Treasures from the Strand

I just returned from a very quick trip to NY. The weekend didn't turn out as planned at all - one of my daughters got quite sick while we were there, and we ended up in the hotel room all day yesterday instead of at the Broadway shows we had planned to attend. However, when she finally went to sleep last night, I had an hour-long window to get out of the hotel and go to the Strand before it closed. I halved that hour by taking a cab to the Strand, discovering that I had left my wallet at the hotel, making the cab driver take me back to the hotel to retrieve my wallet, and then returning to the Strand in the same cab. That's how badly I wanted to go.

So I walked in the door of the store around 9:55 PM, and it closed at 10:30. However, while I was there I was able to find half-price hardcover review copies of three books I have had my eye on (and have written about here): Hello Goodbyeby Emily Chenoweth, The GIrls from Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow, and Sitting Practice by Caroline Adderson. I also picked up a copy of Julie Buxbaum's After You (she's a fellow HLS alum and I have been intrigued by her), and a used copy of Matthew Klam's collection of short stories, Sam the Cat. The latter was an impulse buy from the used fiction section. I rarely read short stories, but these looked good.

Because I really needed five new books to add to the TBR piles.

But it made me so happy to go there and browse and find those books, at the end of a pretty long day, so it was totally worth it. And I was in the checkout line by 10:25. And, I took the subway back.

I love the Strand.

Comments

[Patrick Pho]

Two things:

I'm really sorry to hear about your NYC trip, it's such a bummer to travel and have things go wrong like that.

Also, I love the look of your site- I haven't clicked through Google Reader to visit lately and I love the design!

[Amy]

Hi Gayle,

So sorry to hear your trip didn't got as planned. However, I can understand your joy in being able to sneak over to the Strand. That place is legendary and for good reason. I love how dusty and musty it all is. A nice contrast to the shiny slick bookstore chains of today.

[Kathy]

I hope your daughter is better now. I didn't make The Strand when I was in NY in May, but it's one place I really want to go. I'm like you - I need more books in my TBR pile.

[Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit)]

I'm glad you made it to the Strand in time for some good books. Glad to hear the kiddo is better.

I wanted to say thanks for the bookmark and that it was great to meet you on Friday last week!

[Ti]

I'm sorry your little girl was so sick. I hope she is feeling better today. I'm glad you were able to find some treasures at the end of that long day. Sometimes, we need those little rewards to make us feel good.

[Kiki]

I'm sorry about the illness, we've had it here too, but it is extra tough when you aren't home! Sound slike you got some good reading, After You was really good. You'll need to get a copy of The Secret Garden to re-read (or read for the first time if you've never read it) to go along with it!

[Amy @ My Friend Amy]

I'm so sorry your trip wasn't quite so much fun :( It seems your daughter caught the nasty DC virus.

I am happy you were able to get some books.
It was great to see you over the weekend, though! Next time we'll need more time. :)

[Amy]

Isn't the Strand wonderful? Whenever I get into the City I try to stop there. I'm sorry your plans in the City fell through. I hope your daughter is feeling better. But I'm happy for you that you got to The Strand and got some lovely books! "After You" is the first ARC I reviewed as a book blogger. I really liked the book. I'm interested to see what you think. The Girls from Ames sounds captivating and very interesting.

[Gayle]

Thanks everyone - my daughters are both better now, and NY seems like a distant memory. At least I got to go to the Strand!