Design by Amber of Shelf Notes
Topic of Choice
Today is the day to talk about something that you feel we have missed or that you want to spend a little extra time chatting about. Ideas include, but are not limited to: a genre that does not fit into those featured earlier this week; logistics, such as blogging resources, procedures, or advice; or something completely fun with book to movie adaptations or favorite blogging games, features, memes, events, and/or activities. It’s your freebie day to choose what you like!
Where do you get books? In a bookstore, among other places, so here are my favorite local bookstores, in/around Chicago:
1) The Seminary Co-op changed its location about 18 months ago. It still smell fresh wood with the gorgous book shelves. As you can see they are arranged in cubicles or labyrinth, with plenty of room to walk in between. Some even have some windows in the middle. Nice places to sit and read, very quiet.
The only negative point was the alphabetic order for fiction authors. For instance, I was looking for books in French, but there was no such section, I had to go through names I could think of, and they do have books in French. I believe that section used to exist in the older store, which was really cool too, you felt like you were going down into a submarine, with not 1 inch unoccupied!
This is such a great place, go visit if you don’t know the place yet. It was founded in 1961!
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2) And let’s go now to St. Charles, IL, to the Town House Bookstore and Café:
The uniqueness and ambiance of the bookstore, which opened its doors in 1974, carry over into the Town House Café, featuring a menu of fresh-from-scratch soups and creative sandwiches. The back courtyard is open for lunch every day, weather permitting.
I like the mini reviews by staff attached to the books
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3) Anderson’s Bookshops in Naperville and Downers Grove
I like this place, especially for the numerous authors who come weekly to present their books!
Take the Anderson Google Virtual Tour to visit the place!
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4) Another favorite bookstore of mine is Women And Children First, with also cool recommendations by a very nice and knowledgeable staff.
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Middle Grade/Young Adult
Our final genre of discussion is one that we know is a popular one these days: books for the younger crowd, from middle grade to young adult. If you do not normally talk about this genre on your site, maybe you want to feature books that you remember impacting you during this stage in your life. If this is where you tend to gravitate, maybe you want to list your favorites, make recommendations based on genres, or feature some titles that you are excited to read coming later this year.
I very rarely read these genres, and the books I read as a kid were in French. But a few years ago, I discovered, it was about time, this great classic [access my reviews by clicking on book covers]:
It was powerful! I discovered it actually after having read this one, my favorite book by Kate Morton:
And having read The Secret Garden, I was lead to a modern adaptation, very nice as well:
14 responses to “Armchair BEA 2014: Topic of Choice and Young Adult”
Wesley at Library Educated
May 30th, 2014 at 09:45
I love the Secret Garden. It’s a classic!
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WordsAndPeace
May 30th, 2014 at 09:54
yes, a great classic. not growing up in an English speaking country through, I had never heard about it until recently
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trish422
May 30th, 2014 at 10:12
I live about an hour south of Chicago so thanks for the bookstore recommendations. 🙂 And I love the Secret Garden!
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WordsAndPeace
May 31st, 2014 at 14:30
and there are many more actually in Chicago and around
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Amanda
May 30th, 2014 at 11:58
The Book Cellar is awesome! Its in Lincoln Square if you’re in the city. I’ve never heard of the Seminary Co-op but it looks really cool!
I loved the Secret Garden when I was younger. I have a smile on my face just thinking about how much I read that book! I
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WordsAndPeace
May 31st, 2014 at 14:29
thanks, I’ll have to check The Book Cellar. and yes be sure to go to the Seminary Co-op, really neat
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Juli @ Universe in Words
May 30th, 2014 at 12:43
I’ve heard amazing things about both ‘The Secret Garden’ and ‘The Forgotten Garden’! I went to Chicago almost 2 years ago now and unfortunately we didn’t have time to visit any bookstores (trust me, I tried to convince my family! They wouldn’t even let me go inside the library although it looks amazing!) I can imagine it is annoying if there are no real sections in a bookstore because you don’t always know which author you want but you do know what genre you’d like! What a great post to finish the week with, since everyone loves a good bookstore! Thanks for your post 🙂
Juli @ Universe in Words
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WordsAndPeace
May 31st, 2014 at 14:24
Thanks Juli. I hope you can soon come back to Chicago and check our great bookstores- there are many more to tell the truth, and the great library!
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Kristen @ Pretty Little Pages
May 30th, 2014 at 12:55
I love that you mention your local bookstores! My town is seriously lacking in this department, so it’s exciting to see what others have!
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WordsAndPeace
May 31st, 2014 at 14:21
sorry for you, maybe you should open one yourself!
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Melissa (ForstRose)
May 30th, 2014 at 16:36
Ohh love the Secret Garden I think I have Morton’s book if not will have to get that one and will have to check out the 3rd one you mentioned as I’ve never heard of it.
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WordsAndPeace
May 31st, 2014 at 14:20
yes it’s neat to read the 3 in sequence, like 3 variations on the same theme
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DoingDewey
May 30th, 2014 at 20:58
How cool! I love retellings and I think the cover of The Humming Room is beautiful, so I’ll definitely be looking it up 🙂
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WordsAndPeace
May 31st, 2014 at 14:19
yes, it’s really well done i think
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Armchair BEA 2014: wrap-up | Words And Peace May 31st, 2014 at 14:08
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