#10 Northshire Bookstore, Saratoga Springs NY

On our way back from Lake Placid we stopped in Saratoga Springs to visit Northshire Bookstore. It was Small Business Saturday and #indiesfirst was huge on Twitter.

Northshire, which also has a store in Manchester Center VT is a great bookstore. Of all the bookstores I've been in I think this one probably had the biggest collection. Within just a few minutes I found Maurice Sendak's last completed book, My Brother's Book. The book, written for adults, is a tribute to Sendak's brother, Jack and his (Sendak's) partner of years, Guy. Just 31 pages in length it has both original prose and illustrations.

This was a quick trip to Saratoga Springs so we didn't get a chance to walk up and down Broadway, the main drag, but I am looking forward to returning and spending time doing just that.

Northshire Bookstore can be found on the web at: http://www.northshire.com/

#9 The Bookstore Plus, Lake Placid NY

We are up in Lake Placid for what has become an annual Thanksgiving pilgrimage. We hang out at Whiteface Lodge with family and wander into town at least once. The Bookstore Plus is crammed full of good stuff - from books to cards to art supplies. Like many of the stores I've been in, they have reviews for books taped beneath the books. What I liked about these reviews was that they were only a sentence or two and proffered an easy to understand synopsis or opinion, "It's sad but so worth the read." They also have section of books about the Adirondacks, including memoirs by local folks. 

I made two purchases - Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell, billed has, "House meets the Sopranos," and Growing Up in Lake Placid by Barbara Kelly, a memoir (interesting fact - Kelly was present at both the 1932 and 1980 Olympics).

You can find The Bookstore Plus on the web at: http://www.thebookstoreplus.com/

Two of our favorite places to eat are Lisa Gs (http://www.lisags.com/) which has a little bit of everything and The Good Bite Kitchen (http://thegoodbitekitchen.com/) a small vegetarian place that is out of this world. 

#8 Elm Street Books, New Canaan CT

Elm Street Books is located in the heart of New Canaan. Inside it is very elegant. Browsing is easy as there are numerous write-ups right beneath the books. Many of the write-ups are hand written by, I assume, employees of the store. Other write-ups are from NPR, etc. 

Since I work in an elementary school library I feel like I have a pretty good handle on what's out there so I'm always pleasantly surprised when I find a book I didn't know about. Cynthia Rylant's God Got a Dog (illustrated by the wonderful Maria Frazee) falls into this category. I also picked up Alice Munro's Dear Life which won her the Nobel Prize for literature.

Elm Street Books can be found on the web at: www.elmstreetbooks.com/ 

(their bookstore is far more inviting than their website)

Although I did not stop, Rosie sits next door to Elm Street Books (in fact there is a door between the two stores). According to their website they specialize in American comfort food and based on the photos I'd say it's worth a return trip. Rosies can be found on the web at: www.rosiecatering.com

#7 Books on the Common, Ridgefield CT

Books on the Common sits on the main drag in Ridgefield - parking was a breeze on a recent Saturday morning and the atmosphere inside was very conducive to browsing. Conversation was available if you wanted it which was perfect for this introvert. 

As it is getting close to Christmas I picked up a couple of books that may find their way under some trees so I'm not going to mention those. However, I am rather excited about Billy Collins' new poetry collection, Aimless Love and a book called The Moth which is a collection of personal stories. The Moth celebrates the art of storytelling and according to the London Guardian, "..is brilliant and quietly addictive." It has developed a cult following in NYC where stories are performed live and then shared via podcast. I'm not even close to doing it justice so check their website, www.themoth.org. 

Like many local bookstores Books on the Common brings authors in to speak. We took my dad to hear Kevin Peraino talk about his book, Lincoln in the World: The Making of a Statesman and the Dawn of American Power. I'm not a history buff but I enjoyed listening to Mr. Peraino talk about Lincoln from a perspective that is often overlooked (foreign policy); he made the information very accessible (the Lincoln impersonator sitting in the audience seemed to agree).

Books on the Common can be found on the web at: www.booksonthecommon.com/

#6 The Book Garden, Wickford RI

The Book Garden in Wickford Rhode Island is a lovely used book store. Our niece Megan suggested it and it made for perfect day trip. I picked up a hardcover copy Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris for seven bucks. If you haven't read any Sedaris you are missing out - his reflections on life are quirky and poignant and just plain funny. I never really think about going to used book stores but as Megan pointed out - if you get involved in a series, a used book store is a perfect place to pick up earlier books in the series.

We had a delicious lunch at The Beach Rose Cafe (www.beachrosecafe.com). Fish and chips for Suann and me and a lobster roll for Megan. Why didn't I get a lobster roll? Put simply - it had been altered with mayonnaise, celery and the like. That's not a lobster roll in my book, that's lobster salad.

#5 R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison CT

If I were to own a bookstore I would model it after RJ Julia's. You can't walk more than a couple of feet without a book suggestion popping out at you: very thoughtful reviews by employees are posted below books on the shelves, often times the reviewer makes a connection with another book. That's how I ended up with Memories of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks. The reviewer compared it to The Art of Racing in the Rain which if you haven't read and are a dog lover (or even if you aren't) go find a copy.  I also purchased an autographed copy of Tomie dePaola's new children's book, Strega Nona Does it Again. 

