Trip to Solidaridad, the store owned by F. Sionil José
![Solidaridad](https://c6.staticflickr.com/1/353/31703652141_684f1ccbff_z.jpg)
I DRAGGED my friends Karen Montevirgen-Mondragon and Jay Magbojos to Solidaridad, the quaint, quiet bookstore owned by the writer F. Sionil José. It's in the neighborhood, near the intersection of Bocobo and Padre Faura Streets, a private store that sells books, albeit more pricey compared to their counterparts at National Bookstore. But I always like the sweet smell of books, both old and new, and the classical music—mostly Bach and Mozart—that plays in the background, so I always visit when I have the opportunity.
![Solidaridad Bookstore](https://c7.staticflickr.com/1/708/31447179590_42025bf453_z.jpg)
One can find rare books in the store, even those published by NYRB, like this essay collection by Max Beerbohm, which I shall buy next.
![Max Beerbohm](https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5582/31447177910_650a7b35f9_z.jpg)
I must confess that I've never read any of Mr. José's books. I don't know why, but I should really find the time.
![Solidaridad, Books by F. Sionil Jose](https://c6.staticflickr.com/1/370/31010192653_5417afd375_z.jpg)
There's an abundance of Filipino literature inside, too—lots of books on Martial Law, Mindanao, and history.
![Filipino lit at Solidaridad](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/435/31447191040_341f70d50e_z.jpg)
It also sells magazines that are hard to find: like The New Yorker (at Php 300; not bad) and even Harper Magazine at times.
![New Yorker Magazines at Solidaridad](https://c3.staticflickr.com/1/692/30979160394_1f83aff26d_z.jpg)
I got Anton Chekov's "Peasants and Other Stories" published by NYRB. I'm alternating his short stories with William Finnegan's "Barbarian Days: A Surfer's Life," a book on surfing, which I'm reading in my iPad.
![Solidaridad](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/482/31424259280_927311e4eb_z.jpg)
Labels: books/reading
1 Comments:
Aaaah Solidaridad! I love that place! Just gives you that feel of solitude and solidarity with work of art and literature!
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