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The Bookworm's Guide to New York: Part 2

By aliciak
updated 3 months ago

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I already told you about how fantastic libraries are and what bars have their own bookshelves or literary significance in New York, but what if you just want to buy some books??? Well, my Guidespot friends, you have come to the right gal! A few clicks and you've just bought a book these days, but browsing bookstores, especially the independent or specialty ones, is like a fun treasure hunt. Don't let Amazon take all your money, okay?

spinal tapped

Independent Bookstores

Like going green and eating local, supporting independent bookstores has become politically popular in our stifling Wal-Mart world.  But, I’m not going to rant! 

Indie bookstores surprise you with their unknown stock and funny/cynical/crotchety/clueless employees and owners.  Maybe all NYTimes hardbacks aren’t 30% off and there’s no bathroom or cafe, but independent bookstores rock my bookworm world.

Another shot at the Alabaster Book Shop photos

Browse those $2 book trucks!

Alabaster Bookshop

122 4th Avenue, New York, NY 10003

A few blocks over is the famous Strand with its 18 miles of books, and this stretch of New York actually used to be a formidable book row. Alabaster lives on, practically stacking its inventory to the ceiling and providing a great service to the community: the $2 book truck.

A few blocks over is the famous Strand with its 18 miles of books, and this stretch of New York actually used to be a formidable book row. Alabaster lives on, practically stacking its inventory to the ceiling and providing a great service to the community: the $2 book truck.

Strand Book Store Inc

828 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

Wow, what a surprise, the Strand makes this list! Tons of books, hot sales staff, newly renovated floors, and those cute Strand tote bags that scream “I like to read!” to all inquiring minds and potential soulmates.

Wow, what a surprise, the Strand makes this list! Tons of books, hot sales staff, newly renovated floors, and those cute Strand tote bags that scream “I like to read!” to all inquiring minds and potential soulmates.

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Get Your "Strand Wear" Here

Skyline Books NYC

13 W. 18th, New York, NY 10011

Mercer Street Books & Records

206 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10012

Stacks of books threaten to fall over and kill you, but that’s okay, because with all the tourist and annoying people-ridden stores of Soho, this is thankfully not one of them.

Stacks of books threaten to fall over and kill you, but that’s okay, because with all the tourist and annoying people-ridden stores of Soho, this is thankfully not one of them.

Biography Book Shop

400 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10014

Housing Works bookstore; Soho NYC

Housing Works

Housing Works Used Book Cafe

126 Crosby Street, New York, NY 10012

Bluestockings Radical Books

172 Allen Street, New York, NY 10002

Not for the politically faint of heart, that’s for sure! Lots of feminist and ultra-politically-activist titles here, with a hint of pretension.

Not for the politically faint of heart, that’s for sure! Lots of feminist and ultra-politically-activist titles here, with a hint of pretension.

Three Lives & CO

154 W 10th Street, New York, NY 10014

 

Listen to the authors!

“Don’t patronize the chain bookstores. Every time I see some author scheduled to read and sign his books at a chain bookstore, I feel like telling him he’s stabbing the independent bookstores in the back.”

Lawrence Ferlinghetti

“The smallest bookstore still contains more ideas of worth than have been presented in the entire history of television.”

Andrew Ross

Your Map for Buying Books from Indie Sellers

Reading

Reading in the stacks

The NYTimes does indie bookstores

It’s no secret, I want NYTimes Travel writer Seth Kugel’s job. He pens the weekly “Weekend in New York” column and I am downright jealous. Seth, have you thought about retirement? Call me? This link is to his independent bookstore-round-up.

The Street Booksellers

In addition to designer bag knock-offs, crappy perfume, and bootleg DVDs, New York’s street vendors also peddle books!  They are, sadly, going the way of the dinosaurs, however.  I have met some interesting bookworms this way, chatting up these vendors whose station wagons filled with books sit parked nearby.  They always resemble Maine fishermen (maybe they are?). 

Glance #3 - Knowledge!

A Block of Booksellers

34 West 4th Street New York, NY 10012

From approximately LaGuardia Place east to Mercer Street is an assortment of street booksellers most days. Some are grumpy, some friendly, but all have stacks of books worth perusing.

Profiles of New York's Street Booksellers

A nice jazz-in-the-background look at some of the booksellers, who mostly sell on West 4th Street near Washington Square.

My Very Own Street Bookseller Story

Upon walking to my first ever New York apartment, which I had signed the lease for but hadn’t seen (dumb!), I stumbled upon a street bookseller when I was only a block away.  I was this close to turning around, fleeing New York, and realizing I had made a grave mistake in moving here. 

But then I saw this bookseller on 2nd Avenue!  And bought some books!  And sat on a curb crying with my books for an hour.  Eventually I got the courage to enter my apartment. Nonetheless, I credit that one bookseller for helping little crazy me put down roots in this big crazy city.
 

Some Other Literary Guides

Part 1 of the Bookworm Guide

Jack Kerouac's New York

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