On Books and Biblios

Book Cart and Lotus on a Shanghai Street: Books and Travels in China (3)

2013-03-12T07:06:00.002-05:00

A Daily Offering...

Here's a little treat for your day: a daily offering of books! When I first arrived in Shanghai it was sweltering, and I took refuge, of all places, in a local McDonalds. Curiously, its food items were not what one might find in New York, Chicago, or elsewhere in the US. Instead, they had infused aspects and flavors of Chinese culinary culture into the food items, including green tea sundaes, and pork sandwiches. When I finally emerged from the air conditioned "Micky D's" (or "Mick-ee De'zi?") I found this great little truck and vendor, selling books out of the back! I took this photo along with some of other vendors, including the one at the bottom, who was selling lotuses. Of course, no one told me how to eat these things, when I did buy them. So I found them incredibly dry and terrible to chew on. When I did get the proper lesson in eating lotus, I discovered I hadn't been taking off the correct "plant flesh coating" of the seeds, which do in fact give you a bad feeling in your mouth. Once this covering of the seed is taken off, the lotus seed itself is quite tasty! Lesson learned.

Books and Budai in Hangzhou: Books and Travels in China (2)

2013-03-10T20:55:00.001-05:00

Happy Golden Statues

It's always a delight to come across statuary, as you never know what it's meant to represent until you take a good look at it. And when one travels in places like China, you'll find a intriguing statues of various natures all over the country. A couple quick items for today: this statue of what appears to be "a Buddha," often described as "the laughing Buddha." But in truth, this Chan monk from the Late Liang Dynasty is known as the Budai. There is a deeper history, which I won't fully go into here now, but it is an interesting expression of a rich tradition.

While visiting Hangzhou, I walked all over the town, and discovered some interesting places, including the local museum, which had many examples of antique Chinese books. I offer a few images here. This story is not finished yet, but for now, keep reading...

Words on a Hangzhou Street: Books and Travels in China (1)

2013-03-09T19:44:00.001-06:00

Chinese on the Walkways

As I venture into the world of Chinese culture and Chinese books, I want to give you a taste of the many blogposts to come, based on my trip to China last summer. Here, you will see a couple photographs I took, while walking in the city of Hangzhou, in the West Lake Region. It was in an area of old shops, where a stream went through the town. I found, as I was walking on the path, this series of "stone texts" embossed on the ground. The letters are emblematic of an ancient press, and if you can read Chinese, or recognize its characters, you will realize that this piece of art in the photos below is a representation of an ancient printing press. You can tell this, because the Chinese characters are all backwards!

It is an interesting representation of the "written arts," and many more examples will be shared as I go through the countless photos I took this last summer. Well, words "under foot" may explain or confound us, but they are still there. Keep your eye on the path.

Books on a Chinatown Street

2013-03-08T04:50:00.001-06:00

When Books Accompany a "Theological" Message

It happens ever so often that I'll be walking down the street--usually in NYC--and there, all of a sudden, I come upon a display of books. They could be on a table, they could be on the ground, on a tarp, on a box, on the ground, in a row..., what have you. It is certainly always a curious sight, and for most of us bibliophiles, an attraction. But I think there comes a time, when you just pass such biblio-expressions by, because they are frequent, or because the books look tattered, or old, or just plain uninteresting. Sometimes, we're just too busy. I reflected on this recently, on this thought that I've become a bit more apathetic to passing such book displays. I'm not sure what it is, though it may be one of this aforementioned reasons.

Nonetheless, I'm usually more intrigued when I see some "signage" accompanying books on display or for sale. I'm more apt to stop, even momentarily, to look at what's going on. In this case, I was walking in Chinatown on a recent evening, and nearly stumbled over this regiment of books, set in a line along the wall of a building (I think it was either a convenient store or a bank!). And there, right in the middle, was this sign. It took a little maneuvering to actually see this, because the streets were filled with busy people, rushing by the books, and me! But I was able to snap a few shots to share with you today. Now looking at the actual sign in more depth, and some of the books on display, I'm more aware of the message, though it is perhaps an unclear and distorted "hamartiological" (i.e. relating to sin) cry, from a religious person on the street--the street, being a key stage for promoting one's agendas. Yet, despite any of these sin-laced proclamations, it is an interesting expression of the human desire to be heard, especially as we consider which item accompanies the other: do the books accompany the sign, or does the sign accompany the books? Or are the really more unrelated than the owner of this set-up intended? I'm not sure we'll really know, as I didn't see anyone in that mad rush, passing by these books in the crowd; I didn't see anyone overseeing this display. And yet, by a fateful and paradoxical chance, my own curiosity to examine this person's display and thoughts will go to a far wider audience than he or she ever intended, while remaining imprinted on a blog, cast around the globe, for a digital eternity.

