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At a time when it feels more important than ever to engage with literature that challenges us, books are increasingly disappearing from library shelves through book bans and censorship. Dua Lipa is pushing back against that trend with the Manifesto Library, a new collaboration between her Service95 book club and the historic Livraria Lello bookstore in Porto, Portugal.
Few places are better suited for the project than Livraria Lello, one of Portugal’s most celebrated bookstores. Founded in 1869 by French bookseller Ernesto Chardron, the bookstore has changed ownership and names over the years while remaining a beloved literary landmark. Alongside Lisbon’s Bertrand Bookstore, it is one of the country’s oldest bookstores and is consistently ranked among the world’s most beautiful bookshops by publications including Lonely Planet and The Guardian. Its colorful stained-glass skylight, ornate wooden staircase, carved mahogany shelves, and glowing brass lamps create an atmosphere that feels straight out of another era.
Tucked away on the bookstore’s lower level, the Manifesto Library offers a striking contrast. The contemporary space features white bookshelves, light wood seating, and inviting areas where visitors can read, reflect, and discuss the collection. The library brings together 100 books that have been banned, censored, or challenged somewhere in the world because of the ideas they explore. The selection includes works by authors such as Salman Rushdie (The Satanic Verses), Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid’s Tale), and George Orwell (Animal Farm).
The collection is organized into four thematic sections: Control, Voice, Memory, and Power. Each grouping highlights books that examine those ideas through different perspectives and experiences. Together, the library invites readers to consider the importance of free expression and the enduring power of literature to question the status quo.
The Manifesto Library marks an exciting new chapter for Lipa and the Service95 book club, transforming the club’s mission of fostering thoughtful reading into a physical space dedicated to celebrating books that have sparked conversation—and, in many cases, controversy.
Pop star Dua Lipa is pushing back against book banning by opening the Manifesto Library, a new collaboration between her Service95 book club and the historic Livraria Lello bookstore in Porto, Portugal.
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The book store is organized into four thematic sections: Control, Voice, Memory, and Power. Each grouping highlights books that examine those ideas through different perspectives and experiences.
View this post on Instagram
The Manifesto Library transforms the book club’s mission of fostering thoughtful reading into a physical space dedicated to celebrating books that have sparked conversation.
View this post on Instagram
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Source: Inside The Manifesto Library: Service95 Book Club’s Permanent Collection At Livraria Lello, Porto
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