NEW YORK BOOKSTORE IMPRESSES

Yesterday I made my first visit to 192 Books so named because it is located at 192 Tenth Avenue (at 21st Street)  and I was greatly impressed.

I guess you would describe it as a general interest bookstore but with an emphasis on literature. As well as new books they also carry out of print titles and rare books.
It is clear that thye have many author events in the store as there were many author signed copies of recently published titles. Two of the three titles I bought were signed.

As well as literature there were also good selections of history, art, travel, criticism and a range of children's books too.

Books I bought were:

French Milk by LucyKnisley - Simon & Schuster  - Paper - $15
A delightful story of an American mother and daughter celebrating birthdays (50 & 22) by renting an apartment in Paris for a month. The book is the drawn journal kept by the author (daughter). The dedication reads - With thanks to my mother, for holding the map.

Walks with Men - Ann Beattie - Scribner - hardback - $17
Yet to read this but the novella from one of The New Yorker's up and coming fiction writers.

The Postman - Antonio Skarmeta  - Norton - paper - $13.95
Translated from Spanish this book was the inspiration for the Oscar-winning movie Il Postino.
Originally published in 1985 it is now something of a modern classic in Chile. Skarmeta has won many awards most recently for The Dancer & the Thief. He lives in santaiago, Chile.

If you are visiting New York I recommend a visit to this fine independent bookstore which has just celebrated its seventh birthday.

And if you are in the area be sure also to walk the most impressive The High Line which you can join at 20th street not far from 192 Books. And just around the block from the bookstore is the gorgeous Le Grainne Cafe, a small French bistro which has great food and coffee - 183 Ninth Avenue.

The High Line is a wonderful new park developed on an elevated railway line established in 1930 but unused since 1980. A must visit when in NYC.

Other NY highlights have included an evening at the American Ballet Theatre (they are celebrating their 70th anniversary) at the Lincoln Center with supper at Balthazar, our favourite NY restaurant, after the show.
Viewing the Henri Cartier-Bresson Exhibition at MOMA, the final day of this impressive photographic retrospective, and an exhibition of Picasso drawings.

A visit to the wonderful Apple Store where I spent a happy hour playing with the new i=Phone 4 and the i-Pad. Boys and their toys!
Off this afternoon to the Metropolitan Museum for something a little more cultural..

More when there is time! What a city..............