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January 17, 2014 | Review Period

At Barnes & Noble, Union Square

I can't pass a bookstore without checking out its language shelves.

Whenever I pass a bookstore and have a couple of minutes to spare, I go inside and see what they have in their language section. It’s one of the best ways to find products that might not have turned up on my many Internet searches.

And it is such a cheerful, hopeful section. There are worlds in it.

These photos were all taken last weekend at the Barnes & Noble at Union Square. For those of you outside New York City, Union Square is in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.

Barnes & Noble Union Square: Chinese

Barnes & Noble Union Square: Chinese

French French French

French French French

Portuguese Verbs and Other Essentials

Portuguese Verbs and Other Essentials

Polish for Dummies and Other People

Polish for Dummies and Other People

There's Practice Makes Perfect for Hindi?

There’s Practice Makes Perfect for Hindi?

I Also Want to Try Living Language for Hindi

I Also Want to Try Living Language for Hindi

Bookstore-hopping is my version of an extreme sport. 

Unfortunately, in New York City (and elsewhere) these days, it’s harder and harder to find bookstores. The number has declined dramatically since I first arrived in this city, and I truly miss the ones that are gone.

Comments (9)

Farschied • Posted on Sun, January 19, 2014 - 3:22 pm EST

I can’t pass a bookstore without at least buying a book, even though I’m not studying that book in months!

Ellen Jovin • Posted on Sun, January 19, 2014 - 3:36 pm EST

Generally I have rules prohibiting purchases of things way before I am likely to use them, but I must confess, I ordered that Practice Makes Perfect book for Hindi (shown in last row of photos) right after seeing it at Barnes & Noble.

Alex • Posted on Sun, January 19, 2014 - 6:13 pm EST

Barnes & Noble is like a candy shop for me now - I can’t help but check out the humor section or the music sections. There’s always always something that I want, so I know how you feel.

The one I’d really like to go to is one I saw in San Francisco, I believe. It’s TWO STORIES tall and freakin’ HUGE besides that! I never got to go in, but I would have loved it.

Shannon K • Posted on Mon, January 20, 2014 - 12:54 pm EST

I am the same way. I can’t go past a bookshop without stopping in and making it straight to the foreign language section. I actually think a friend posted a photo of me hugging the language section shelf on Facebook somewhere…

Ellen Jovin • Posted on Mon, January 20, 2014 - 4:17 pm EST

Barnes & Noble as candy store - nice image, Alex. Shannon, send me a link if you come across that photo, will you? I’d love to see that one.

Jeff Whittaker • Posted on Tue, January 21, 2014 - 1:43 pm EST

Thanks Ellen! Because of your pictures, I bought the 1,000 Basic Chinese Characters book. I already have the PmP Hindi book - and you will love it. The Spoken World series from Living Language (book and DVDs) is also outstanding (both in terms of content and esthetics)- warning - once you buy one and see how great they are, you will want them all!

Ellen Jovin • Posted on Tue, January 21, 2014 - 2:02 pm EST

Oh, no! It is REALLY all over for me now. :)

Jeff, this is the Chinese book you mean, right? http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/handbook-for-1000-basic-chinese-characters-guoan-wang/1101965640?ean=9789629962838

jeff whittaker • Posted on Tue, January 21, 2014 - 8:18 pm EST

That is the Chinese book I ordered (based on the reviews on Amazon).

I clicked on your link and this book was recommended (I need bigger shelves):
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/categorized-dictionary-william-liang/1007599744?ean=9780974175713

Ellen Jovin • Posted on Wed, January 22, 2014 - 12:03 am EST

Thanks! I just bookmarked that one. I’ve never seen it before.

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