Sunday, June 20, 2010

Sunday Salon - Happy Father's Day!


Happy Father's Day!

I'm getting together with my dad later this afternoon for brunch, but I have the morning to relax.

Yesterday my husband and I drove to Niantic, Connecticut, to visit the famous Book Barn used bookstore. What a place! It's actually three stores- a main store and two satellite shops. The main store features at least a half dozen barns housing individual genres of fiction and nonfiction- the Hades barn houses mysteries, for example, and a barn called The Last Page has sports and nature books. There is a huge fiction barn including a separate section for romance, and little outdoor bookshelves with all kinds of things scattered all over the property. There are also turtles, goats, cats and even a play area for children. Wow! The main house on the property stocks nonfiction, children's books and some rare books. They also have complimentary coffee and snacks, and chairs to sit and enjoy them outside.

We went to one of the two satellite stores as well, to find science fiction for Jeff. Very cool. The second store also had great selections of books on film, nautical history and fiction, music, dance, and more. Out of all this I bought two books, Philip Henscher's The Northern Clemency and an old volume of poetry by Edna St. Vincent Millay. Next time I'm going to bring my Bookmooch wishlist!

Today for what time I can I'm going to relax with Oscar Hijuelos's Beautiful Maria of My Soul and Marcel Möring's Holocaust novel In a Dark Wood, a truly bizarre but beautiful book. I'm about 1/3 of the way through and wondering where it's going, but it's one of those books that meanders in a way that only heightens the reader's anticipation of what's next.

What are you up to today?

You can read more Sunday Salon here. Have a great day!

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Enjoy your day of reading!

Harvee said...

You have a few good books on your list! Have a good week. My Sunday Salon

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Its sounds like you had a busy time, a spot of brunch is just what is needed. Enjoy your day.

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

Oh, I am still rhapsodizing here from your descriptions of that Book Barn store, which sounds heavenly!

Here's my salon:

http://laurel-rainsnowsaccidentallife.blogspot.com/2010/06/sunday-salon-june-20.html

bermudaonion said...

Book Barn sounds overwhelming! Enjoy your time with your dad!

Suzanne Yester said...

I've wanted to go to The Book Barn! Only two books though?! How could you resist!? I love that you found the old book of poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay!

Enjoy your day! I've heard good chatter about Beautiful Maria of My Soul and look forward to your thoughts. You've made me curious about In a Dark Wood ...

Anonymous said...

The Book Barn sounds wonderful. Have a great Sunday!

Audrey said...

I'm glad you put me out of my suspense because I grew up in CT and couldn't think of a book barn destination. I've never heard of this place...so I think I'll have to go check it out.

Anonymous said...

I want to do some reading today, maybe even Joshilyn Jackson's Backseat Saints of which I had heard you talk so much here and on Twitter. It's actually one of the reasons I picked up the book from the library.

Frances said...

Another fabulous bookish outing!

Anonymous said...

We have nothing like that down here in South Florida. I'm jealous. But I enjoy living vicariously through you.

Vasilly said...

A book outing plus curling up with a few good reads? Sounds like a great day!

Booksnyc said...

I went to the book barn for the first time about 6 weeks ago - isn't it great? I am glad I don't live nearby or I would be wandering through there every weekend picking up more and more books!

I am impressed that you made it out of there with only 2 books!

Have a good week!

wisteria said...

I love The Book Barn. My dad lived in Niantic and I used to go there a lot. My dad used to be a Master of Ceremonies for his senior club and he would go to The Book Barn to search out joke books. He was funny like that. Glad you had fun. I should take a ride up there when school is out. It's not too far a ride.

Zibilee said...

Oh my! I really want to visit the Book Barn! It sounds like a great place, with lots and lots of great stuff in it! I also love the picture of the cat stalking through the flowers. I am glad you had a nice time and I hope that your dad had a really nice Father's Day!

Frugal New England Kitchen said...

Book Barn is always a favorite stop when we go to the beach!