January 20: The Strand Bookstore

The store at 828 Broadway

Taking a break from book reviewing today to be thankful for bookstores - especially the brick and mortar kind - and recognize their contribution to our lives and knowledge...

Nothing like a bookstore, especially one with a huge selection of used books, to broaden the mind and lighten my spirits.   Wish I'd had a whole day -at least- to devote to The Strand Bookstore in lower Manhattan.  But I had only an hour during a trip to New York City last weekend, so I searched a few old writers of current interest (Robert Burns, Daphne duMaurier) and perused the section on Irish history - plus the wonderful children's department.  I came away with a few slim volumes of poetry and a yearning to get back to visit rare books on the 3rd floor - as well as a deep appreciation for those who value old writers and their works and make them available to us.

This is one of four floors.  Lightweight ladders
are available for climbing to top shelves.