Burke Library Open House

2013-03-07T06:54:00.001-06:00

Come Enjoy some Snacks!

The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University, hosted an Open House for the community yesterday. We had a steady stream of visitors from 2-4:30PM, who enjoyed the drinks and snacks and good conversation. In homage to "study breaks" and the recently departed "twinkie," we offered, as one visitor exclaimed, "a ziggurat of cloud cakes!" Surprisingly, to some, they were not only a hit, but the most talked about item on the table. Viva la twinkie! One of the surprises was the visit from an old friend of mine from Chicago, John Hubers. John is finishing his dissertation at LSTC in Chicago, and is currently doing research at Burke. He joined us toward the end of the afternoon. It was a delightful surprise to see him again and catch up.

By afternoon's end, we had a good number of visitors, probably between 30-40, who came in for refreshments and conversation. And of course, to meet all of our staff. We'll think about the twinkies for next time...

A New New Testament ~ Hal Taussig and Friends

2013-03-06T06:57:00.004-06:00

Is it Really "A NEW New Testament?"

Last night, I had the privilege of attending a superb function at Union Theological Seminary, which is likely to be something talked about for a long time to come. It was the book launch of a tremendous project~and to say "of biblical proportions" would not be incorrect!~undertaken by Prof. Hal Taussig and a team of incredibly talented religious leaders and translators. The book (or, really, "books") is the Bible. "A book launch for the Bible!?" you ask? Well, let's continue with the specifics of this project...

What makes this project special, is its content. The book's actual title is "A New New Testament." It is not a typo: "New" and "New" are meant to be together. The underlying foundations of this work, which is part new translation, part re-working of traditional texts already translated, was to create a fluid biblical text, which provided a broader context of the ancient world, and especially one which included some of the so-called "extra-canonical" biblical texts discovered in the last one hundred years. The new text, or "A New New Testament" also aimed at de-genderizing and de-gnosticizing the text, such that anyone could read this biblical treatment, expression, and translation, and find meaning in an open and progressive manner. Such were some of the descriptions provided by the members of the translation team and "Council" of scholars and religious leaders, which Prof. Taussig assembled for this project. The result was an expansive undertaking, which afforded a translation that could be used in the context of religious congregations around the country, and even the world.

The full house of James Chapel at Union Theological Seminary, heard a discussion from panelists on the "Council," moderated by Celene Lillie, Director of Translation, Coptic Scholar, and UTS Ph.d. Candidate. A few key points to convey here: the new translation and rendering of the biblical text includes far more poetry for the New Testament "canon," however this may be now defined. It was discussed how there is a paucity of NT poetry, compared with that found in the Hebrew Bible; in fact, one of my colleagues, Liz R. Miraglia, prepared the English translation of a Syriac poem, which was included in "A New New Testament," and has been praised for its beauty and elegance. Also, and perhaps significantly, this work expands and promotes the biblical stature of women, and the voice of women in the text. One can see that, as more than one panelist mentioned, this work will give new direction to many churches, many congregations, and many people. It is something that will revitalize, and reconnect people with the biblical text, the ancient world, and beyond.

Prof. Taussig, seen above, signing a copy of his edition. As some in the Q&A session brought up, there are always the possibilities of creating a stir, and when you involve the Bible, there is always going to be some "stirring." As a founding member of the famed "Jesus Seminar," Hal Taussig has been involved in many of the questions around the historical Jesus. And as it was mentioned last night, there will always be some sort of controversy surrounding projects like this. But as Taussig himself said, in response to naysayers and controversy seekers, I paraphrase: "Let's not WAVE our Bibles, Let's READ our Bibles." Well said, Hal. Well said.

Chester, VT--Country Girl, Menus, and Books!

