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Welcome to the first Bookstore Pix, our new bi-weekly newsletter, part of Book Pix.
I’m Francesca. A writer, reader, and bookstore enthusiast. I studied English & creative writing in college and grad school, worked at a leading literary agency, published my first novel in 2023, and have been yapping about books since I first learned to read.
Bookstore Pix is for people who know that there is no better feeling than walking into a neighborhood bookstore and discovering the unique worlds within.
Every other Sunday, I will bring you inside a bookstore to learn what the booksellers there are reading and recommending. In a world that encourages you to buy your books from a billionaire, I want to remind you of the unparalleled magic of independent bookstores.
Francesca McDonnell Capossela
The Shelf Talker
Current 📚: Butter by Asako Yuzuki
A Vibrant Bookstore in New Orleans
Photo provided by Baldwin & Co.
In a city that has always known how to hold space for art, music, and the spoken word, Baldwin & Co. feels right at home. Tucked into the heart of New Orleans, this independent bookstore and coffee shop is named for the incomparable James Baldwin, and like its namesake, it refuses to be just one thing.
Walk through the doors and you'll find an artfully designed space where a carefully curated selection of literature lines the shelves, the smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the air, and the kind of conversations worth having seem to start on their own. It's a bookstore, yes, but regulars will tell you it's really an experience.
Baldwin & Co. is a gathering point. Come for the books. Stay for the coffee. Become part of the conversation.
Read more about Baldwin & Co. and keep scrolling for their booksellers’ top book picks!
Baldwin & Co. Bookseller Picks
Immortal Dark
by Tigest Girma
“If you like your vampires morally complicated and your romance slow-burning and dangerous, Tigest Girma's Immortal Dark was made for you. Kidan will stop at nothing to find her missing sister, even if it means living with the cruel captivating vampire she's certain is responsible — and fighting feelings that could destroy everything.”
—Taylor, Baldwin & Co.
Reel
by Kennedy Ryan
“Neevah Saint has one shot at the spotlight, and she takes it, landing the lead role in a Harlem Renaissance biopic directed by the brilliant, magnetic Canon Holt. Kennedy Ryan's Reel is a sweeping, deeply romantic story about ambition, art, and what happens when the love of your life and the role of your life arrive at exactly the same time.”
—Taylor, Baldwin & Co.
In a World of Sunrises
by Cleo Wade
“Cleo Wade has a way of putting words to the feelings you didn't know you needed to hear, and In a World of Sunrises is her most radiant collection yet. Equal parts pep talk and love letter, this book is the reminder that hope, joy, and a fresh start are always within reach.”
—Jerid, Baldwin & Co.
Saturday Night, Sunday Morning
by PJ Morton
“Saturday Night, Sunday Morning is the story of a New Orleans kid who refused to choose between the church and the club, and built a Grammy-winning career on that refusal. PJ Morton's memoir is a love letter to staying true to yourself, your roots, and your city, even when the whole industry is telling you to be something else.”
—Taylor, Baldwin & Co.
About your recommenders:
Taylor Murphy handpicks every title at Baldwin & Co. She has a gift for finding books that feel true to New Orleans & its readers. Her all-time favorite books are: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, Yellowface by RF Kuang, and Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison.
Dr. Jerid P. Woods, also known as Akili Nzuri, is the owner and creator of Ablackmanreading.com. His all-time favorite books are: Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, Standing at the Scratch Line by Guy Johnson, and Don’t Cry for Me by Daniel Black.
Until next time!
Thank you for reading about this week's bookstore. I'll be back every other week to bring you inside a neighborhood bookstore and deliver you their hand-picked recommendations.
See you then,
Francesca
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