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Dear Friends of the Astoria Bookshop,
June 1st was a major milestone for the bookstore: after weeks of rearranging our displays, counting our books, and cleaning the heck out of everything, we re-opened our doors for in-person browsing! We're so excited to invite you (and your kids and your pups) back indoors. We'll continue to require masks while you're shopping, and please no food or beverage. (Check out the online FAQ for more details on our browsing policies.)
We welcome you to continue placing orders & preorders through our website! Pickup appointments for orders are no longer required, but if you prefer a quick, contactless visit, you are welcome to call the store at (718) 278-2665 or use Schedulicity to book yourself a time. Our author events will remain online for the time being.
Read on to see some new books and staff picks we're excited about this month -- with a special focus on LGBTQ+ Pride reads!
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"Mendez's writing is deeply absorbing, and Jesse is a masterfully developed character -- one of the 'realest' I've read in a contemporary novel in a long time. I really liked the way the author used Jesse's love of music (from classic soul, to Jay-Z, to Aaliyah, to Joy Division) to illuminate his feelings, experiences, and personality.... A beautiful coming of age story that depicts a Black, queer protagonist triumphing over some pretty traumatic circumstances, as well as building a supportive, vibrant chosen family/community for himself. I recommend it enthusiastically." --Kelly
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"Part graphic-novel history and part memoir, this book is SO good. While researching her dissertation on women-led slave revolts, which academia basically says didn't happen, Hall kept coming up against dead ends (Lloyd's of London refusing her access to their records of insuring slave ships) and blank spaces in the records (the woman burned at the stake for her role in killing William Hallett -- yes, that William Hallett, of Hallett's Cove, Halletts Point, etc -- is only referred to as "negro fiend"). So she used her historical training to fill in the blanks. e.g. Insurrections on slave ships were more common when there were more women on board, so she imagines ahosi warriors (women warriors from a west African kingdom in what's now Benin, an inspiration for the Dora Milaje) taking over a ship and slaughtering their captors." --Lexi
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Here it is, your moment of Zen:
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[Image description: Shopdog Quincy is sporting a streamlined look for the summer, his usually shaggy black and white fur is sleek and closely trimmed all over -- except for his banner of a tail and his curly ears.]
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Until next time, be well (and be well-read!),
The Astoria Bookshop
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