strand annex [closing]
Horror of horrors. I just found out today that one of my favorite book shops is closing soon. The Strand bookstore’s Annex is closing up shop come end of summer. Too much construction downtown has pinched profits, apparently. I’ll miss it. I love being able to walk over a few blocks from Wall Street during my lunch break to get lost in the stacks for a while. They say there are about 15,000 square feet of books there. A pleasant distraction. And I’m about to cry.
A few books recently bought from Strand Annex: Andrew Holleran’s Chronicle of a Plague, Revisited: AIDS and its Aftermath; and Young Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore.
Yet, while one pasttime might be shriveling away in “everything must go” sales and weepy eyes behind the counter, I’ve discovered something new on the NET. Months ago, my friend Tej invited me to join Shelfari, a social networking community for bookworms. I finally joined this week. It’s pretty cool, actually. You can search for and add books to your shelf, add personal reviews, start virtual book groups, connect with others who read the same books and comment on their profiles. It’s more interesting than MySpace, anyway.
So it’s farewell Strand Annex and welcome Shelfari. On a good note, starting June 30 all books at the Annex will be 20% off. Now there’s a good incentive to trek downtown.
photo: That’s me balling my eyes out in front of Strand Annex.
Now the books are 50% OFF.