R.J. Julia Booksellers can be found on the web at: http://www.rjjulia.com/


(Should you decide to visit R.J. Julia's or even Breakwater Books in Guilford be sure to make time for a lobster roll; if the weather is nice go sit outside at The Little Stone House on the harbor in Guilford or if it's not stop by Lenny and Joe's Fish Tale in Madison.)

# 4 Barrett Bookstore, Darien CT

Barrett Bookstore is tucked into a strip mall in the Noroton Heights section of Darien. It was recently redesigned and has a very comfortable feel to it. I often forget it's there but enjoy my time when I do stop by. I secured an autographed copy of local author, Kate Manning's book, My Notorious Life (suggested by Pam the woman who cuts my hair and also cuts Ms. Manning's hair), a signed copy of Alice Hoffman's new book, Survival Lessons (looks like it has great gift potential) as well as a guide to Hawaii. 

Barrett Bookstore can be found on the web at: http://www.barrettbookstore.com/

#3 Breakwater Books, Guilford CT

Breakwater Books sits on The Green in Guilford and is a perfect place to spend a Sunday afternoon (after visiting the Guilford Fair). Kids were excited to be there and an older man was there with his daughter. I loved listening to them talk books and make connections with authors. Employees were present but not overwhelming. A very nice experience.

Purchases included My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places to Browse, Read and Shop by Ronald Rice and Interaction of Color (50th Anniversary Edition) by Joseph Albers (Suann was with me; she remembers this book having great impact on her when she first read it 25 years ago).

You can find Breakwater Books on the web at http://www.breakwaterbooks.net/

(As an aside, Suann got a cup of coffee next door at Cilantro and pronounced it delicious.)

Pit Stop...Walter's Hot Dog Stand, Mamaroneck NY

After the bookstores I stopped at Walter's. Best hot dog ever. I would suggest a double with extra mustard, fries and a chocolate shake. Brought back great memories.

Walter's can be found on the web at: http://www.waltershotdogs.com/

#2 The Voracious Reader, Larchmont NY

The Voracious Reader is around the corner and down the block from Anderson's. It opened in 2007 and specializes in children's books (though they have recently partnered with NPR to carry a handful of adult titles). I had a lovely conversation with the owner, first about Peter Brown's new book, Mr. Tiger Goes Wild (she's predicting a Caldecott) and then later about how I am working her dream job (elementary school  librarian) and she's working mine. 

Purchases included Nora Raleigh Baskin's new book, Runt, The Unwanteds: Island of Fire (this is book three in the series) and a picture book biography of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne, On a Beam of Light. I also took the opportunity to donate a book to a local charity.

You can find The Voracious Reader on the web at: http://www.thevoraciousreader.com/

1st Stop...Anderson's Book Shop, Larchmont NY

When I first conceived of the book store tour, Anderson's seemed like a natural first stop. I grew up on Murray Avenue in Larchmont - .6 miles from Anderson's. Between Larchmont Public Library and the shelves of Anderson's I fell in love with reading and books. It was not unusual for my parents to give me the green light to purchase books on their house account at Anderson's a few times a year. They would tell me how much I could spend (generally ten dollars) and send me off on my bike. Back in the seventies I could get three paperbacks if I planned it out carefully.

I think I had my first author crush at Anderson's...James Herriot author of All Creatures Great and Small.


My 2013 purchases included a Bessie's Pillow by local author Linda Bress Silbert, The Westchester Review, an anthology of stories and poetry from Westchester writers under the age of thirty, and Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives: Stories from the Trailblazers of Domestic Suspense, edited by Edith Weinman. 

You can visit them on the web at: http://andersonsbooksny.com/

Fifty by Fifty

I turned 49 a few weeks ago. I don't often think about my age but 50 is a big number and I wanted to do something to memorialize my 50th year. A year long project, if you will. I like sweets too much and exercising not enough so losing 50 pounds was out plus I wanted it to be something fun that caters to my interests and encourages me to explore the world a little bit more.

I love Amazon. I am a Prime member and use it for everything from books to laundry detergent to dog food to electronics to streaming video. I love being able to read the NY Times Book Review on a Sunday night and immediately buy a book that peeks my interest - either in print or electronically. I am a fan of retail therapy - Amazon affords me that without leaving the house.

Oddly enough, my love of Amazon got me thinking about independent book stores. When I go away I always make sure I stop at local stores - three bookstores in Provincetown, The Provincetown Book Shop, WomenCraft and Now Voyager (when it was open) are favorites. I discovered The Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid in May and try and visit RJ Julia in Madison (CT) and Breakwater Books in Guilford (CT) a few times a year. When asked what my dream job is my immediate response is having my own bookstore.

Yes, I realize my Amazon addiction and my love of bricks and mortar stores might be viewed as a bit incongruent, so in my 50th year I'm going to explore it. My goal is to visit fifty independent bookstores by August 30th of 2014. I plan on making a purchase at each store - hopefully something from a local author that wouldn't necessarily come across in my Amazon feed.

What is my ultimate goal? Is it as simple as alleviating guilt? I certainly hope not but I'm willing to look at that angle. I have no idea where this year will take me but I'm open to both the internal and external journeys that are awaiting. Feel free to join me on the way.