Add Some New Books to Your Reading List

This week is shaping up to be warm and sunny, which means its time to take a relaxing reading break outside! With seating in our two local parks, Dante and Richard Tucker, benches along the Broadway Malls, and Lincoln Center’s new public space, The GREEN, there is no shortage of comfortable places to take a seat and enjoy some outdoor reading time. Check out local book store options, too, to read and shop locally.

Shakespeare & Co. at 2020 Broadway (at 69th Street) has books for everyone and is open for safe indoor shopping. New releases are at the front of the store, but you can also browse the store’s website for new and noteworthy titles, staff pick selections, and even audiobooks, if you’d rather download a digital copy to travel around with. Shakespeare & Co. is also still offering virtual book launches and author talks/readings for newer releases that can get you in the mood for new reads. Check out the calendar here—there’s an author talk scheduled for this Thursday, May 20 at 6:30pm with journalist Roberta Brandes Gratz on her book It’s a Helluva Town, which details key elements in NYC’s development. Plus, take advantage of Shakespeare Café’s outdoor seating on the sidewalk, too!  

Amazon Books in The Shops at Columbus Circle (10 Columbus Circle, 3rd floor) is an in-person extension of the online shop. At the store, books available are based on Amazon.com customer ratings, pre-orders, sales, popularity on Goodreads, and curators’ assessments. Stop by to explore the aisles and even test out a kindle. Click here to learn about the book curators. Click here to view Amazon Charts with rating on the top most sold and most read books of the week.

The American Folk Art Museum Shop (2 Lincoln Square at Columbus Avenue & 65th Street) has a variety of books that highlight the depth and breadth of the museum’s scholarship, collection, and exhibitions. For sale at the Shop now, the companion book to PHOTO | BRUT: Collection Bruno Decharme & Compagnie (on view through June 6) was recently highlighted by ARTnews as a noteworthy and essential read. Visit the Museum Shop for more titles!

The Juilliard Bookstore is only open for online purchases for now, but in addition to sheet music and school materials, the store sells children's and adult fiction books, plus more. Click here to browse some of the available titles. 

You can also take advantage of grab and go services at the NYPL Riverside Branch (127 Amsterdam Avenue at 65th Street) to pick up books you've placed on hold and return books. Click here to learn more. You can also access e-books for free through the NYPL's E-Reader app, SimplyE. Click here to get started. 

And, if you need a little extra motivation to get back to reading or starting a new book, check out some virtual book clubs highlighted in our Events Calendar. Senior Planet has a free online book club which you can check out details for here. The New York Public Library network has a number of free virtual book club events, including teen book clubs, general book clubs for open discussion, book-specific clubs, and more. Click here to view online book club options. Symphony Space also has an online book club with authors, called Talia Book Club, with different titles each month for $25. Click here to learn more.