2013-03-05T15:02:00.000-06:00

Little Town, Big Burger, Lots-O-Books

Last year, I somehow spotted a photo that a friend had taken. In it, a group of folks was sitting and having a meal at a country diner. Specifically, it was the "Country Girl Diner" in Chester, VT. The thing that struck me about this place was its size. It was literally the size of the back of a car! Well, okay, that's a bit exaggerated. But it was DARN small! I decided to investigate this place, and found it on a map, and then thought I'd just drive up there. It was a few hours drive from upstate NY, yet a pleasant one. I drove through many interesting little towns, including one where Grandma Moses lived, and was buried--Hoosick Falls, NY.

Anyhow, I found my way up through the Green Mountains, past ski resorts, and a bounty of pine trees, and came into the town of Chester. A lovely place, which seemed to have a great deal of activity and life in it. As I made my way through town, I discovered, delightfully, that there was not just one book shop, but at least two!

The Misty Valley Books (book shop) was a great place, which has a vibrant author event scene. It is a wondrous thing in Vermont, which has a fairly rural culture, but seems to have more books than pickups! (I like both, by the way.) This shop was full of interesting items--books, kids books, kids toys, and more than. And the number of events seemed truly bountiful!

Though, it was not open, The Chester Bookworm, which is an Antiquarian shop, is yet another bookish option for locals and travelers. Next time I'm up for a visit to the diner, I hope the Bookworm is open!

I will leave you all with the primary aim of this trip: to find the Country Girl. Now, I know you all think I should just look for books, but food is a key part of any trip, and it is integral to how one travels and experiences travel. The Country Girl Diner gets multiple stars for its food and hospitality, above all. The closeness of the space added to the generosity of its staff. After talking to folks in the booths and the waitresses, we all discovered how far each of us came. I came the farthest, and actually came to Chester FOR the diner. They were so moved by this, they gave me a brownie! What good folks. And the massive, 12-lb (well, not quite, but it felt like it!) Chester Burger was a good deal and well worth the trek. So I thank the town of Chester for having good representatives. But also, damn good burgers and books. I'll come back anytime. Thanks Chester, VT. Keep up the great work!

Northshire Books, Manchester, VT

2013-03-04T05:49:00.002-06:00

Northshire Books

Last spring I took a day-long drive up to Vermont in search of a...well, diner! I'll write about that in another, upcoming post. But during that drive, while coming back home to NY, I decided to drive through Manchester, Vermont. And of course, Vermont, being the bookish place it is, I found plenty of bibliographic opportunities. This bookshop, Northshire Books, was a delightful place, which had a fine selection of materials, as well as an outstanding staff, which was outgoing and informative. When I arrived, a very nice woman was demonstrating the Espresso Book Machine, which is a print on demand device, that will print your own book within 10 minutes, in some cases, just 7 minutes! Outside the shop was this curious sculpture, with metallic arms, a base-body of books, and a post-box head of Thomas Jefferson...with a seagull perched atop!? I also only realized after taking this photo, that there's a guy reading behind the sculpture! Well, stay tuned for further adventures in the bookish wander-trade! And if you're ever in the area, check out this bookshop and their famed Espresso Book Machine. (You can get real espresso around the corner, if you so desire, too).

Mini Book Reading Statue Near Dykman

2013-03-03T05:42:00.001-06:00

The Observationally Bizarre? Or Not...

Simply put, I contribute some curiously odd things to this blog. This post may constitute one of those observations. Last year, while I was walking up near Dyckman Street (pron. DIKE-man) in upper Manhattan, I spotted a little patch of earth, lined by a picket fence along the miles of NYC's cemented sidewalks. Someone had created a little garden with small statuary. As I looked it over quickly, I noticed with some surprise a statuette of a (child?) reading a book. Of course, I had to take a few photos of this, including a close-up, which appears to show this tiny statue READING a book! Though, sadly, one of its hands seems to be missing. This microcosm of a garden is surely a curiosity, and somehow a world created by someone with designs and intentions to develop a small plot of un-used urban dirt and emptiness into something to break the monotony of cemented urbanity. I really wonder what Jane Jacobs would have said about this one!

