The end of the year is almost upon us, and with it comes the usual slew of best-of lists for you to base your gift-giving decisions around. This year, instead of coming up with another top-ten list, (there are plenty of those), we decided to let the experts (aka the staff at our favorite bookstores) do the dirty work instead. So without further ado, we present the best books of 2011, according to the people who know best.
1
Theresa (Harry Potter devotee—she owns several wands—and Volunteer Coordinator):
Charlotte (Volunteer Program Manager):
more ›
Results tagged “staffpicks”
Staff Picks: The Best Books Of 2011
Staff Picks: Powerhouse Arena Tells You What To Read
Welcome to our column Staff Picks, in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Today we're checking in with the staff at Dumbo's eye-catching independent bookstore/gallery/venue Powerhouse Arena to find out what they've been dog-earing lately.
Staff Picks: Shakespeare & Co. Advises What Thou Must Readeth
Welcome to our column Staff Picks, in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Today we're checking in with the staff at Shakespeare & Co. Booksellers in Greenwich Village to find out which tomes tickle their fancy.
Staff Picks: Gimme Gimme Records Tells You What To Listen To
Welcome to our column Staff Picks, in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Today we're checking in with Dan Cook, owner of Gimme Gimme Records in the East Village, to find out what he's been spinning lately.
Staff Picks: Three Must-Reads From Greenlight Bookstore
Welcome to our column Staff Picks, in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Today we're checking in with the staff at Fort Greene bookstore Greenlight to find out what they've been dog-earing lately.
Staff Picks: Scoping The Big Screen With 92YTribeca
Welcome to our weekly column Staff Picks, in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Today we're checking in Cristina Cacioppo, the director of film programming at 92YTribeca, to find out what she's been watching lately.
Staff Picks: Nitehawk Cinema Tells You What To Watch
Welcome to our weekly column Staff Picks, in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Today we're checking in with the staff at Williamsburg movie theater Nitehawk Cinema to find out what they've been watching lately.
Staff Picks: Five Page-Turners From Book Culture
Welcome to our weekly column Staff Picks, in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Today we're checking in with the staff at Morningside Heights bookstore Book Culture to find out what they've been dog-earing lately.
Staff Picks: 3 Things You Must Listen To, According To Permanent Records
Welcome to our weekly column Staff Picks, in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Today we're checking in with Ron and Matthew at Greenpoint's Permament Records to find out what they've been spinning lately.
Staff Picks: IndieScreen Tells You What To Watch
Welcome to our weekly column Staff Picks, in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Today we're checking in with Marco Ursino, artistic director of Williamsburg's independent movie theater IndieScreen, to find out what he's been watching lately.
Staff Picks: Sound Fix Tells You What To Listen To
Welcome to our weekly column, Staff Picks, in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Today we're checking in with James Bradley, owner of Williamsburg's indie record store Sound Fix, to find out what he's been spinning lately.
Staff Picks: Housing Works Bookstore Cafe Tells You What To Read
-
Welcome to our weekly column, "Staff Picks," in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Today we're checking in with the staff at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe to find out what they've been dog-earing lately.
Eddie (former punk, now owner of a bear coat complete with fur and ears on the hood, also an AIDS activist of the old school and an Inventory Specialist):
- The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman : Twins. One named Jesus one named Christ. 'Nuff said.
- Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov: I reread this book every few years - now is one of those times. One of my favorites. Do not want to give any hints about this except that it should be read all the way through - including the index!
- Vathek by William Beckford : A very hypnotic and bizarre story of an all-powerful medieval ruler who tries to acquire super powers by sleeping with his mother. Claimed to have been written in a sleepless three days, Beckford, a British aristocrat with a devilish imagination, must have had a lot of fun with gazillions of dollars.
- Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World by Mark Pendergrast: Follows the history of the coffee from bean to cup - from it’s discovery to contemporary coffee culture, Pendergrast explores the good and bad and how coffee has shaped the world we live in.
Theresa (Harry Potter devotee—she owns several wands—and Volunteer Coordinator):
- Confessions of a Conjurer, the amazing memoir by
- Derren Brown, one of the greatest magicians yet living. His brilliance on stage is only heightened by reading the book. He is every bit as smart and strange as I hoped, and even when he reveals the core of a trick, it still seems like magic because it is so difficult for a mere mortal to master.
- Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum and Wicked by Gregory Maguire.
Having only seen the Judy Garland movie before I had to read the original book before seeing where Maguire went with it. If you haven’t, check it out for the Tin Man’s heartbreaking back story, if nothing else. And Wicked! The Wizard as despot, the Witch(es, of West, East, and North) college coeds swept into the politics of a divided nation. Not my usual fare, but I’m enjoying it.
Charlotte (Volunteer Program Manager):
- Dune by Frank Herbert. Said to be the greatest Science Fiction work of all time. Politics, adventure, blue eyed people and giant worms.
Staff Picks: Downtown Music Gallery Tells You What To Listen To
Welcome to our weekly column, "Staff Picks," in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Today we're checking in with Bruce Gallanter at Chinatown underground jazz specialist Downtown Music Gallery to find out what he's been spinning lately.
Staff Picks: Reel Life South Tells You What To Watch
Welcome to our weekly column, "Staff Picks," in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask.
Staff Picks: 192 Books Tells You What To Read
Welcome to our weekly column, "Staff Picks," in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Today we're checking in with the staff at Chelsea literary-scene favorite 192 Books to find out what they've been dog-earing lately.
Staff Picks: Turntable Lab Tells You What To Listen To
Welcome to our weekly column, "Staff Picks," in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Today we're checking in with Bret Winans at East Village record/DJ supply store Turntable Lab to find out what he's been listening to on repeat.
Staff Picks: Film Forum Tells You What To Watch
Welcome to our weekly column, "Staff Picks," in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Today we're checking in with cinephile Richard Hutchins, who's worked at Film Forum for 13 years, to find out what he's been watching lately.
Staff Picks: Good Records NYC Tells You What To Listen To
Welcome to our newish weekly column, "Staff Picks," in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Last week we talked to Colin at Strand Bookstore, and this week it's over to East Village record emporium Good Records NYC, where we talked to Jonathan Sklute about a few of the things he's been loving lately.
Staff Picks: Strand Bookstore Tells You What To Read
Welcome to our newish weekly column, Staff Picks, in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Last week we talked to Adam Sypnier at Videology, and this week we head to Strand, home of "18 Miles of Books!" to talk to staffer Colin M. about what he's been dog-earing lately.
Staff Picks: Williamsburg's Videology Tells You What Movie To Rent
Welcome to our newish weekly column, "Staff Picks," in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Last week we talked to Mr. Lou at Academy Records, and this week it's over to Williamsburg movie rental emporium Videology, where clerk Adam Sypnier tells us what he's been watching lately.
Staff Picks: Academy Records Tells You What To Listen To
Welcome to our newish weekly column, Staff Picks, in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Last week we talked to Sarah Gerard at McNally Jackson Bookstore, and today we're checking in with beloved secondhand record store Academy Records. We talked to Mr. Lou, the "overseer of pop" who's been with the store for 12 years, to find out what he's been spinning lately.
Staff Picks: McNally Jackson Tells You What To Read
Welcome to our newish weekly column, Staff Picks, in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Last week we talked to Aaron Hillis at reRun Theater, and this week we check in with Soho indie bookstore mainstay McNally Jackson, where manager Sarah Gerard tells us what she's been flipping through lately.
Staff Picks: reRun Theater Tells You What To Watch
Welcome to our newish weekly column, "Staff Picks," in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Last week we talked to Michael Stasiak at Other Music, and this week it's over to Dumbo's reRun Theater, where we talked to film curator Aaron Hillis about what he's excited for on the big screen.
Staff Picks: Other Music Tells You What To Listen To
Welcome to our newish weekly column, "Staff Picks," in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Last week we talked to Stephanie Anderson at WORD bookstore, and this week it's over to NoHo indie record mainstay Other Music (an Amanda Palmer favorite), to chat with clerk Michael Stasiak about what he's been listening to lately.
Staff Picks: WORD Bookstore Tells You What To Read
Welcome to our new weekly column, "Staff Picks," in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. To kick things off, we talked to Greenpoint indie bookstore WORD, whom we typically trust in all things reading-related. Here's what store manager Stephanie Anderson has been dog-earing recently:
« Previous
1
Next »
send a tip
tips@gothamist.comsubscribe
Use an RSS reader to stay up to date with the latest news and posts from Gothamist.