mural by artist and author Oliver Uberti, who created it as an iconic photo spot in the city. The mural features excerpts of writing from bookstore visitors, capturing the spirit of the typewriter project. Naturally, we took the opportunity to snap a few selfies in front of it :).