bookstores – Books Can Save A Life

Every reader has a “My Bookstore”

November 5, 2012March 9, 2013 Valorie Grace Hallinan2 Comments

Just had to tell you about a new book to be released on November 13 by Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places to Browse, Read, and Shop, edited by Ronald Rice with an introduction by Richard Russo.

My Bookstore features essays by 84 authors, including Ann Patchett, Ian Frazier, Chuck Palahniuk, Rick Bragg, and Terry Tempest Williams.

So far, I’ve visited three of the bookstores: Powell’s in Portland, Oregon; Elliot Bay Book Company in Seattle (see my post about Elliot Bay and a few other Washington bookstores); and The Strand in New York City.

Looks like California and New York are well represented, as you might expect. Sorry to see nothing listed for Cleveland (my hometown) or Rochester, NY. Suggestions, anyone?

I’m adding this book to my holiday wish list.

Oh, and if you have a favorite bookstore, tell us in the comments.

Bookstores (of course) and tombs in Recoleta, Buenos Aires

October 16, 2012October 23, 2012 Valorie Grace Hallinan3 Comments

We visited Recoleta, a well-to-do neighborhood in Buenos Aires, and browsed at Cúspide Libros, a popular chain in Argentina. Here we found a collection spanning many subjects – politics, history, travel, art, design, cooking, current fiction and nonfiction, the classics, and more.

Cúspide Libros is in an upscale shopping mall. In the U.S., you might not expect to find a bookstore with such a broad, deep selection of titles.

Our traveling companions, who live in New York City, commented that Buenos Aires seems especially devoted to bookstores and reading.

La Recoleta Cemetary is across the street, where many Argentinian notables have elaborate tombs. It’s a fascinating place, a dense grid of narrow walkways lined with mausoleums, some crumbling and in disrepair, others pristine. Despite the somewhat morbid undertones, it’s quiet and peaceful, a stunning outdoor art gallery.

Eva Peron's final resting place — Eva Peron’s final resting place

El Ateneo in Buenos Aires

October 9, 2012 Valorie Grace Hallinan9 Comments

Monday was a holiday in Argentina, Dia del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural, and many businesses were closed. We’d come across town to visit El Ateneo Grand Splendid, one of the largest and most beautiful bookstores in the world, and we were relieved to find it was open.

This former theater in the Barrio Norte section of Buenos Aires featured some of the greatest tango artists and premiered the first sound films in Argentina.

There are Italian ceiling frescoes and original theater boxes where you can relax and browse through books.

We spent a couple of happy hours in the cafe located on the former stage.

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