I am twisting today's topic---Book events I want to attend---to focus exclusively on bookstores.
Bookstores I want to visit sometime in my life:
1. Selexyz Dominicanen, Maastricht, The Netherlands
This big, beautiful church is being repurposed as a bookstore. It looks amazing. I want to see it.
2. Libreria Acqua Alta, Venice
On a related note, I read a news report that Venice is losing its fight against climate change and raising sea levels. I must visit this book shop before it is completely under water. In the meantime the owner stores books in bathtubs and old gondolas.
3. City Lights Books, San Francisco
My daughter lives in San Francisco and I've visited lots of bookstores in the city but I don't think I've been to its most famous store. Next time!
4. Shakespeare and Company, Paris
Probably the most famous bookstore in the world. It factors greatly into the affairs of many writers in the 1920s in Paris like Faulkner, Hemingway, Joyce, Stein. I not only want to visit the store, I also want to visit Paris.
5. Atlantis Books, Oía, Santorini, Greece
Maybe the bookstore with the best view. Founded by two Americans who wanted to copy Shakespeare and Co. in Greece.
6. Parnassus Books, Nashville, Tennessee
Favorite author, Ann Patchett owns this store and may actually be hanging around during the day. Plus I love visiting Nashville.
7. Livraria Lello Porto, Porto, Portugal
This bookstore is over 100 years old and has a stairway to heaven staircase.
8. Bart's Books, Ojai, California
The world's largest outdoor bookstore. Sounds so unique.
9. The Last Bookstore, Los Angeles, California
A relative newcomer but this one sounds like it has some really cool bookish decorations.
10. Grolier Book Shop, Cambridge, Massachusetts
The oldest continually run book shop in the country. It has an extensive poetry collection.
Bookstores You Should Visit:
1. Boulder Books, Boulder, Colorado
My husband was at a conference. I had to day to myself. I ended up sitting in this wonderful bookstoe for hours consuming the atmosphere and reading a whole book from start to finish.
2. Powells Books, Portland, Oregon
The place used to be a car dealership. The bookstore is huge and a complete maze. One needs a map to find your way around. That is half the fun.
3. The Strand Bookstore, Manhattan, New York
We visited this bookstore the day after it had an explosion in its basement, so I don't think we got a real feel for its charms. But I was there!
4. Any
Independent Bookstore in whatever town or city you are visiting. These
towns have really good ones---Seattle, Washington; Bellingham,
Washington; Cannon Beach, Oregon; Lincoln City, Oregon; Ashland, Oregon;
San Francisco, California; Vancouver, B.C. , Victoria, B.C.
Do you have any more suggestions of bookstores everyone should visit?
-Anne
