After four years of war, Syrians are everywhere in Istanbul — on street corners, squatting in abandoned buildings. But a new venture run by Syrian and Turkish book lovers aims to be a cultural oasis for Arabic readers, and, along the way, give Turks a fuller picture of the Syrians, Iraqis and Libyans increasingly filling the city.

In a painstakingly restored old wooden house in a working class neighborhood, Syrians, Iraqis and Turks mingled recently amid the shelves of the Pages bookstore.

To continue reading, and to listen to the audio visit  http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/06/18/415002688/istanbul-bookstore-caters-to-syrian-refugees-in-need-of-a-good-read