June’s Books and Bookstore Roundup
24 Bookstores in 2024
As I mentioned in last week’s post about my trip to see Suffs on Broadway, I spent about 30 hours in NYC and visited three bookstores while I was there.
22. Shakespeare and Company, New York, NY
Visited on June 19, 2024
23. McNally Jackson, New York, NY
Visited on June 19, 2024
24. Books are Magic, Brooklyn, NY
Visited on June 20, 2024
I couldn’t have picked a better bookstore to be #24 in my 24 Bookstores in 2024 challenge.
25. Highlights Foundation, Milanville, PA
Visited on June 26, 2024
I’m proud to say that I completed this challenge by the summer solstice—halfway through the year. How fun and unexpected. I still have a bunch of indies to visit on my list, so I’ll keep going and see how far I can get in 2024.
I’ve been trying to buy stickers with the bookstores’ names on them at each stop. Surprisingly, quite a few bookstores I’ve visited don’t have stickers with their bookstore name on them. But if they had them, I bought them and I’m still hoping to find a vintage suitcase to display them all.
Books Read in June
by David F. Walker, Damon Smyth, Marissa Louise
by Angie Kim
edited by Huw Lewis-Jones
by Jeanne-Marie Osterman
by Camille T. Dungy
As part of my “Summer of Naomi Shihab Nye,” I read these books:
by Naomi Shihab Nye
by Naomi Shihab Nye
Haiku
fist of peony
tissue-papered petals
on the cusp of … ahhhhhhh
Photo & Haiku © 2024 Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Photo Taken: April 27, 2024 Green Spring Gardens
Haiku Written: June 5, 2024
Grow
I just got back from Highlights on Wednesday evening. I went to the poetry workshop with Charles Waters, Irene Latham, and Lacresha Berry. I’m still processing all of my notes and my thoughts. My heart is FULL. There’s nothing quite like being in a group of fellow poets. I’ve grown in my confidence. I’ve grown in clarity. I’ll talk more about it in next week’s post.
21 Comments
Mary Lee Hahn
“fist of peony” is just so perfect.
I’m thrilled to have a Marcie Flinchum Atkins (you DO know your initials make Master of Fine Arts?) original in my poetry postcard collection now! Thank you for your swap poem!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
LOL, yes I know my initials are MFA. 🙂 Your beautiful poem photo was waiting for me when I returned from Highlights. 🙂 Thank you!
Tabatha
I adore your haiku! Congrats on making it to your bookstore goal so early 🙂
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you! This just means I have more time for more books!
Susan T.
You got to a show AND lots of bookstores in your 30 hours in NYC. Very impressive! I need to read Smith Blue; I like Camille Dungy’s work a lot.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I love Camille Dungy’s work too! I packed a LOT into 30 hours. 🙂
Linda Baie
Wishing you could visit the bookstore where I work, Marcie, but I adore seeing the pictures of the stores you visited this time & earlier, too! Highlights is so special, glad to read that you had a great time, no surprise! And, peonies, the early summer gift. Your haiku is wonderful, that ‘cusp’! Have a great weekend!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Linda! Would love to visit your bookstore some day!
Denise Krebs
Marcie, the bookstores have been such a treat. I love the big “Books are Magic” mural. And those poetry pods! What a wonderful idea! I’m now going to be on the lookout for a bubble gum machine. I think it looks like a fun Friends of the Library bookshop addition. Oh, and that haiku about the peony bud “on the cusp of….ahhhh” is amazing. You have captured it so well. Did you get a chance to read Rose’s beautiful peony poem? It’s on Margaret’s blog today.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
It WOULD be an amazing Friends of the Library bookshop addition. It was so cool! I loved it. Such a cool idea! Yes, I got to read Rose’s poem early (she shared it in our Nevermores group). I loved it!
PATRICIA J FRANZ
Marcie, MY heart is full just READING about all your bookshop stops! What a joyous way to spend your hours! Love the wall mural and its two-fold meaning: “NEED TO READ? OPEN EVERYDAY!” And … the poetry bubble gum machine?? This was surely 30+ hours of DELIGHT!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
It was 100% delight until I got stuck on a train without power (and no AC) at Penn Station for 3.5 hours. The beauty of it was I had nowhere I had to be on a time schedule, so I just hung out, read, and waited.
Margaret Simon
How amazing that you made it to 24 bookstores! I love seeing what you choose to purchase at each one. Love that sticker from Books are Magic. Your sweet fist of peony is perfect with that photo.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I can’t hardly believe I made it so quickly!
Rose Cappelli
Love your peony haiku! And your travels to the bookstores is so inspiring. Love that you included The Highlights Bookstore, too. Have you been to the bookstore in Honesdale? It’s mostly used books, but you can find some gems.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, last year I went to the bookstore in Honesdale. I didn’t make it this time though.
Carol Varsalona
Marcia, I am sorry for the late visit but am happy that I finally stepped by. Your trip to NYC reminds me of a city I left behind. I must admit that in all my years of living on Long Island, I never went to a city bookstore except those in museums. I love books and still have not poured through my turn of the 20th century home library and contemporary books. Thanks for sharing this and the magnificent peony haiku. Being ill this summer did not afford me the chance to fully appreciate my new plants while they bloomed. The ahh in your poem is one of wonder and delight.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I love museum bookstores! I hope that you are on the mend and feeling better!
Carol Varsalona
Marcie, excuse my late response. Thanks for the tour of the NYC bookstores. In all my years of living on Long Island I never entered one except the museum bookstores. Right now I am trying to sort through my turn of the 20th Century books I cherish and the huge array of contemporary books in my library.
Thanks also for the peony showcase of gorgeous photography and the ahh of your haiku.
Michelle Kogan
Peonies are beautiful right before they open, and your poem captures this anticipated moment, “on the cusp of … ahhhhhhh”
Congrats on all your bookstore visits and treasures you’ve found. And lucky you to be part of the Highlight workshop–thanks for sharing all!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Michelle!