New York City Book Haul

I had a wonderful time in New York last week. For five days I spent my time traipsing from place to place, mostly looking for book stores and thrift shops. And today I thought I would share my New York City book haul.

I’ll be doing a clothing haul from New York City as well. But first books!

I went to numerous bookstores in New York City including:

• The Strand Bookstore
• Goodwill
• Housing Works Book Store and Cafe
• Barnes & Noble
• Book Off
• Amazon Books
• Posman Books

Here are the books I purchased whilst out there, in order of purchase.

New York City Book Haul

What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman (Posman Books)

In Posman Books, in Chelsea Market, I came across a really interesting travel writing section that focused on travel adventures rather than place descriptions. I prefer this kind of book and this title captured my attention immediately.

What I was doing while you were breeding could be the title of my autobiography as it stands as a lot of my old school friends are now married and having babies, or have babies and are getting married. Or just have babies. My best friend and I often discuss how we’re the only ones not breeding.

I started reading this right away and am really enjoying it so far. Kristen Newman was a writer on That 70s Show, a show I’ve not watched but know about. She took herself off on many adventures, sometimes with friends and other times alone, from Amsterdam to Puerto Rico to Paris and London. Funny, honest, and encouraging for any solo traveller such as myself.

the mermaid’s voice returns in this one by Amanda Lovelace (Amazon Books)

I’ve been meaning to pick up a copy of Amanda Lovelace’s three princess books for a while. I wanted it ever since I first heard about the princess saves herself in this one. She writes collections of poetry that are feminist and powerful, covering topics from assault to bravery, loneliness to love.

I read this book in the evenings and as it is a collection of poetry it was a fast read and one that I enjoyed. It is the last in the collection so I still have to read the first two books first.

Girl Logic by Iliza Shlesinger (Book Off)

I love Iliza Shlesinger. She is probably one of my top three comedians and I find her comedy honest and relatable. So when I heard she had written a book I added it to my Amazon wishlist. But it was over £20 in the UK. I found this book in a second-hand bookstore called Book Off, just off Times Square. It was only $9.50 so I definitely had to get it.

With a foreword from Mayim Balik, aka Amy Farrah Fowler off The Big Bang Theory. This book is a collection of essays about the irrational behaviour of women which makes total sense.

Adulting: How to Become a Grown-Up in 535 Easy(ish) Steps by Kelly Williams Brown (Amazon Books)

I returned to the Amazon Books store for a second perusal and came across this book for only $9 and I thought it looked good. I do like ‘quarter-life crisis’ books as I find them informative yet funny. Basically, they’re my form of self-help books, reminding me that I’m doing alright for a twenty-something-year-old in London.

Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi (Amazon Books)

I fancied getting something fictional so I had a look in the Young Adult section and this book took my interest. Focusing on teenagers Penny Lee and Sam, both of whom are of an age to start university.

Penny is looking forward to leaving after having a boring time at school. Whilst Sam is struggling in life, sleeping rough, and trying to make ends meet. They end up meeting and swapping numbers. And their digital correspondence keeps them both going.

Salt to the Sea by Ruth Sepetys (Goodwill)

On my last day in the city, I popped into Goodwill. I had a good browse of the bookshelves and managed to get a few books for just $0.99 each. Salt to the Sea was one of them. A historical fiction YA about the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff in World War II.

Perfume by Patrick Suskind (Goodwill)

This is one of those books that I read. And I re-read it all the time. But end up getting rid of it because I don’t think I will re-read it again. I really like this US edition though. Since I got this book in the USA I’m more likely to keep it for sentimental reasons.

This is a historical, literary crime novel. It’s about a young man with a strong sense of smell who is obsessed with making the best perfume ever. He creates it by killing young female virgins, stealing their scent, and bottling it.

Fever by Mary Beth Keane (Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe)

The last book I bought on my holiday was another historical fiction novel set in New York City. This time about Mary Mallon, otherwise known as Typhoid Mary. Mary Mallon was an Irish immigrant who worked as a cook. Wherever she worked typhoid seemed to follow her. The typhoid investigator declared that she was the silent carrier – someone who carried typhoid but was immune to it. She was incarcerated for three years and only released on the condition that she never work as a cook again.

The book looks at her experience of being ‘Typhoid Mary’ and how she worked around not being allowed to cook anymore.

And that’s it for my New York City book haul. I thought that was quite a strong book haul for the city. It certainly weighed my suitcase down when I was getting on the plane.

I can’t wait to get through more of the books. So far I’ve read two and I’ve got the other six to go. Yay! I look forward to sharing more about the books from the haul on my blog.

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