Between the Pages

   Hello readers! How is everyone? I am back with another Bookmark Place (boy, it has been a while, hasn't it?)! This Bookmark Place happens to be close to me (what, something is close to where I live?). Parnassus Books is my Shop Around the Corner (without Kathleen Kelly...eek - To all those that have not seen You've Got Mail,  humor me.). Owned by Ann Patchett (yes the New York Times and New Yorker columnist and award-winning author) and Karen Hayes, Parnassus is adequately named for the home in Greek mythology of literature, learning, and music.     Aside from being denied internships and jobs there during a pandemic (I mean, who wouldn't want me in their place of business?), Parnassus is a lovely place! I love that I can call it the independent book store that I frequent. Enjoy the rest of the pictures I took upon my visit yesterday. Next time you are in Nashville, definitely stop by. There is a great chance that I will be there.  Romance shelves...

     Labyrinth Books is a book-antiquarian's (ME - or I want to be...) dream. Located in Princeton, New Jersey, this small storefront has LOTS to offer. Upstairs boasts books and books and books from beautiful editions of classics to new releases to philosophy textbooks (as it is the textbook supplier for Princeton University).       Downstairs is where the magic happens (that sounds sketchy, but it is the opposite lol). Downstairs is the home of all of the antique editions. I did not have quite the budget to buy what I reeeeeeallly wanted. *Brace yourselves* Labyrinth Books had a 1941 copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Last Tycoon . I was drooling, but I got some "upstairs" books and a bag, as I am a student (this hopefully implied that I did not have the money to buy a timeless classic - YET.) Please enjoy these across-the-street pictures of Labyrinth. 

     I had the immense pleasure and opportunity of visiting  Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington DC. I have been waiting to go for years now. I have watched events, done research, and followed the bookstore on social media in anticipation of this day. It finally arrived on March 17, 2021.       Politics and Prose Bookstore has a couple of different locations. I visited the storefront on Columbia Avenue in Washington DC near Georgetown. P&P's iconic and delightful bright green awning welcomed me into the surprisingly large store. The main floor is taken up by, expectedly, new releases and adult fiction, but the niche DC/political (duh) focus is more charming. The section labeled "Beautiful Books" was a welcome surprise, as I have never seen this section at any other bookstore (and I count myself somewhat of a connoisseur).       I bought a Politics and Prose Bookstore canvas bag (I collect these bags from bookstores ...

About a week and a half ago, I visited Bound Booksellers in Franklin, TN. A quaint shop, the store was bursting of vibrancy and life even during a difficult time for brick and mortar shops. While it was the end of the day when I went in and there were not many customers, my sister had been in the store earlier and said there were more people visiting. (Whew!) Children, adult, teen, tween, senior, Bound Booksellers has something for everyone! During the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of independent booksellers have shut their doors because of the severe drop in patronage. Order books from local bookstores instead of Amazon! Support independents! Independent booksellers provide services Amazon does not like virtual events, qualified salespeople, and in-person recommendations and contact.  Here are some pictures of Bound Booksellers and links to their website and social medias. If you live in the Franklin area, consider supporting this shop! Bound Booksellers Official Website:  https:/...

      Southern Living's  The South's Best Bookstores highlights five bookstores in the southeastern United States that the publication deems noteworthy based on a wide range of traits. While the article does not go into much detail nor has a central theme besides telling readers of good bookshops, the bookstores look credible after further research. While I have only been to one of the stores (Sundog Books in Seaside, which I love), I did research on the others and found four more bookshops to put on my bucket-list.        THE ALABAMA BOOKSMITH      While not very old, The Alabama Booksmith in Birmingham has a long history of literary predecessors. Even so, The Alabama Booksmith holds its own among its successful precursors considering it opened its doors in 1999. The shop makes it its mission to sell all signed copies.  "Every book in the store is now signed!" - The Alabama Booksmith, About Our Store.  Additiona...

What does the ideal library entail? What does the perfect place to read look like and, more importantly, feel like?       While the ideal place for reading, discovering favorite pieces of literature and history, or working is a personal preference, Google: Arts and Culture has compiled a list of 10 Incredible Libraries Around the World . While their choices are based upon architecture, interior design, and magnitude, the library's collection of books, photos, and historical artifacts are also taken into account.       These libraries are special to individual people as well as to the masses of tourists that sweep in and out of the doors every year. The George Peabody Library in Baltimore's neo-greco atrium is a beautiful spot where weddings occur. The Stuttgart City Library's "Library for Insomniacs" is a small collection of the library's books that is open 24-hours while the roof panels cast a soft blue glow down onto sacred, literary s...

My family and I are in Washington DC for Spring Break. I was very excited when we got the chance to tour the Library of Congress, the most famous library in the nation. The first thing we saw was the main lobby/entrance room. This rectangular shaped room is a work of art. On either side of you are marble staircases lined with putti. (Cherubs) These putti are all engaged in some sort of niche. Above you are a beautiful stain glass windows. We walked upstairs to the square that goes around the main entrance. One can look down and see what is below and one can also look up and see the beautiful stain glass windows. The second level is focused on knowledge. The art on the walls are paintings, mosaics, and drawings of science, literature, the four senses, and the arts. When I saw the main reading room, I was in love. I loved the lit desks and the quiet spaces and nooks. What I loved the most was the amazin...