I have to admit: I’ve been on a bit of a book buying tear. 
After not buying books for the first months of 2017, I have bought 5 in the last month. It all started on Independent Bookstore Day when I took a ride out to one of my favorite shops and walked away with three books: Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad, Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven, and Lindy West’s Shrill.
Of the three, I’ve already read Shrill and I absolutely adored it. The book of essays – which toes the lines between funny and serious – was truly a wonderful read. West’s asides, musings, and watchful eye were exactly what I needed at the moment I read it (don’t you just love when that happens?).
This weekend, I caught up with an old friend (and lovely librarian) for brunch that included wonderful conversation (both bookish and not), Strawberry-Rose Lemonade, and breakfast food (burrito for me; omelet for her). We spent a few moments lusting over everything in Anthropologie before moving onto the most important part of the day: perusing an independent bookstore.
We spent time looking through a bookstore that like the Tardis was (much) bigger on the inside. The store looked small and intimate from the outside but once you step inside it is a labyrinth of shelves and even a second story. I was immediately smitten.
The shelves, which were almost up to the surprisingly-tall ceilings, were overflowing with books, and the store had that perfect smell for which this blog is named: worn books. It was the type of place where I would have wanted to curl up in a corner with a stack of books. I could have run my fingers along the book spines all day.
It took a little while but I ended up with two books I’ve been wanting to read (and have picked up and put down at other bookstores): Kristopher Jansma’s Why We Came to the City and Ann Patchett’s Commonwealth. Welcome to the family!
P.S. Three of these books were on my top books of 2016 that I would read in 2017. Take that, reading goals!
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What books have you bought recently? Have you read any of these books? Do you also lust of everything in Anthropologie? Please tell me I’m not alone, okay?
That Worn Book Smell 
I love independent book stores! They are the best to explore and support 🙂 I have The Underground Railroad on my list. I saw many rave reviews, but recently have noticed some more mixed thoughts coming in. Very curious about it. Enjoy!