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What We Gain from a Good Bookstore

newyorker.com

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Re: What We Gain from a Good Bookstore

#121

Post by pradn »

kingkawn wrote: post #22
pradn wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Strand is only worth going to as a tourist attraction (if you’re fully aware of its status as such), or if you need big art books (they’re unmatched in that category). In NY, I’d say take a look at Left Bank books (rare, old literature, photography, art books - some are even early editions of classics), Codex (little used shop with a fantastic selection), Mercer St Books and Records (basement hole in the wall), W…

The one true bookstore in nyc is Book Thug Nation in Williamsburg. The best curated selection of used literature I’ve ever come across and a smattering of other stuff too.

That place is fantastic as well, and just so tiny, barely like a big bedroom! It’s also amazing how zany it’s name is, but it really does have a serious collection of used books. I found some film books that studied directors with depth, but had to restrain myself !

Re: What We Gain from a Good Bookstore

#122

Post by pradn »

ajoseps wrote: post #106
pradn wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Strand is only worth going to as a tourist attraction (if you’re fully aware of its status as such), or if you need big art books (they’re unmatched in that category). In NY, I’d say take a look at Left Bank books (rare, old literature, photography, art books - some are even early editions of classics), Codex (little used shop with a fantastic selection), Mercer St Books and Records (basement hole in the wall), W…

+1 for Codex, always enjoy perusing through there. McNally Jackson also hosts authors semi-frequently which is nice

The Center for Fiction in downtown BK is also a great spot for author events!

Re: What We Gain from a Good Bookstore

#123

Post by staindk »

Cupertino95014 wrote: post #113

Doing a general query here (I won't call it a "poll" since the numbers don't matter): Do you ever ask a bookstore staffer for recommendations? I've always preferred to just browse for myself, and maybe read the first few pages. Either I feel like reading it, or I don't. I don't trust someone else to predict which way I'll go. However, writers of articles like this invariably mention the "knowledgeable staff." I was i…

I'm still trying to get back into reading again, but once at a second-hand bookstore my SO and I overheard the owner talk to another client about a specific series of books and my SO ended up joining the conversation asking about recommendations. IIRC it was a nice chat and she got a couple of good recommendations out of it.

I think as with everything... it depends ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

If the person behind the counter is just an employee who has zero or a passing interest in reading, they won't be able to help much.

If the person behind the counter loves reading but doesn't share your interests they may also not be of much help.

Perhaps it's worth asking for a recommendation in a more open-ended way, so that you don't feel awkward not buying it if the book sounds uninteresting.

EDIT: if you're ever in that same bookstore again and see the same employee, you could remind her of the recommendation and mention how you felt about the book. She may have a different book to recommend in that case. Or I guess you could ask someone else - in the end you've learned that this book/type of book is not for you which is just as good to take into account when looking for recommendations ("I liked X, Y and Z but then didn't feel compelled to finish 'The Orphan Master's Son', do you know of a book that I might like?").

Re: What We Gain from a Good Bookstore

#124

Post by juntan »

thundergolfer wrote: post #8

I have come to value 2nd hand bookstores so much in day to day life that I maintain it as an almost 'must have' when assessing living locations. Great coffee shops are a dime a dozen in reasonably affluent areas, but a good 2nd hand bookshop adds so much warmth and charm to an area. I don't have any in walking distance from where I live right now, but I'm moving to NYC soon and will aim to correct that. (Shouldn't be…

Would also highly recommend the HousingWorks Bookshop in Soho - they have a really incredible selection of both fiction and nonfiction, as well as art books. I am a fan of Book Thug Nation in Williamsburg, Molasses Books in Bushwick, and Mercer St. Books right near Washington Square Park.

Re: What We Gain from a Good Bookstore

#125

Post by bombcar »

dmd wrote: post #110
bombcar wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A friend of my dad is a professional book hound, and he says it amuses him when he sees others who can’t understand what to do with a book that doesn’t have an isbn.

When my wife and I wanted to catalog our modest home library (~1500 books) we were stunned when we discovered that the vast majority of web-based cataloging software assumes that all books have an ISBN. (Or did in 2015 or so). Thankfully LibraryThing does not make that assumption, and is great.

It was only standardized in 1970 and is only “required” if you want to sell through bookstore channels - many printed items aren’t.

Re: What We Gain from a Good Bookstore

#126

Post by kingkawn »

pradn wrote: post #121
kingkawn wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The one true bookstore in nyc is Book Thug Nation in Williamsburg. The best curated selection of used literature I’ve ever come across and a smattering of other stuff too.

That place is fantastic as well, and just so tiny, barely like a big bedroom! It’s also amazing how zany it’s name is, but it really does have a serious collection of used books. I found some film books that studied directors with depth, but had to restrain myself !

Yeah it’s dangerous going in there if you want to leave with any money in your pocket

Re: What We Gain from a Good Bookstore

#127

Post by 8bitsrule »

I prefer a store that sells both new and old books. The new books are likely to be worthless (if not already today, then before long), but okay, they pay the rent. (ALL of my fav used-only stores are gone.)

There are many books and little time. So 1) most books worth reading will be remembered a decade or a century later, and will be talked and/or written about for a long time. 2) Buying a used book is a risk for the bookstore, and they vet each book that walks in to be sure it's likely to sell.

Most of the books I've read and held onto got past both those filters; I've heard about the book, am interested, and there's still a copy out there.

And so, the store which sells both new and old is the only game in town. Will I ever buy a book online? IFF the place sells used books. Else: interlibrary loan is a great service.

Re: What We Gain from a Good Bookstore

#128

Post by lakkal »

wrycoder wrote: post #52
rr808 wrote: post #34

Meh, I really dont miss bookstores, and I suspect most people who claim to love them are exaggerating. I dont read as much as I used to, my local library is good and online is much cheaper and convenient. What is cool is second hand books if you can get browse for something interesting cheap that you didn't know you wanted.

It's also true in new bookstores that by browsing the stacks, you find books you didn't know existed and are interesting. Amazon does a very poor job of that - even the top 100 in a category are not as interesting as the selection in my local small bookstore in the same category. That's because the local bookstore is curated. Amazon is sorted by "popularity". The Harvard Coop was about the last good technical booksto…

The MIT Press Bookstore was always an interesting place to go when I was in the area.

Re: What We Gain from a Good Bookstore

#129

Post by wrycoder »

lakkal wrote: post #128
wrycoder wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's also true in new bookstores that by browsing the stacks, you find books you didn't know existed and are interesting. Amazon does a very poor job of that - even the top 100 in a category are not as interesting as the selection in my local small bookstore in the same category. That's because the local bookstore is curated. Amazon is sorted by "popularity". The Harvard Coop was about the last good technical booksto…

The MIT Press Bookstore was always an interesting place to go when I was in the area.

Yeah, I’ve kind of conflated them in my memory!
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