Bookstores I Adore or Want to Visit

It has always been pure bliss for me to walk into a bookstore and know that I will find some new adventure there. A great book transports me out of my little world and into the larger world of different centuries, decades, or geographic regions. I have loved reading since I was small; it has brought me a tremendous amount of joy.

I love the hush of a bookstore and seeing other people also immersed in the pursuit of a new book to add joy to life. I feel I am among kindred spirits when in a bookstore. It doesn't matter where the bookstore is, or if I can even speak the language of the person in the store. We love books and thus we have something very special in common.

My four favorite bookstores in the world are St. Mark's books and The Strand in New York City, Foyle's in London, and the Princeton University Bookstore in New Jersey. I have been visiting these stores for decades and they all feel like a home away from home. No matter what else changes in life, these stores are like a North Star to me, always there, always available should I need a cozy place to spend some time.

So many bookstores and so little time! People are always telling me about great bookstores they found while traveling; someday I hope to visit them all. You may want to check out some of these special stores too.

California

City Lights Booksellers at 261 Columbus Ave. in San Francisco is a mandatory destination for anyone with serious literary interests. This eclectic store offers a wide selection of poetry, literature, and more mainstream books. It is quaint, artsy, and famous world wide. Telephone: 415-362-8193, www.Citylights.com.

Book Soup in W. Hollywood, CA is a very popular bookstore. It offers trendy literature selections and a wide range of books on varied topics. This store is often in the media due to visits by Hollywood glitterati who visit regularly. www.BookSoup.com.

Powell's Books in San Francisco is a great store with a wide selection of academic and literary texts.

Miami

Books and Books in South Beach, Miami is located in an Art Deco building at 933 Lincoln Road. www.BooksandBooks.com.

New Jersey

The Princeton University Bookstore has a huge poetry section. They also carry lots of esoteric magazines and poetry journals. It is fun to view the Princeton campus from the large windows upstairs. I like to think about how F. Scott Fitzgerald and John F. Kennedy attended this college. School spirit also arises in the bookstore too. One day the entire marching band came through the store, playing full blast. That was fun, guess they were headed to a sporting event on campus. For more information: www.PUstore.com.

Micawber Books at 114 Nassau Street offers great poetry books. The store also purchases books. It is a well organized store with very helpful salespeople. It is located right across from the University and offers a great place to start a stroll of Nassau Street.

New Orleans

Faulkner House Books in New Orleans is located in the townhouse where Faulkner lived when writing his first novel. The store offers an eclectic selection of books well suited to the ever changing nature of the city of New Orleans. Telephone: 504-524-2940.

The Garden District Book Stop is located at 2727 Pry Tania Street. Telephone: 504-895-2266.

New York

St. Marks bookstore is very cutting edge. They have lots of outré literary journals and a great selection of books about world events. The store is located in the East Village at 31 Third Avenue. www.StMarksbookshop.com.

The Strand is a rambling, huge store full of wonderful books, used and new. The rare book room is amazing and the art books are stunning. www.StrandBooks.com.

Washington, DC

Politics & Prose has a nice selection of author signed books. This store caters to the reader in search of information about world events and issues. www.Politics-Prose.com.

Kramer Books at 1517 Connecticut Ave NW is located across from the Dupont Circle Q St. Metro Exit. It offers books, and a café and grill. Telephone: 202-387-1400.

Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, and Salvation Army Stores

These stores usually offer a great selection of books. I have found first edition books here by prominent authors.

London

Foyle's books at 113-119 Charing Cross Road in London is always one of my first stops when in London. The large store is always a treat because it offers a strong selection of literature from around the world. The website is also interesting reading even when far from London: www.Foyles.co.uk.