Strand Bookstore
An Enthralling Experience

A stroll around Union Park in NYC leads me straight to Strand Bookstore’s 18 miles of books. An instant connection takes me through the halls of floor-to-ceiling shelves, the tables stacked with new releases and special prices, and the clever merchandise targeted at booklovers. Red signs that guide the visitor mark this labyrinth of continuous books. Who hasn’t heard about Strand? Visited by celebrities and politicians and a popular spot for shooting movies and series—the reality is that this beloved space is dynamic and diverse, peaceful, and warm. As a far-away visitor, my sense of exploration deepens as I try to find the perfect keepsake among the new and used titles.
With more than 90 years of history, Strand is an experience rather than a destination. Laden with hidden spaces of historical significance, knowledgeable staff, and a basement that houses nonfiction titles. The enthralling “safe” keeps Strand’s valuable books, showcasing, among others, a copy of “Ulysses,” signed by both James Joyce and Henri Matisse. 

If you go to the Rare Book Room, you could find either a quiet place to read or an event featuring trending titles and powerful voices. Check out Yesika Salgado's conversation about her book Tesoro with fellow author Aziza Barnes on November 7th. Make sure to look for a piece of our Latinx community in the magazine stacks and get yourself a copy of Latino Book Review’s annual Magazine.
 
Its history and design make Strand a must-see, a returning point for us travelers who would rather carry a book or magazine from a family-owned and woman-owned bookstore. My path will continue searching amongst Strand's red signs, white pillars, used and rare books with the feel of a thousand hands. Right on the corner of 828 Broadway, New York, we will meet again.
Photo by Mariana Huerta
Rossy Lima
​​9/15/2019
Rossy Evelin Lima, PhD, is an international award-winning poet. She has been awarded the Gabriela Mistral Award by the National Hispanic Honor Society, the Premio Internazionale di Poesia Altino in Italy, the International Latino Book Award, the Premio Orgullo Fronterizo Mexicano award by the Institute for Mexicans Abroad, the Premio Internazionale La Finestra Eterea in Italy, among others. She is the president and founder of the Latin American Foundation for the Arts, the founder of the International Latin American Poetry Festival (FeIPoL), as well as the founder of Jade Publishing. 
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