My last trip to New York City was about 10 years ago when my brother lived there… or so I thought. Then, last year, he offered another free place to stay for a few days. I wasn’t too sure — until I realized the Indians were in town over a weekend and playing both the Yankees and Mets. So, my final trip to New York City actually came last August, with trips to Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, Times Square, the Brooklyn Public Library, Tom’s Diner, Columbia University, and hour-plus subway trips and a $60 Uber ride to the airport.
Or so I thought.
After discovering A Booklover’s Guide to New York, I realize my final trip to New York City has yet to come. Within its pages is a guide to seemingly every bookstore, literary hideout, and book lover’s place of note imaginable. Each location Cleo Le-Tan writes about gets at least a page, most of them illustrated by her father Pierre Le-Tan, a famous cartoonist for The New Yorker. This guide is essential for anyone seeking the best literary experiences NYC has to offer.
Unveiling New York’s Literary Treasures
A Booklover’s Guide to New York isn’t just a listing of bookstores; it’s a curated journey into the city’s literary soul. The guide dedicates significant space to iconic locations and hidden gems. The Strand bookstore — which I’ve visited — gets six pages, including an interview with its owner. The NY Public Library also gets six pages, with an interview of the chief librarian. Places I’ve never heard of get extended treatment, like Pete’s Tavern, known as the place O. Henry made famous. Open to a random page and you might find a dedication to the Gramercy Typewriter Company or the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe. Even a description of a corner street vendor. The book’s detailed descriptions and personal touch offer an enriching experience.
A Personal Touch: More Than Just a Guidebook
Each entry in A Booklover’s Guide to New York feels like a Goodreads review. Le-Tan mentions she visited 80-90% of the places featured in the guide. Her passion for bookstores, libraries, and other literary haunts shines through. She emphasizes the importance of these spaces as places to be among books and fellow book lovers, fostering conversations or simply allowing for quiet enjoyment. This personal touch elevates the guide beyond a simple list of locations.
Beyond the Tourist Traps: Discovering Authentic Literary Experiences
Forget your typical travel guides; A Booklover’s Guide to New York is a portal to authentic literary experiences. This is the best guidebook about New York City ever printed. Another final trip to the Big Apple is warranted, with this book on my hip. Perhaps a stay in the Library Hotel, exquisitely outlined here. A trip to the Minetta Tavern, where Hemingway and ee cummings used to hang out. Definitely a visit to the Japan-inspired bookbook on West 45th. The guide offers a unique perspective, highlighting places steeped in literary history and culture.
Plan Your Literary Pilgrimage
There’s enough in this book to make another trip of hourlong subway rides, $60 Uber trips, and traipsing through Newark Airport worth it all. A Booklover’s Guide to New York is more than just a guide; it’s an invitation to explore the city’s literary landscape. It’s a call to rediscover the joy of reading and the magic of bookstores.
