Thoughts...

At the end of last August, as I turned 49, I decided to visit 50 independent bookstores in my 50^th year. I surpassed my goal with a couple of weeks to spare and can say without question, a whole new world has opened up to me.

Over the course of the year I shopped in the very first bookstore I went to as a kid – Anderson’s in Larchmont, NY, visited the western most bookstore in the United States (Talk Story on the island of Kauai) and the oldest bookstore (Moravian Book Shop in Bethlehem, PA). I stopped by Let’s Play Books in Emmaus, PA and Jack and Allie’s in Vernon, CT both just recently opened children’s bookstores (and in my mind, the very definition of hope). Though I did the bulk of the visits on my own it was always a treat to go with others. I’ve been shopping with Suann, my sister Clare and her son (my nephew), Dillon and my niece Megan.

I thought the project would have a beginning and an end but I was wrong. I plan on continuing. I have a list of stores within driving distance I can’t wait to visit and I’ve already mapped out a cross-country trip based on locations of independent bookstores. And, I haven’t scratched the surface in NYC.

Have I read all the books I purchased? Not yet but I have certainly added books to my collection I might not have read had Amazon continued to be my primary source. Do I still use Amazon to buy books? I do – especially if I haven’t planned well enough in advance and suddenly need to gift a book in a couple of days. As I mentioned in my original post – Amazon makes buying books easy but it’s not nearly as fun as wandering through a bookstore, especially one that is lovingly cared for.

When I look back on the year I am struck by a handful of thoughts:

• No matter the age, those who own and/or work in independent bookstores love what they do. Did I meet a few cranky folks? I did, but they were the exception not the rule.
• The Northeast is a beautiful place to drive around - especially with the top down on the Mini Cooper.
• Bookstores are a great place to...eavesdrop.
• The Google Map app is darn near perfect.
• Next to freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, new books might be my favorite smell.

I love working in an elementary school as a library media specialist/teacher librarian but my dream of owning an bookstore is much more vivid than it was a year ago. And really, there’s nothing better than having a dream.

#53 Main Street Books, Orleans MA

Last stop of the day...I picked up Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. 

And hopefully the woman I recommended The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry to was pleased.

Main Street Books can be found on the web at:  http://www.mainstreetbooksonline.com/

#52 Booksmith/Musicsmith, Orleans MA

Of all the bookstores I visited on my trip to the Cape, Booksmith had the least amount of curb appeal. It is located in a strip mall - a grocery store on one side, a liquor store on the other. I was in danger of judging a book by it's cover but then I went in and found a book of poetry I haven't found any place else (Coffee at Hilde's: Four Provincetown Poets by Lorraine Kujawa, Hilde Oleson, Pat Lombardi and Margaret Phillips) and was quite happy. (And by request,I also picked up a book of dirty jokes for a friend... yes really.)

Booksmith is on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BooksmithMusicsmith

#51 Brewster Bookstore, Brewster MA

At the Brewster Bookstore I picked up The Girls of Corona de Mar by Rufi  Thorpe.

Brewster Bookstore can be found on the web at: http://www.brewsterbookstore.com/

#50 Where the Sidewalk Ends, Chatham MA

Somewhere around three o'clock on August 11th I walked into Where the Sidewalk Ends in Chatham and achieved my goal of visiting fifty independent bookstores in my 50th year. No bells went off, no balloons were dropped but it felt good if for no other reason than because I realized there are a whole lot of people out there following their dreams of owning a bookstore. What does that mean for me? There's still plenty of time to pursue my own dream.

I loved Where the Sidewalk Ends. It's beautifully laid and the young women were wonderfully lovely.

I picked up The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan and The Orphans of Race Point by Patry Francis. (Race Point in Provincetown is one of my favorite beaches on the Cape. This book is going to the top of the pile.)

Where the Sidewalk Ends can be found on the web at:  http://www.booksonthecape.com/

#49 Yellow Umbrella Books, Chatham MA

Yellow Umbrella Books has a nice balance between new and used books.

I picked up The Last Best League: One Summer, One Season, One Dream by Jim Collins. It delves into the Cape Cod Summer (baseball) League.

As an aside...Chatham is quite the destination. As I mentioned in an earlier post, this was a beautiful day and the streets of Chatham were packed. When I was a kid the only time we didn't go to the beach was when it was raining (and sometimes we still went). 

Yellow Umbrella Books can be found on the web at: http://yellowumbrellabooks.net/

Pit Stop: Sundae School, Dennisport MA

Homemade ice cream, perfect hot fudge, fresh whipped cream and a real cherry all served in a glass dish with a real spoon. Throw in some memories and it was the perfect lunch.

Sundae School can be found on the web at: http://www.sundaeschool.com/

#48 Armchair Bookstore, Dennis MA

Armchair Bookstore is part of Armchair Gifts and while the selection wasn't overwhelming the owner was lovely and made sure to say thanks for dropping by.

I picked up The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud and We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler.

Armchair Books does not currently have an active web presence.

#47 Titcomb's Bookshop, East Sandwich MA

Titcomb's wasn't on my original list but when I stopped by Jack and Alli'es, Barbara mentioned it so on it went. It was crowded when I arrived and crowded when I left. That's a pretty good endorsement especially since it was perfect beach weather.

I picked up a signed copy of Mary Oliver's The Truro Bear and Other Adventures and Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell.

Titcomb's can be found on the web at: http://www.titcombsbookshop.com/

#46 Books by the Sea, Osterville MA

Books by the Sea is filled with the work of local (Cape Cod) authors. I picked up Slow Eddie by Bruce Jones. 

Books by the Sea can be found on the web at: http://www.booksbythesea.net/ (be sure to read the About Us section - it gives credence to following your dreams).

#45 Eight Cousins Children's Books, Falmouth MA

When I visit a bookstore I don't always tell why I'm there but when I have, Eight Cousins was mentioned to me more than once. Understandably so - it is a wonderful bookstore. As impressed as I was with the collection, I was equally impressed with the young women working the counter. They were incredibly kind and polite.

And while Eight Cousins has a tremendous collection of children's books (I bought Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas by Lynne Cox), I also picked up the first book of what looks like a fun (adult mystery) series Dog On It by Spencer Quinn, a resident of Cape Cod.

Eight Cousins can be found on the web at: http://www.eightcousins.com/

Monday on Cape Cod

I spent this past Monday driving to the Cape and wandering from bookstore to bookstore. I made it to the nine I had previously mapped out, made note of two I didn't have on my list and saved the Provincetown bookstores (which I have been going to for twenty seven years) for a trip with Suann. It was a beautiful day for a ride in the Mini and having read numerous books on the beaches of the Cape while on vacation, it seemed the perfect place to hit (and surpass) #50. 

My write-ups of these stores will be a less "comprehensive" as I was on a mission.

#44 Diane's Books, Greenwich CT

Diane's Books in Greenwich is fabulous, packed and piled high with books, I'm fairly certain I could spend hours on end browsing. For local folks, like my dad, it's the go to store when looking for help when buying for grandkids. The booksellers clearly know their stuff.

I was lucky enough to have a couple of gift cards and purchased The Vacationers by Emma Straub (I spent Saturday reading this really good family drama) and All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.

Diane's Books can be found on the web at: http://www.dianesbooks.com/