A booklover’s dream
Books in honor of Black History Month
New York is known for many things: International cuisines, rude cab drivers, hot dog stands in Central Park, and so much more, but what the locals and visitors with a different sense of curiosity will and have discovered is the abundance of awesome bookshops all over the city. The pandemic forced many of us, who were able to do so, to stay at home and indulge in new hobbies and activities to keep our minds from going crazy. Reading has been a top-priority for bibliophiles like myself, and kept me occupied, even during my darkest moments of this pandemic. So I ventured out and discovered there are more places than Amazon.com to get books from (Thank goodness!).
The list of great bookshops in NYC is long, but here is my new favorite, which deserves a special shout-out:
Westender Books
This bookshop is straight out of a Harry Potter-movie (it wouldn’t surprise me if the clerk flew on a broomstick to reach the upper bookshelves), with a live-in black cat. It’s small, cluttered, and fantastic! It’s a haven for collectors, but just as valuable for us average Joe’s, who can find used books for very reasonable prices in this gem. In 2019, it was THIS close to shutting its doors for good, but was saved through a Gofundme page made my locals that raised enough money to keep the store open for business. Locals pulled together and wouldn’t let this gold mine of a bookstore die out.
Westsider Books is located on the Upper West Side, between 80th and 81st street, and can easily be missed if you don’t keep your eyes sharpened. At the check-out, you’ll find handmade cards and bookmarks for sale, which make for a perfect gift with any given book.
The staircase goes up to the more “exclusive” part of the bookshop, where you can find rare printings, and some precious first editions.
I will stand by my belief that the IPad will never replace the smell and feel of a real book. If you’re bored at home, and find yourself in the New York area, drop by Westsider, and snag a few books for you and your friends or loved ones.
On a side note, if you’re in need of children’s books, pay a visit to Books of Wonder, just a few blocks away. It has books for all ages, whether it’s touch-and-feel books for newborns, interactive storybooks for toddlers, or adventure stories for young teens. The curiosity and love for books starts at an early age!