#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.