NYC + Lit Travel
I’ve always been big on going far away. Somewhere very different from where I am or where I am used to. So when I think of combining literature and traveling I think of what I shared in this previous post.
The thing is, I don’t need to go halfway around the world to read and digest the book where it takes place. I’ve been living in New York City off and on for 14 years. It turns out there’s a lot of writers and characters in books that have lived here too. I haven’t done any of these that follow, but I’m gearing up to start checking them off my list.
"Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
I can immerse myself in the complex narrative of the novel by exploring Harlem's rich cultural history. I’ll visit the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture to learn about the Harlem Renaissance. I’ll walk along 125th Street, where the protagonist encounters various characters and experiences. I can talk through the book and themes of identity and visibility at the Studio Museum in Harlem. Finally, I’ll meander over to my fave, Riverside Park, where the protagonist's introspective journey aligns with the beauty of the Hudson River. I love this part of Harlem near to where I used to live in Morningside Heights. Experiencing it through the lens of Ellison’s classic will add a brand new layer to the memories I already have here.
"Breakfast at Tiffany's" by Truman Capote
I’ve seen the movie but never read this one. Mirroring Holly Golightly's iconic morning ritualI I can begin my day at Tiffany & Co. on Fifth Avenue, a spot I walk by each Monday on my way to therapy. I can keep walking on up to explore charming brownstone neighborhoods on the Upper East Side that capture Holly's spirit. I can head over, this time not to the Hudson, but to the East River, reminiscent of Holly's rooftop escapades. I can enjoy a meal and a book dialogue to unpack and digest the book at Joe Allen Restaurant (it’s still open in case you’re curious), a favorite among theatergoers and artists, reflecting Holly's bohemian lifestyle. Then I can end with a Broadway show in the Theater District, where the bright lights echo Holly's dreams and aspirations.
"The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
For this one, I can start at the iconic Bethesda Terrace in Central Park, where Esther Greenwood reflects on her life. I can then head to the Bleecker Street Cinema, now known as the IFC Center, where Esther watches a movie. Then I can hang out in the Village Vanguard in Greenwich Village, a jazz club where Esther experiences a moment of clarity. At the Morgan Library & Museum, which houses manuscripts and memorabilia related to Plath's life and work I can have an in-depth book chat in the bright and inviting Morgan Cafe.
I wrote this post to remind myself that while the idea of reading 100 Years of Solitude in Colombia, Don Quixote in Spain, and The Odyssey boating around Greece do sound amazing, I happen to live around the corner from and walk through where plenty of other great works of literature take place. After these three read-walk-and-talks above think of all the random little bits of trivia I’ll get to clobber my partner with as we walk through these neighborhoods for years and years to come!
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