We stumbled upon a great article last week in none other than stumbleupon.com. The article is written by Emily Temple and talks about the 20 most beautiful bookstores in the world. Here at the Library we LOVE books and although Kindle Fire and the iPad are great technological tools, we like those good old days when you had to flip through the pages; of course you can carry 1000 books in your pocket and hundreds of trees are saved each year, but in my opinion, there is nothing like the smell of an old book.
Although many of the big bookstore chains here in the United States are going bankrupt it is good to know that because of their beauty, the bookstores listed in this article are visited by thousands each year. Here is an excerpt of what the article is about:
“Why would anyone leave the comfort of their couch to buy a book when with just a click of a button, they could have it delivered to their door? Well, here’s why: bookstores so beautiful they’re worth getting out of the house (or the country) to visit whether you need a new hardcover or not. We can’t overestimate the importance of bookstores — they’re community centers, places to browse and discover, and monuments to literature all at once.”
So if you LOVE books, travel, and a little bit of peace, this list can fill in the blanks of your “1000 places I must visit before I die.” Make sure to pay close attention to my favorite 5 bookstores: Selexyz Bookstore in Holland, Livraria Lello in Portugal, Libreria El Ateneo Grand Splendid in Argentina, Cafebreria El Pendulo in Mexico City, and The Last Bookstore here at home in Los Angeles.
Before I leave you so you can check out this amazing article, let me give you a little piece of useful information. Do you know where the only bookstore in Monrovia is located? Well, right here at the library and although it did not enter in the “Most Beautiful Libraries” list, it is certainly one of the cutest. Next time you come to the Monrovia Public Library, make sure to visit the Friend’s of the Monrovia Public Library Bookstore, you might be surprised.
