Three Lives & Co

08/14/03

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

by Contributor

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.