NYC Book Art

2013-03-02T12:03:00.000-06:00

A Modest Observation

We all see examples and expressions of "book art" wherever we go. And I'm generally a pretty enthusiastic supporter of these artistic and creative endeavors. I remember a few years ago, when I visited the Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago, I saw this incredibly crafted "antique" Encyclopedia, from the 1920s, which a clever paper artist had taken a scalpel to, and turned it into this miraculous Borges-style menagerie. It was a veritable paper-zoo of cut outs from the Encyclopedia's animalistic entries! Indeed, quite amazing. I don't recall who the artist was, and I now wish I'd written down both the name of the artist and the name of the artist's work. Perhaps one day I'll find this person. In the mean time, I share with you this curious image I took last year, sometime around (and near) the Tribeca Film Festival in NYC. I saw this artist, who'd taken the covers of books, and turned them into a masterful palette of...well, yes, almost another menagerie! Take a look for yourself. Here too, I did not get the name of this artist. I guess I've learned my lesson. From now on, I ought to document more than just the image, and really pursue...metadata!

The NY Antiquarian Book Fair 2012

2013-03-01T05:50:00.001-06:00

New York Antiquarian Book Fair

As I've surely mentioned before, I often feel like I need to get my bibliographic affairs in order, because I have such a backlog of photos to post and blogs to write that I feel I'll never catch up. Yet, as I've slowly gone through this list of items, I've decided to include those topics, which will surely go "out of date," if I don't write about them soon. Among the "many" is this set of images I took last spring at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair. This is quite the event, and I managed to get a few tickets for this in 2012. Surprisingly (to me), I ran into a handful of colleagues from around the country. I guess this shouldn't be too surprising, since once you're in any field long enough, you find your circle of colleagues expands into so many different areas that you're bound to meet someone you know at one of these events.

Part of the incredible nature of the Antiquarian Book Fair, especially the one held in New York, is that the range of collectors and buyers is so large, but perhaps even more surprising to the first time attendee is the grandeur of the space it's held in (the Armory~which you can see images of below), as well as the amazingly and astonishingly broad range of bibliographic antiquity represented. ...and not to mention the rarity and cost of such items would undercut the value of this experience! In fact, one of the first items I came across was a medieval era volume, which was being sold for something like $390,000! Some would say this is "change" in some circles, but remember, most universities can't really afford this. And it demonstrates both the variable and alternate markets that exist, especially among private collectors with deep pockets.

We'll soon again be coming upon the NY Antiquarian Book Fair, so if you have any interest at all in the field of rare volumes such as these, get a ticket and come for a visit. You won't be disappointed in the event. Plus, you'll see more tweed and tortoise shell glasses in one place than I'm sure most of you have seen in years!

Word Up Books, Washington Heights

2013-02-28T06:48:00.001-06:00

WORD UP BOOKS

This has been long in coming--as many of my posts. I've found that over the years I'll snap a photo of a bookshop or some other bookish thing, and then let it lay dormant for a very long time in my camera or photo files. I realized I'd taken these photos when I first came to NY, sometime during the summer of 2011, while exploring the area of Washington Heights in NYC. I remember walking down Broadway near 180th, just near the George Washington Bridge, in search of some local food. I remember finally finding a nice little Salvadoran restaurant, where I enjoyed some cool beverages and steaming "fresh fried" foods. Nearby to this restaurant, I passed this little bookshop. It seemed like a start-up, or stand-alone place. And in truth, I'm not sure it actually still exists. But that's part of the role this blog plays: documenting bibliographic and bookish places, which come and go. Places that are representative of a community, yet sometimes fade into local memory, or are simply forgotten. I'll have to trek up to that neighborhood again, and see if it's still there.

A Book in a Tree?

2013-02-20T05:42:00.001-06:00

A Hike in the Woods

Greetings All... and a long return! As many readers know, I haven't posted for a long while, but am slowly catching up. For those interested, I did start another blog already a year ago, The Traveling Schubert Society, which follows more musical interests, curiosities, reviews, and intrigues! The blog is constantly evolving and includes entries as disparate as academic discussions of Schubertian history, reviews of NYC concerts, regional composer profiles, an occasional recounting of Upper West Side salons and house parties (even Schubertiades!), as well as nature and street sounds. If you're interested, please visit the site and see what we're up to.

Today, though, I wanted to go through some of my photo archives and retrieve a few items of interest, mostly images and bookish stories I've done over the last year or so. I'll be brief for now, as I hope to catch up and provide more entries this month.

Below, you'll find a curiosity, a geo-cache--at least, that's what I presume it to be. Last spring, if I remember correctly, I'd taken a walk with my mother on the east side of the Hudson, near Bard College, and walking upon the path in a pine grove, near the river, she discovered a plastic box, which contained various objects, including some books. Though, the main book was a journal of sorts, where travelers in this wood could write comments or leave sentimental items. We did look, and found some very interesting things. But soon, we packed it and closed the box, and returned it to its tree interior... and continued on our lovely walk.

