By Carmella DeVito
Book Reviews
Carmela DeVito
Books are magical things. They transport us to faraway places, inform us, educate us, make us laugh, cry and experience all the feelings in between. There’s a certain feeling I get when I walk into a bookstore and see all the books beautifully placed and categorized.
Chain bookstores often get a bad rap, but they serve a purpose. The best ones integrate into the community. Milford has a good one in Barnes and Noble. They’ve hosted many fundraising events, including one for the Milford Public Library. They work hard to make the store a welcoming environment, with a cozy cafe and plenty of places to sit and read. I wish they’d bring back the big comfy chairs, though – I miss those.
One of the saddest days in my book loving life was when Borders closed. With great anticipation on Friday morning, I would scan my email to see the latest 25 or 50 percent off coupon. They also had a lovely cafe with an assortment of soups, sandwiches and other goodies. I wish they would come back, along with their coupons.
I visited Books A Million on one of my trips to North Carolina. It was lovely, with bright lights, helpful staff and books as far as the eye could see.
A benefit of the chains, as well as most of the independents, is that they offer shipping, some free with a certain purchase threshold and others with a nominal charge. It’s a great way to develop a relationship with a bookstore that’s not easily accessible.
The Strand in the Chelsea section of Manhattan is amazing. There are books everywhere, including outside shelving. It’s a large building which fortunately has an elevator. My only issue with the Strand is that it’s not user-friendly. There are no tables or chairs. On the other hand, the store is just several blocks away from Union Square Park, which is an experience in itself.
The Book Mark Shoppe in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn is small but mighty. Like most bookstores, they hold book clubs and offer shipping, which is a great service. I usually visit Book Mark the day after the Brooklyn Book Festival, where I find treasures I missed. The store also has a huge selection of yarns and other crafts, with regularly scheduled knitting classes. Book Mark brings in many authors, including two of the Real Housewives. The store really shines during the 3rd Avenue summer festival, which attracts many.
RJ Julia in Madison is a true delight. Beautifully appointed with cherry wood bookcases, the store has a cafe and a loyalty rewards program that comes in handy when the need to add to my burgeoning to-be-read pile comes over me. I’m particularly excited to attend their annual Books by the Sea weekend. What could be more exciting than spending a weekend in a beautiful location surrounded by books, authors and fellow bibliophiles?
Mermaid Books in Milford has been a welcome addition to the community. Also small and mighty, the bookstore offers a variety of book clubs and shipping. They have also hosted readings by local authors. Owner Kristin Mascia and her staff have made Mermaid a warm, welcoming place. Everyone is quite helpful in getting the right book in the right hands.
Northshire Books in Manchester, Vermont is perhaps my favorite of all the bookstores. Like all the others they offer shipping and a rewards program. They highlight Vermont authors but also bring in authors covering all genres. The store has a cafe and a variety of Vermont products: t-shirts, sweatshirts, posters, magnets, Lake Champlain chocolate (which is indescribably delicious) and an entire floor dedicated to children’s books, clothes and toys.
One of the highlights for Northshire is the annual Book Festival. Spread over three days, the festival is full of author talks, book signings a trivia contest and the opportunity to speak with the authors one on one. There is so much I love about Northshire and the festival. The staff is simply amazing, helpful, caring, knowledgeable and love what they do.
The other thing I love about the festival is reconnecting with old friends, making new ones and learning about books and authors I would not have heard about otherwise. This year the festival occurred during the first weekend of May, and I miss it already.
Carmela DeVito, a voracious reader with a journalism degree from Marquette University, is a retired social worker and a member of the Friends of the Milford Library.