Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme by The Artsy Reader. This week’s topic is a freebie – so I thought I’d write about ten bookstores I want to visit or revisit. Everywhere I travel, I try to find a local bookstore to spend some time in – the funkier the better. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit some phenomenal independent bookstores, and I have even more I want to visit.
Bookstores I’ve been to
- Shakespeare and Company in Paris, France – sitting in the shadow of the famous Notre Dame, it’s easy to add onto a visit to the famous cathedral. It’s messy and cozy, and buying a book here is a perfect keepsake.
- The Strand in New York, USA – 18 miles of books. Need I say more?
- The Bouquinistes in Paris, France – These are the little bookselling stalls that line the Seine near the museums. Though most of the books are in French, they can still make a great souvenir. Plus, it’s cool that these stalls haven’t changed in 100s of years.
The Strand in NYC - Chapters in Nanaimo, Canada – This isn’t an independent bookstore by any stretch of the imagination, but it was an important place in my childhood, and I still try to go back there whenever I go to Canada.
- Lawrence Books in Vancouver, Canada – I used to live around the corner from this store. Walking in is like getting a hug – a very paper scented hug. The books are precariously stacked and take up every square inch of this place. It’s just a great used book store.
Bookstores I want to visit
- Powell Books in Portland, USA – huge, independent, and stuffed to the rafters with books. I want to go and just spend an entire day wandering the stacks and buying every book in sight
- El Ateneo in Buenes Aires, Argentina – this is a stunning bookstore. It’s in an old highly decorative theater, and it looks like a stunning place to visit.
- Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy – I’ve been to Venice before, but I’ve never had the chance to go to this bookstore. It looks like an eclectic mishmash of books and antiques and nautical theming.
- Daunt Books in London, England – I’ve only seen pictures of this place, but it has soaring skylights in its central atrium. It looks gorgeous, and I’m sure it would be lovely rain or shine.
- The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles, USA – I’m sure that that everyone has seen the arches made of books that seem to defy gravity.
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I really want to visit Daunt Books, somehow I had no idea it was in London. My post will be up tomorrow!
I love this list! Definitely have to do this post! Thanks. x
Wonderful list!!! I’ve been only to the one in Portland and LA and have so many others of your list on my bucket list too 😀
~ Corina | The Brown Eyed Bookworm
I live so close to the Strand (NYC) but I’ve yet to step inside. I hardly go towards midtown Manhattan so…I really hope to go one day! Wonderful list!
I’d love to visit Shakespeare and Company some day.
I love this post! I highly recommend Carturesti Carussel in Bucharest, it’s very pretty and they tend to carry a good amount of foreign books. If anyone is ever remotely in the area
Great list! I’d love to join you at Libreria Acqua Alta; I adore Italy. <3
I’ve only visited The Strand and I’d definitely like to go back some day 😀 I second the recommendation for a visti to Carturesti Carussel in Bucharest, it’s magical 😀
https://readwithstefani.com/10-books-i-want-to-read-by-the-end-of-2020/
That’s such a nice idea. Most of those book shops are pretty much out of my reach but I’ve walked past Aqua Alta once which is obviously not the same as going inside but it was closed at the time. 🙂
Lawrence Books is amazing! It’s cool we’ve both been there.
My TTT .
I have been to Paris but haven’t been to Shakespeare & Company so I need to tick that off my list. This is such a great idea for a freebie! Really enjoyed reading it and thanks for sharing these cool book stores!
Brilliant topic for a freebie week. You have been to some great bookstores. If I ever get to travel again {sigh} I’d love to wander about and spend too much money in most of these.
I wish I’d been to The Strand when I was in New York, definitely would like to go if I ever go back! Would also love to visit Shakespeare and Compay, El Ateneo and Libraria Acqua Alta.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2020/07/28/top-ten-tuesday-274/
So so jealous!! That last photo… breathtaking! I would love to walk through a tunnel of books!
Here’s my TTT post.
Ooh, I’d love to go to Powells, Shakespeare & Co, and the bookstore in LA. I love The Strand — try to go there every time I’m in NY. Great list!
Thanks for sharing this list. I haven’t been to any of these, even though I’ve been to NY numerous times.
https://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2020/07/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-reasons-i-like.html
I love that book arch from The Last Bookstore. Wow!
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
I love in LA and love the Last Bookstore! I’ve also visited Powell’s, it’s overwhelming! Definitely make use of the search computers. Rachel x
Powell’s is such a cool bookstore! They not only have a ton of books, but really cool reader merch. I can’t wait to be able to go there again someday.
So much wanderlust! Great TTT 🙂
I love visiting new bookstores when I go places. I do hope to get to Shakespeare & Company one of these days!
This is such a cool post idea! I wish my family cared about books. I rarely travel alone, so I don’t get to spend much time in bookstores. My family doesn’t have the patience for them.
Great, I drooled all over my keyboard. This is such an awesome take on the prompt for this week!
I’ve never been to any of these, but I want to! Happy reading! 🙂
My Top Ten Tuesday!