You never know what you'll find, then, in these woods, or any other...

Boston Book Depot

2012-08-22T08:19:00.001-05:00

Books, books, everywhere! I spotted this little box...actually, this BIG box in the corner of a parking lot in Quincy, Massachusetts, just south of Boston, at the local YMCA. I wonder what sort of donations they get? According to their website (www.GotBooks.com), there are some 491 of these containers out there as of August 2012, and the charity distribution is over $1.3 million. Who said that "books" weren't "big business" any more?

A Korean Book Shop and a Jesus Vase

2012-08-22T08:14:00.000-05:00

I came across this for the second time now, after wandering the streets of Manhattan--just on 32nd Street off of Broadway. I had a little treat at a local Korean eatery, nearby. But I thought I'd share the curiosities of this shop as I saw through the window: not just books, but a "Jesus Vase." Now THAT'S some bookstore! Unfortunately, I don't know what the vase actually says, but the visage in unmistakable (like anyone really knows what he looked like!) Perhaps, though, it is the raised "hand of peace?" In any case, the Koryo Book shop might come under the category of "book/gift shop," since it carries not just your usual reading fare, but the physical curiosities and trinkets that might be consumed by folks with deep pockets or interested souls. I'll stick to the fried fish for now. Others can have their IXTHEIS.

Unoppressive, Non-Imperialist Bargain Books

2012-05-25T13:58:00.001-05:00

What's in a Name?

I think some things are best left without description. But I'd say this is probably one of the most interesting bookstore names I've ever come across!

Books at St. Paul the Apostle

2012-02-26T08:39:00.011-06:00

Pictures are Worth a Thousand...

Sometimes is it's simple enough to let the photos and pictures speak. I've visited many churches over the years, and the great Catholic churches are cultural and symbolic gold mines. The images and symbols of books are everywhere in churches like these, and St. Paul the Apostle in NYC is no exception. Here we see such things as real books, pictures of books, sculptures of books, and even a few other curious items, including a human mask (apparently a burial mask). The history of this place is quite interesting, specifically related to the Paulist fathers and Isaac Hecker, whom this mask is supposed to represent. As I've looked at elsewhere, it is interesting to note that even inside of a church like this, there is a fairly robust little bookshop, located near the entrance and narthex. Beside this, the imagery of books is everywhere, as can be seen in these other photos. We cannot underestimate the power of the image!

New York Society Library

2012-02-26T08:28:00.012-06:00

The Oldest Library in New York City

As I'm catching up on various visits, travels, and reports, I thought I'd only provide minimal commentary on places that had substantive and informative websites, for example. Today's post is about the old library in NYC, the New York Society Library, which the New York Area Theological Library Association (NYATLA) visited on its January excursion. Founded in 1754 the NY Society Library is an extraordinary find in the city's hustle and bustle, and something that is part of its cultural and historical fabric. Now located on Manhattan's upper east side, the library is somewhat tucked away, not far from Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We had a fine day, touring with the lovely staff around the library and learning a great deal of its history. Below are images from our meeting and presentations that were giving of the rare collections that day. A coda to this story is that if this weren't enough of a splendid day, on the way home, a colleague and I walked by Woody Allen on the way to the bus. But I'd say that the library was surely more exciting for the group to experience than a momentary flash of the bashful director. Who said books were boring!?

More Books on a NYC Street

2012-02-26T08:20:00.006-06:00

One Person's Trash...

...is another person's book! I must say, that it can be surprising what some people throw out. But books...it doesn't really surprise me anymore, considering how many books I've seen tossed over the years. The images I share with you today are from early February, when I was down on 42nd Street, over toward 9th Ave. It was actually a bit farther north, as I'd walked north from 42nd--probably somewhere around 50th. A storefront that had been emptied and posted "for rent" or "lease" had boxes of old books. They weren't great books, but I wouldn't say they were totally trash. I will admit that this time I did NOT take any of the books. But someone might have found them interesting. I wonder how many books are trashed every year? I wonder how many trees it constitutes? It's too bad more of them can't be recycled, as I imagine most of these items end up in regular trash bins. And I'm sure it's simply too expensive to even do that kind of statistical study. For now, we can just speculate and wonder. Keep your eyes open...for another discarded box of books! Though this find didn't yield much, another may--like the various times I've found brand new volumes in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood.

