Today was this really cool event sponsored by The Melville House that celebrated the independent bookstores of Brooklyn. It was called The Morley Walk.
Booksellers, publishers and readers came together to walk to six literary locations in Brooklyn and also to read Christopher Morley's novella "The Haunted Bookshop." The novella is set in Brooklyn and it opens with the line: "If you are ever in Brooklyn, that borough of superb sunsets and magnificent vistas of husband-propelled baby-carriages, it is to be hoped you may chance upon a quiet by-street where there is a very remarkable bookshop." I couldn't believe that this line was written in 1919 since it soo describes Brooklyn today!
We started at the Lark Cafe on Church Street near Prospect Park. The cafe was really nice and it was started by two women in the neighborhood who became moms and realized there were no cafes in the hood to hang and enjoy. The Lark has many events for children and moms, and has recently started selling books!
(info here: http://morleywalk.tumblr.com/)
Booksellers, publishers and readers came together to walk to six literary locations in Brooklyn and also to read Christopher Morley's novella "The Haunted Bookshop." The novella is set in Brooklyn and it opens with the line: "If you are ever in Brooklyn, that borough of superb sunsets and magnificent vistas of husband-propelled baby-carriages, it is to be hoped you may chance upon a quiet by-street where there is a very remarkable bookshop." I couldn't believe that this line was written in 1919 since it soo describes Brooklyn today!
My friend and past book club leader, Molly, and her mom also came on the walk and it was really a lovely day with gorgeous, breezy weather, which made it very easy to enjoy the quaint streets of Brooklyn.
We started at the Lark Cafe on Church Street near Prospect Park. The cafe was really nice and it was started by two women in the neighborhood who became moms and realized there were no cafes in the hood to hang and enjoy. The Lark has many events for children and moms, and has recently started selling books!
Here is the walk beginning in front of The Lark:
Then we walked for a while through Prospect Park to Terrace Books. Of course, my flip flop broke on the way so I did a drive-by of the bookstore and headed to the 99 cent store to buy a new flip flop. They were less than sturdy, let's say - so I bought two different pairs, in case the plastic bedazzled three dollar pair broke....haha.
Next, we walked to 8th Avenue. By the way, read alouds of "The Haunted Bookshop" went on throughout the entire day, while we were walking as well. Here was my favorite book store of the walk - Powerhouse on 8th. This is great, actually, because this store is the closest one to my apartment!!
Yay! I have a new favorite book spot in the hood! They have an extensive children's collection. I was so excited to see a book group for the "middle grades." I would have loved something like that when I was younger!! So cute. I wound up buying a book here - The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. by Adelle Waldman - because: 1. I had been wanting to read it 2. the book group I am not yet a member of in my building may or may not be reading in this in some unidentified month 3. I just took a picture of the cover on my phone cause I had been wanting to buy it 4. It was AUTOGRAPHED 5. I was inspired on the walk 6. I wanted a souvenir!
Next - we walked to the Brooklyn Library in Grand Army Plaza. I am embarrassed to say that I have not been in there yet... yeah, I know. But before I headed in there to check things out, I had to check out the Food Truck Rally in Grand Army Plaza. There were like 15 food trucks parked there - one of which was the Kimchi Taco Truck - heart heart heart.
Here is the Brooklyn Library:
Next was "Unnameable Books," a used and new bookstore that had that lived in "bookstore" smell. Mmmmm:
The last stop on the tour was the Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene. Here is the group finishing up "The Haunted Bookshop" in Greenlight. This store was neat, clean, big and had a great selection. If i lived closer I would hit it up more often. But, at least now I know it's there!
It was a great day and it was inspiring to see people who are so dedicated to the literary life. I really enjoyed the company of Molly and her mother and appreciate that I got to spend my Sunday learning even more about my borough <3.
