Three Lives & Co

08/14/03

Like borrowing a book from a friend's familiar and cluttered apartment.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
Enough nooks and crannies to invite lingering, but spaced so well that you never feel cramped. Wood shelves line every wall, and a long table displays new publications. The staff is equally ready to engage in meaningful conversation or to let you browse in peace. If you're a regular, they'll know your name. Among the available services is something unique: Three Lives will send the person of your choice a book, selected by the staff or by you, every month.

The Goods
Literature and writing are taken seriously here; the contemporary fiction, gay literature and art sections are particularly strong. Mixed in with the new books are carefully wrapped, reasonably priced (and, therefore, all the more tempting) first-edition hardcovers. There is also an intriguing section of first-edition mysteries.