Books at the Guggenheim

2012-02-26T08:02:00.011-06:00

In Case You Missed It...

Some books in a nook--a real nook--at the Guggenheim "library" and "reading room." These are tiny spaces toward the top of the incline helix of the main gallery. I went to a curiously fun exhibit a couple months back, which included several interesting culturally interesting characters and images in odd positions. The artist, Maurizio Cattelan, has both a morbid sense of humor, and an artist's eye for the shocking and bizarre. The NYTimes Review can be viewed online. Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the library and reading room at the Guggenheim is how many people were actually using the small and somewhat hidden space. The role of the art book is really still quite significant, and as these books are fairly costly to produce, there is much to be considered for their present and future value--whether we speak of cost value or cultural value. But people still lined up, and filled the seats of the micro-library and reading room, while Cattelan's waxy pope, JFK, and Hitler hung precariously high from the upper beams of Wright's cinnabon architecture.

Monastery Book Shop

2012-02-26T07:59:00.008-06:00

Monastic "Book & Gift Shop"

I've often wondered and speculated about the role of the "book & gift shop" partnership. Somehow, at some level there is a relationship between the "book" and its 'artifactual' colleague, the gift. Of course, a book can be a gift. But the question is whether a "gift" somehow dilutes or enhances the role of the book by being in the same space and having the same relevance or worth. I'm not sure I actually have an answer.

What is clear is that both gifts and books are coveted items, seen as having some axiological importance for people. On a drive a few months back, along some old country roads, I passed by a monastery that I'd visited nearly two decades ago, and decided to stop again. I hadn't been there since the early 1990s, but it brought back memories of meetings and meals with the brothers there. The monastic quarters are located just south of Kingston, NY--and is an Episcopal monastic house, overlooking the river. When I first visited the place, I had a very interesting time--meeting with a diverse group of individuals, both living there and visiting, including some retirees who'd been participating in Elderhostel. I'd shared a dinner one evening, I recall with some of the brothers, who'd spoken to me about their faith and living in the community.

This time, it was a quieter visit. There was only one vehicle around and a couple of folks sitting around reading. I went in briefly and saw that the book shop was closed. So I decided to walk back outside and around a bit, taking in a view of the river nearby, before leaving. I'd promise myself to come back another time.

It may come as surprising that a monastic community would also have a place to sell books, having some external business, but this is nothing new--as in medieval times, monastic communities often served as producers of more than just books, but agricultural and farming commodities. So such was not uncommon at all. And it serves as a good interface with the public. So books or gifts or both... I'd say that if it offers a good connection to the monastic community, then onward!

"Cereal" Libraries?

2012-02-26T07:52:00.005-06:00

Extolling the Merits of Libraries:

One Box at a Time

This surely gives a new meaning to "serials" in Libraries. Well, that's not exactly true. But usually, when we speak of "serials" in libraries, it has to do with such things as periodicals, magazines, and journals, for example. But one morning, while I was having breakfast, I discovered that the back of my "cereal" (NOT serial) box had an unusual advertisement (we might even call it an article) about...yes, libraries. There's got to be some story behind this promotional, and whatever it is, I'm glad that promo is there!

Book Shop in a Bathroom?

2012-01-15T07:43:00.020-06:00

"I Need Some Privacy, I'm Reading"

I'm not even quite sure where to begin with this one. Not too long ago, I was visiting a local bookshop in my hometown, and went up to the second floor of the shop. The religion, philosophy, and biographies are held on the second floor. But there's also a section on science and history. I'd never paid much attention to the little old room at the end of the hall. Yet, for some reason, on one visit to the shop, I saw a sign that read "more books" with an arrow pointing down the hall. So I followed the sign. To my great surprise, I noticed that there was a sink and a shower in the room full of bookshelves. I guess I thought it was something simply out of use--a repurposed room. But then I realized, it was just plain quirky! When I went over to the sink, I noticed that there were personal effects on the counter around the sink, including a shaving brush, a razor, toothpaste, and a prescription mouthwash! It turns out that this was actually the bathroom of the owner--not in use during store hours, obviously!

