#43 Jack and Allie's: A Children's Bookstore, Vernon CT

My last stop of the day was in Vernon CT where owner Barbara has recently opened Jack and Allies: A Children's Bookstore. It is a beautiful space and while it was quiet when I was there (I had just missed story time) I can see the potential that Barbara feels. We had a great conversation as she talked about the kindness of other independent bookstore owners sharing their knowledge. 

I bought Hug Time by Patrick McDonnell and Miracle Mud: Lena Blackburne and the Secret Mud That Changed Baseball by David A. Kelly.

Jack and Allies can be found on the web at: http://www.jackandallies.com/

#42 The White Rose, Holyoke MA

The White Rose Bookstore is a quiet gem in Holyoke. I did a bit of research and discovered it is but six months old and like the Nazi resistance group that inspired its name, the owners are focused on social justice and building community as well as selling books. 

I picked up Learning to Drive: And Other Life Stories by Katha Pollit.

The White Rose has a Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/TheWhiteRoseBooks

#41 Booklink Booksellers, Northampton MA

Across the street from Broadside Books is Booklink Booksellers. Located in Thornes Marketplace, Booklink has two levels of books and an enormous collection of greeting cards.  

Sometimes when you walk into a store a book will jump out at you. In this case, a memoir by June Melby did. My Family and Other Hazards tells the story of growing up as one of four sisters who helped their parents run a miniature golf course.

Booklink cann be found on the web at: http://booklinkbooks.com/

#40 Broadside Books, Northampton MA

Like most of the stores I've visited, Broadside Books is another bookstore I wish I had more time to wander through. They have a great selection and the gentleman behind the counter was great, explaining the history behind the picture book I bought, A Home Run for Bunny* by Richard Anderson. I also picked up another memoir, The Bill From My Father by Bernard Cooper

Broadside Books can be found on the web at: http://www.broadsidebooks.com/ 

*The reason I picked up the book was twofold: my mother's nickname was Bunny and I love baseball; the story is based on the true story of the 1934 American Legion baseball team from Springfield MA whose star player, Bunny Taliaferro, was African American; it chronicles the prejudice the team incurred when they traveled to a regional tournament in North Carolina.

#39 Eric Carle Museum Shop, Amherst MA

The Eric Carle Museum Shop is chock full of wonderful books. I was a little bit leery about including this as part of my quest but having visited there is no doubt it is a fine example of an independent bookstore. And the museum? A wonderful place to wander around. I was particularly interested in the Louise Fitzhugh exhibit as it is the 50th anniversary of Harriet the Spy and Fitz, our labradoodle was named in her honor.

I picked up three Eric Carle books, 123 to the Zoo, Little Cloud, and Friends. I'm also excited about this book by Keri Smith, How to be an Explorer of the World: Portable Life Museum.

The Eric Carle Museum can be found on the web at: http://www.carlemuseum.org/

#38 Amherst Books, Amherst MA

The tagline for Amherst Book is Poetry Starts Here Now. And does it ever. What a wonderful selection of poetry books. 

I picked up two poetry books:  Beachy Head by Emily Toder and The Hero With a Thousand Faces Art by Lilliana Periera and poems by a whole bunch of different poets. This book had a run of just 150 copies; the artist asked poets to choose a piece of her art and write a poem about it. It's a fascinating read. I will also admit to buying a graphic novel, Petty Theft by  Pascal Girard and a book for Suann titled, On Ambivalence: The Problems and Pleasures of Having it Both Ways by Kenneth Weisbrode. (One of Suann's pet peeves is the incorrect usage of ambivalence.)

Amherst Books has a website ( http://www.amherstbooks.com/) but the best place to get updates is their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amherst-Books/122703784432099

#37 The Book Mill, Montague MA

I hit Massachusetts bookstores last week. First up was The Book Mill in Montague. I read about The Book Mill on a blog that listed must see bookstores. There is nothing fancy about this place and yet I can't wait to go back. It sells used books, is well organized and can best be described as homey. There was a handful of folks working on their computers and just hanging out. If I had more time I most certainly would have done the same and then stopped at the cafe next door as well as the art gallery. 

I purchased Modern Spiritual Masters: Writings on Contemplation and Compassion, edited by Robert Ellsberg and House of Happy Endings: A Memoir by Leslie Garis

The Book Mill can be found on the web at: http://www.montaguebookmill.com/

#36 Book Hampton, East Hampton NY

Quite unexpectedly, I found myself in East Hampton recently and took a few minutes to stop by Book Hampton. We were there about mid-day on a Friday and the place was buzzing. 

I picked up two books: an autographed copy of Death Hampton by Walter Marks and The Examined Life: How We Lose and Find Ourselves by Stephen Grosz.

Book Hampton has locations in South Hampton and Mattictuck as well. They can be found on the web at: http://bookhampton.com/

#35 Merritt Bookstore, Millbrook NY

Merritt Bookstore is more than a bookstore - it has games, toys, puzzles and an art gallery. 

I have been spending time going through family archives and have been reading letters my dad sent home to his mom during WW II so I was thrilled to find the book, V-Mail: Wartime Letters by Solie Tootle Reinhardt (Mrs. Reinhardt worked for the Red Cross during the war; a resident of Millbrook, she died in 2009 eleven years after the book's publication). 

I also picked up Bark Stories by Lorrie Moore.

Merritt Bookstore can be found on the web at: http://www.merrittbooks.com/

#34 Inquiring Minds Bookstore, New Paltz NY

My 3rd stop of the day, Inquiring Minds, is stuffed to the gills with both new and used books. There's not a lot of room to maneuver but that doesn't inhibit browsing.

I picked up the graphic memoir Calling Dr. Laura by Nicole J. Georges.

An Inquiring Minds Bookstore can also be found in Saugerties, NY. They can be found on the web at: http://www.inquiringbooks.com/

#33 Oblong Books and Music, Rhinebeck NY

Oblong Books and Music was wonderful. I loved wandering around and once again was amazed I can go into multiple bookstores on any given day and find a book I haven't seen before.

On this day I purchased The Cloud of Unknowing, Stories by Mimi Lipson and and an autographed copy of Creativity: The Perfect Crime by Philippe Petit.

Oblong Books has two stores - the one I visited in Rhinebeck and another one in Millerton, NY. They can be found on the web at: http://www.oblongbooks.com/

#32 The Chatham Bookstore, Chatham NY

A few weeks ago I decided to explore bookstores that were between home and Albany. I started in Chatham.

One of the things that struck me about The Chatham Bookstore is that it was busy on a Monday morning. The woman working was lovely and I love their philosophy, "Community through books."

I picked up A Religion of One's Own by Thomas Moore and This is Just to Say...Poems of Apology and Forgiveness, a children's book by Joyce Sidman.

As a side note, the store also sells art supplies.

The Chatham Bookstore can be found on the web at: http://chathambookstore.com/