by Jackie Rosansky

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American Bookstore

     David Solomon has lived in Berlin since 1993. He owns a small book shop called Books in Berlin on Goethestrasse in former West Berlin. He has seen many changes in the West. Before the wall came down in 1989, Solomon’s father was a professor at Humboldt University. Solomon is half Jewish and is originally from Boston.
     Solomon’s shop has a staircase which leads to a lower level filled with shelves of books. The upper level is divided into two rooms, each containing books categorized by genre.
     Business has been bad the last few years, and Solomon said the neighborhood he is situated in has changed since he first moved there. Since many businesses have moved, the street doesn’t get as much attention as it used to. Solomon’s shop specializes in out-of-print books and English titles. Many of his sales are online.
     “They are mostly books no one else can get in the states,” Solomon said. One of Solomon’s favorite books is Budding Prospects by T.C. Boyles.
     Solomon’s intern, Kristine, is doing her practicum in Berlin and helps him get organized. The two of them are working around the clock to turn the shop over to a friend. Solomon will stay in Berlin getting a teaching degree and his friend will turn the book store into an English-speaking class for those who want to learn.
     Although Solomon loves Berlin, he has managed to visit his hometown and parents in Boston often. He plans on staying in Berlin for quite a while.