The room adjacent to the bathroom with the shower and sink actually is a little toilet room. And you can see from the photos that it's a real toilet. I was tempted to flush it and see if it worked. I'm pretty sure it did. I mean, there were razors and toothpaste that seemed to be recently used...so why not this toilet? I've seen some pretty interesting and creative uses of spaces in my day, but this is perhaps the most curious and ingenious (if you want to call it that!) It does prompt one to consider the boundaries of private and public, of the personalized home space and that of what your clients see. Though I find this to be a great little shop--O.U.R. it is called (as in "Old, Used, Rare")--I'm still scratching my head at the anomalous nature of this place, though. It has beautifully crafted shelves, and a broad and intelligent selection of books. But selling books in your bathroom? That's a wholly other level of thinking--one which I'm not sure I'm prepared to encounter! Imagine going to your bakery and having the table double as a bed? Or going into the hardware store and having a kitchen behind the shovel rack? I'll leave you with these delightful and magical photographs...for your bibliographic consumption!

Rural Book Shops: Johnstown, NY

2012-01-15T07:31:00.010-06:00

Just Passing By (Buy?)

Every so often I'll be driving in some rural or far off locale and pass by something that seems a bit out of place. Now this isn't to say that rural-ness should mean a lack of books or bookstores, but that sometimes you just don't expect to see certain things. This was the experience I had a couple months ago, while I was driving out near Utica, NY--just to the north and east of there. I was in the little town of Johnstown, and as I drove through town, it became clear that this little place once had a fairly vibrant (if I can call it such) book-culture. Perhaps vibrant for a quiet locality in the southern foothills of the Adirondack mountains. It was unusual to find not one, but two book shops in such a small town. Sadly, though, this first little storefront was closed up. It had been called "Buythebook." The other shop, which was still open and only a block away was called "Mysteries on Main St." I'm glad to see that at least one book shop survives, especially in these hard economic times here.

Book Shops on a Maine Highway--Route 1

2012-01-10T15:08:00.014-06:00

"Book" is the new "Silk"

Of course we're all familiar with the famed and legendary "Silk Road," but perhaps less familiar with the not-so-famous or legendary "Book Road." Then again, this road may be famous inside the state of Maine, but not outside. Nonetheless, even if the locals have not officially named Route 1 along the state's coast "Book Road," I will give it that distinction. The interesting thing about this road is that it goes through some very pretty country, but is still in some parts rather rural. Yet, it has developed a book culture along its thoroughfares. Here is why this is interesting, and why I think some sociological speculation must come into play here for a few moments: in all of my travels around this country, I've rarely--if ever--seen a stretch of highway that boasted so many book shops or book sellers as Route 1. So what could be the reason?

Background: Once again, I was out driving back from a trip this summer, when I came through Bar Harbor. My schedule was tight and I was attempting to get back to NY within the course of one day (which, by the way, such a trip is a bit of a hike, and ended up taking me nearly 12 hours.) So pulling out of Bar Harbor and heading southwest on Route 1, I drove down the highway and passed through some lovely little old towns and villages. But every so often I would pass by a sign that read "books." And here is where the biggest irony or paradox came--here I am, the great book lover and searcher of off-the-beaten path book shops, and because of my crunched schedule, I couldn't stop at almost any! But it's no problem, because a) I can always go back, and in fact, make a trip of just that "book trail," and b) I have too many books as it is!--oh, and c) I'm a librarian for goodness sake!--what do I need more books for!?

Okay, so back onto Route 1: it's a splendid road, with some great views, especially the architecturally fabulous bridge near Fort Knox State Park, in Bucksport, ME. As I drive onward, with my nose and stomach fixed on finding "Maine's Biggest Lobster Role," which each successive road side shack and seafood restaurant was boasting, I began to realize that there weren't just "a few little bookshops" along Route 1--there were legions of them! Something wasn't quite right here...or maybe it was TOO right! I was both surprised and delighted to find this new "book highway" (perhaps the old fashioned version of the "information superhighway," except this was Route 1, and the houses and Queen-Anne's Lace were nicer than the internet.) This "bookway" then had me thinking--why on earth are there so many book shops here? Usually there'd be lots of antique shops, but book shops?

I then realized that the answer might just be found in looking at the demographics of the area--what is Maine, after all, especially in the summer and on the coast...but a tourist destination for New Englanders, especially Bostonians.

