Great trip, but it's also good to be home. I'm not sure what I'm going to blog about next!
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Bookquest: The End
12/2/2013 - Milwaukee, WI
It was like an early Christmas unpacking all the boxes I had shipped home, and seeing all the books I'd bought in a single place. I've got a lot of reading to do!
Bookquest: Chicago, IL
11/23/2013 - Seminary Co-Op Bookstore
Native Son by Richard Wright
My last book of the trip is Native Son by Richard Wright. I had a few Chicago classics in mind, but Native Son is most on theme with the rest of the "bookquest" books. I probably should have read it a long time ago.
The Seminary Co-Op Bookstore is well-known by University of Chicago undergrads. I always liked it as a student, and I still like to check out what books are required reading for the courses that students are taking. I'm probably biased, but I think it's selection is one of the best in the world. It skews heavy on classics, academic books, and books about Chicago, but it still has a good selection of contemporary fiction.
Bookquest: Milwaukee, WI
11/22/2013 - Boswell Book Company
Heroes in the Night by Tea Krulos
I found Heroes in the Night at Boswell. It's by a Milwaukee author, and it's about "real life superheroes." I like reading about strange subcultures (see also, my book from Portland).
I hadn't been to Boswell before, even though I grew up in Milwaukee. I'd typically go to the Barnes & Noble by Southridge Mall or in Mayfair Mall, or the Half-Price Books by Southridge. I wanted to see a Milwaukee touristy bookstore (if there was such as thing), and Boswell held up. It had a few good local sections: one featuring local authors, and another featuring local history. The rest of the store had plenty of good options too. I was tempted to get Stephen King's 11/22/63 since it was exactly 50 years ago.
Bookquest: New York City, USA
11/19/2013 - Strand Bookstore
Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon
At Strand, I picked up a new release by a famous New York state author, Thomas Pynchon. I knew it would be the book I'd buy in New York after seeing the online trailer for the book. It's a detective story that includes an internet billionaire, so it should be a fine novel for today.
The bookstore, Strand, is probably New York's most famous bookstore. It has a great selection, great staff, a nice selection of rare books, etc. I don't think it's a local favorite, but it's a must-do for a bookish tourist in New York.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Epilogue in Manhattan
11/19/2013 - New York City
I spent the day as a tourist in New York. I walked through Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty. I visited the National Museum of the American Indian, walked past a crowd of tourists at the Charging Bull statue in Bowling Green, saw the New York Stock Exchange and Federal Hall, and finally made it to Central Park.
In the evening, I met my friend who has lived in the city for the longest, She took me to an excellent restaurant and bar. We had a lot of small plates, including some of the best food of the trip (some really good oysters) and some of the most exotic (sea urchin with pomegranates). It was the last meal before flying back to Milwaukee.
Pictured: Central Park
Banks and Broadway
11/18/2013 - New York City
My first stop in New York was Times Square. It was a practical stop: I needed to find a place to buy a new phone. I got a bagel and a phone, downloaded my favorite New York album, and listened to it as I walked through Manhattan. I passed familiar sights: Rockefeller Plaza, the Empire State Building, and the New York Public Library. I felt at home.
I met a few friends from Chicago who had moved to New York. For lunch, I met a friend from college outside of his investment bank and had my second bagel of the day. In the evening, I met a friend who works at an off-broadway show. I saw the show, met her backstage, and we made it out in the city. A good team to welcome me back to the U.S.!
Pictured: The Empire State Building
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