Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
Today’s prompt is “Bookstores/Libraries I’ve Always Wanted to Visit.”
I don’t often ponder on the idea of leaving the house unless it is for any of the following reasons:
- I want to go for a walk in a spooky forest and become the local forest witch.
- I need snacks.
- I need to greet my dragon kin before they leave me behind for the other realms.
- If my house was on fire…. I might consider leaving.
- Someone lures me out with cake.
However…. I could make an for book related adventures. (I literally get all my books from Amazon because it’s so much cheaper and I don’t have to leave the house….)
Not gonna lie, it was so hard to come up with places that I want to visit. My dreams don’t really go beyond books, and my books are in my house sooooo.
I came up with 7 bookstores/libraries that I want to visit. 2 are real places. 5 are fictional libraries I want to visit.
Real-life Bookstores
So, apparently the UK hasn’t only got Waterstones??? There’s a book store called Foyles, which I have never heard of before, and naturally I want to go see the pretty books. I want to smell the pretty books.
Aaaaaand I really want to visit a Barnes and Noble store. There’s two floors of books. TWO! I saw a video of a B&N once and it had escalators. ESCALATORS! IN A BOOKSHOP!!! I would have the time of my life! (see: would literally waste said life because I would never leave).
Fictional Libraries
Covers link back to Goodreads so you guys can check them out too!!
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
First and foremost. I really want to go to the library in Strange the Dreamer by. I’m still reading it (progress is slow…. I’m savouring it *self high-five for reasonable excuse*) but I love everything about it. I most definitely love the world. But, y’know, the library was once the royal palace so it’s gonna be so majestic and beautiful and it has a LOT OF BOOOOOOOOOOKS!!! Also, imagine all the secret hallways and stuff that we can explore!!
Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
Admittedly, we see more of libraries in the second book Ice Like Fire buuuuut in this book we meet Theron, who is such a book nerd. He has a study and it’s more or less jam-packed with books and maps and all sorts. I really like the library setting in the second book though. Again, secret hidden passage ways and stuff.
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
I don’t know about you guys, but Cassandra Clare writes Library scenes really well?? I can SEE the library that Will and Tessa were sitting in. I can practically smell all the old books in there. And I really want to sit in there and just read… or nap. Or just be there really.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
The library in Adarlan’s Castle is definitely somewhere I would like to go. For many reasons: 1) Palace + Library = Beautiful Architecture and Beautiful books (10/10 for that alone tbh), 2) Cinnabun Dorian likes to adopt the books that are deemed “unsuitable for library rotation – meaning there are free books up for grabs, 3) Old, hidden passage ways… I feel like there’s a theme here.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
So there are actually a few libraries in this series that I would like to visit. First, I’d like to visit the library in the Spring Court, I feel like it would be pretty?? Like, spacious and roses out the window kind of pretty.
Then I’d like to visit the library in the Night Court (the one that’s run by the Priestesses), because I am sooooo down for LEVELS OF LIBRARY!!! There would be so many books and people don’t go there so…. loads of books and basically no people. My kind of environment!!
I feel like Helion’s library would be one to behold. It wasn’t in the first 4 books, but I feel like it could be one of two things. It could be tidy, everything organised and neat. Or it could be messy as heck, “Organised chaos”, with papers everywhere, books stacked to fall over. I don’t know. I feel like it would beat the other libraries of Prythian.
What Bookstores/ Libraries do you really want to visit??? Which fictional Library do you want to visit most?? Would you prefer a lovingly messy library or a pristine and organised library???
Whimsical Woodland Wanderer 
Omg I SO desperately want to go to a massive bookstore that’s just….LAYERS of books. Like yes please and thank you 😍Also if someone wants to figure out a way to pitch me directly into Strange the Dreamer’s world so I can read Miracles for Breakfast and get lost amongst the shelves?? That’d be great. I am up for this.
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Agreed. Just lock me in the layered book library and seal the doors. I won’t ever need to leave, please and thank you! (Although maybe have a little loose brick that comes out so that we can get new releases and a heck of a lot of cake!!!!)
100% with you! Let’s find a way to open an inter-dimensional portal and just fly smack bang into the centre of Weep. Anyone who tries to stop us will be fed to hounds.
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As soon as I read the title I cracked up! I’m also not a big fan of leaving the house unless there is coffee, food, or books involved. (Which I guess is enough to get me out often enough to have, like, a tiny social life haha) Also. . . *clears throat* I’m reading A Court of Thorns and Roses right now!! And you’re right, the Spring Court’s library sounds AMAZING. I’m a little bit more than halfway done with the book, so stay tuuunnned lol.
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I barely leave the house at all, and so my social life is online XD But food and books might very well lure me out…. it’d have to be some damn good food (books never disappoint, let’s be real).
*deep gasp* EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I know right?!?! I think we’d probably squeal at any and every library though! XD I hope you like it, if you don’t love the first one though, I recommend giving the second book a go. It is considered the best in the trilogy and I agreeeeee!
Happy Reading!!! ❤ 😀
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I just got halfway past the book where I realized what was actually happening the entire time and I’m shook. I’m going to try and finish it tonight, but I still have about 200-ish pages left. But I’ve also heard great things about the second book, so even if I’m not head over heels in love with this one, I think I’ll still pick up book two. And thank you! 🙂
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The closest B&N to me doesn’t have an escalator, but one of the others I’ve gone to in a bigger city has one! 🙂
Lauren @ Always Me
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I’m so jelly. I really want to go to a bookstore with an escalator!! ONE DAY I WILL VISIT THE SACRED LANDS!!!
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I was thinking this week… there seems to be a lot of readers in fictional books. Perhaps more so than in the general population. But I guess that makes sense… writers tend to read a lot… and readers tend to read a lot… so I guess that books with beautiful libraries would tend to attract readers, and I’m sure writers like to write about them as well.
I don’t know if I’ve ever been to a two-story Barnes and Noble. Maybe in some places. They are nice bookstores though.
Clockwork Angel is the next Cassandra Clare book on my reading list, so I guess I have the library to look forward to!
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I feel like, when I read a book and there is a library scene sometimes it changes the whole way I see the book?? I think it’s because of the way the main characters react to being around books? If they like being around books, then I feel like I can relate to them easier.
The Infernal Devices is my favourite Shadowhunter series (it’s a Trilogy though), but I haven’t read The Dark Artifices yet. SO maybe that will be my favourite?? I’ve heard great things about it though!
Happy Reading!! 😀
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I would love to go to Barnes and Noble. And Foyles is amazing, so much choice for YA books!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/10/16/top-ten-tuesday-181/
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B&N is the only bookstore-y place I would really want to visit. I will have to try and visit a Foyles if I can, my local Waterstones doesn’t have much YA.
Happy Reading! 😀
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Thanks! Oh Foyles definitely has a massive YA section.
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Our local Barnes & Noble doesn’t have an escalator, sadly, but the one across town does. It is kinda nice. 🙂
Fantasy libraries would be the best.
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I usually find stores with escalators much more inviting?? (In my head I’ve convinced myself that that is the stores way of providing entertainment to the customers XD ) But a bookstore with an escalator…..
It’s my home now. I’m moving in. It’s mine.
Happy Reading!! 😀
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None of my local Barnes and Noble stores are two stories, but man, that would be an amazing bookstore!
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
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Right?!? I would literally hide and live there… no one would ever find me, if they did they would just assume I’m a customer XD
Happy Reading!! 😀
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