To explain this phenomenon a bit further, let me go back to some of my earlier bookish peregrinations. A few years ago, I was living in Chicago, and decided to visit Macinac Island (pronounced "MACK-in-aw") in northern Michigan. The distance between Chicago and northern Michigan is quite long--about 400 miles on the highways (one way!), and about 450 on the back roads, especially those along the western shores of the state overlooking Lake Michigan. Of course, on the way up, I took those back roads, mostly Route 31 north to Traverse City. The curious observation I made on this trip through Michigan, up to Macninac, was in the antique and book shops that I visited.

There were several antique shops, which I certainly found interesting, but also some curious book shops (one of the best was in a tool shed, off some side road, that I found while driving back to Chicago--and I bought a reasonably priced copy of Capote's "In Cold Blood" for ~$3). The thing I found odd about all of the book shops I visited in western Michigan was that a) the quality of books was rather low or average--and by "low or average," I mean the books were either romance novels or run-of-the-mill pulp, fiction and self-help books. Almost nothing in classic literature, no best sellers in non-fiction, or anything that gave a hint of the odd, the interesting, or even the foreign. There were no books in other languages or even translated from other languages. It was mostly bland fare. Now the other thing b) was that many of these books were way, way overpriced...as if the dealers and book shop owners thought their books (especially old books) had some intrinsic value based on their antiquity--even with mold and other things growing on them!

I would have thought this a fluke, to be seen at just one antique shop with its book stalls. But as the trip through Michigan went on, I consistently found that book stalls in antique shops and book stores were all pricing their books very, very high. I remember finding some grimy and stained old volumes of some Churchill histories running for near $30 a volume! And they weren't even close to half that in actual value. Perhaps the best part of the biblio-adventure was the discovery of a book sale at the public library located on the quaint and old fashioned, but rather well-to-do Mackinac Island. The residents, presumably of some means, as well as the visitors, some of whom shell out more than $600 a night to stay at the island's more posh hotels, would also have some interesting reading tastes, that might reflect their stations in life. Curiously, again, though there were some better books to be found in the Mackinac library--I bought McCullough's "Truman" (a beastly size, but good read) and Galsworthy's "Forsyte Saga" for mere change...probably a couple of dollars--the interesting thing was that the majority of the books I found were not exceptional or out-of-the-ordinary. It was more of a "Nora Roberts Library." Nothing against Nora Roberts, of course. I think the tone, though, was "power suits, in--Pickwick, out."

After that great Macinac trip, I thought for a long time about this: how come the quality of the books was so "average?" Perhaps the only other great find on that trip was at another library book sale. I don't remember the town that it was in, but I do remember that the best book at the sale--probably containing a few thousand books on its sale tables--was a Jane Smiley novel! (And I bought it!) Back to Maine, now. Driving down Route 1, and suddenly realizing the proliferation of book shops on this highway made me think back to that Michigan trip. But my thoughts about Michigan and about Route 1 in Maine were thoughts of contrast. Back in Michigan, the western shores of the state are, for many, a getaway from both Chicago and Detroit--and probably some other large midwestern cities. Many of those who go to these places are wealthy, or have to be, in order to afford some of the magnificent waterfront homes and condos that line the shores. In short, people come here to "chill out" and "relax," and not necessarily to read. But does that explain it completely?

Not really. I think it goes back to the locations of these places, and the culture of reading that exists in these two locales. Maine is and has traditionally been a place of refuge for New Englanders and Bostonians, groups who have a long history of intellectualism, historical memory, and family lineages. I'm sure there is more to it than simply these three things, but that academic culture seems to carry itself north in the summer. If you have droves of professors and university-level professionals running to the craggy banks of the Atlantic coast in Maine each year, they are bound to be carrying the newest, best, most classic texts with them, but also wanting to leave some behind, as well as find a few more books to read. And since Route 1 is "the" road of access to many of the greatest ocean vistas and summer rentals, it only makes sense that a culture of reading, books, book shops, and well-funded public libraries would emerge, grow, be fostered, and prosper in these hills leading to the sea.

The midwest's history is not as old in these terms...in fact New England has a good 200 year lead. And the culture is noticeably different when we look at book shops and libraries, what they carry, hold, sell... . These places are microcosms of the towns, states, and regions they are in. If you ever want to see if a place is a good fit for you to live, check out the libraries and book stores. I guarantee that you'll get a better sense of the place once you've visited one.