This week’s Spotlight on Bookstores is written by Nancy Bachrach, author of the brave, flippant, and brutally honest memoir The Center of the Universe, which I reviewed here. As evidenced by the strong writing in her first book and in this essay, she is an author to watch! Lenny Golay and Ray Sherman are doing wonders to support local authors; how I’d love to have been a fly on the wall at Bachrach’s party at The Corner Bookstore!
If you collect books the way others amass art or jewelry, then maybe you’ve dreamed of running a neighborhood bookstore. Better yet, imagine living above your bookstore, so you can sneak downstairs at night and browse through the latest acquisitions, taking the best of them back upstairs to bed. The Corner Bookstore in Manhattan is home to “Lenny” Golay and Ray Sherman, and it must be better than living above a candy store.
Located on Madison Avenue on the upper east side of Manhattan, the Corner Bookstore is a small treasure in a historic neighborhood famous for its elegant townhouses. The bookstore’s tin ceiling and speckled terrazzo floor date from the 1920s, along with the handcrafted wood cabinets. Every detail has been lovingly restored by Ray, an architectural model maker. (photo: The Corner Bookstore; 1313 Madison Avenue at 93rd)
This is a bookstore with a mission: to support the debuts of local writers. Lenny selects the authors months in advance of their books’ publication and throws a party on the evening the book is released. The celebration includes a reading, signing and discussion with friends, editors, publicists and journalists. Given the bookstore’s location – in a famous literary community, just around the corner from New York’s renowned “92nd Street Y” - Lenny has launched more than a few of the greats.
The Corner Bookstore is where Donna Tartt unveiled The Secret History. Jhumpa Lahiri launched Interpreter of Maladies. Lenny threw the book parties for Augusten Burroughs’ Running With Scissors and Jeanette Walls’ The Glass Castle. Lauren Weisberger gave her first reading from The Devil Wears Prada. Every one of these authors was invited long before their book reviews (or movie deals) – so either Lenny is clairvoyant, or she’s a genuine taste-maker. (photo: The best-read cat in Manhattan)
Lenny and Ray’s most memorable party was the dazzling debut for Frank McCourt, who had been teaching in the New York school system for thirty years before he turned his miserable Irish childhood into Angela’s Ashes, the bestseller that kick-started the memoir genre. The Corner Bookstore was so crowded that night that friends who couldn’t squeeze in gathered on the sidewalk, where Lenny and her staff served Guinness. “New York’s Finest,” our police, ignored the infringement and applauded the fun. Frank’s brother Malachy sang Irish folk songs to the revelers; and two years later, he was back in the bookstore with his own memoir, A Monk Swimming.
My own party at the Corner Bookstore happened this past May, when Lenny celebrated my debut memoir, The Center of the Universe. It was a thrill to be introduced by Lenny in her gem of a bookstore, surrounded by my friends and family…and the ghosts of some literary greats. (photo: Lenny Golay – owner, Nancy Bachrach – author, Nick Chase – office manager of The Corner Bookstore)
If you get to New York, go for a visit. And please tell Lenny I sent you!
My heart is melting. I want to work there! I want to live across the street! What a cool looking place. I think this was my favorite one so far Dawn. BTW, I will be in Chicago a the end of the month, and I’m doing some research on stores within walking distance of my hotel. I’ll have something for you when I get back. I’ve also not forgotten about the little bookshop that sells rare and antique books that I found over the summer. Just waiting for the kids to get back to school…
I’m always so filled with longing after reading these posts! How wonderful for whoever gets to frequent these great resources!
This is like 3 blocks from my apartment. I just went in the other day! I didn’t get a chance to chat with anyone (they were deep in conversation with other customers), but the cat is very friendly. I didn’t know they did so many events…I’m going to have to keep track of them now!
I wish I’d known about this store when I was in New York. I’ll try to remember to check it out next year.
How did she know my secret dream?! I want to own that bookstore and help local authors and poets…ok, this is a pipe dream really, but that place is gorgeous! I will have to visit the next time I am in NYC!
This sounds like a great store. It also sounds as though Lenny knows her literature and is able to pick out the hottest new reads before the readers even know it! I have often thought of opening my own book store, but I would probably have a problem with people buying things and taking them out of the store. I would probably end up seeing it as my massive storage collection of books, instead of a bookstore. Great post!
What a wonderful essay on this bookstore. Imagine how great it would feel to be introduced in the same place as Frank McCourt. I hope I’ll be able to visit here one day.
What a great looking store and I just love the window displays!
This sounds and looks like the perfect bookstore!
Sandy – I’ve never been to Chicago (unless changing planes in ORD counts!). Will look forward to seeing what you find!
rhapsody – I’m so happy that people keep writing them – we’re getting quite a nice index (must plan a trip based on these recommendations)
Kari – that’s the goal – to connect readers with these great bookstores – glad you’ve already discovered The Corner Bookstore!
Kathy – I had so little “extra” time in NY in May … will plan better next year.
Serena – I’d do author events alone, even without a storefront!
zibilee – that’s so funny! I’ve often imagined that people who own antique stores might feel that way …
Margot – and I love what Nancy Bachrach wrote about literary ghosts of the past … imagine the vibes in that place, better than “George Washington slept here”
Sheila – I love that the windows are multi-paned like this … it adds to the charm. Can you imagine living above your own bookstore?! I might never go “home”
softdrink – The owners’ goal of introducing new authors to readers is a great one!
This was a fun one to read … so many bright literary stars!!! And it is one that I might conceivably be able to visit some day as we often visit NYC. I’ll have to sneak it in next time we visit.
Wow! I wish I knew about this place when I was last in NYC…next time, I guess. It sounds like an amazing place.
Next time I’m there I will definitely visit.
Loved your Tattered Cover recommendation. It was wonderful and really added to our Denver trip – and I managed to only by one book!
Very cool story and bookstore! Thank you for sharing.
[...] in at The Corner Bookstore often, and I’ve always loved it. I also found this lovely “Spotlight on Bookstore” piece about it on a blog, wherein memoirist Nancy Bachrach writes : Located on Madison Avenue on the [...]
Oh, what a tiny wonderful Bookstore!!! i love it. How sad, that I’ve never seen it before.
[...] knew The Corner Bookstore was a special place, but WOW. Last night, Lenny and Ray, 32-year owners of TCB hosted the most memorable, beautiful, [...]
[...] Spotlight on The Corner Bookstore by Nancy Bachrach, author of The Center of the Universe [...]