We love getting lost in a good book and Burton’s Bookstore in Greenport is a great spot to find both the latest bestsellers and some hidden gems you may not have heard about.
Burton’s owner Scott Raulsome recently spoke to northforker about the most popular books currently on shelves, as well as some popular books by local authors.
“It’s a quieter time of year,” he said. “Books that came out [late last year] are still popular, and people are getting around to them now.”
Here are the overall most popular books at Burton’s right now.
To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara
This book takes place in an alternate version of America and tells three different stories at the end of three different centuries.
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Another novel telling separate tales, Cloud Cuckoo Land weaves together several different characters in different times and places, tied together by a mysterious Greek myth.
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
“Hoover’s really taken off,” said Raulsome, who noted that Hoover’s books are often read by both adults and teens. This newest book is about a young woman, recently out of prison, looking for redemption and trying to reconnect with her daughter.
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
“People aren’t as familiar with this author,” said Raulsome, but this new book about a woman in China who must prove she’s a good mother after the government arrests her was an instant New York Times Bestseller.
Unsinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy by Jamie Raskin
This memoir from Congressman Jamie Raskin has proved to be an instant hit, chronicling Raskin’s tumultuous and tragic 45-day journey from losing a child to suicide to the January 6, 2021 storming of the Capitol.
Raulsome also shared the most popular books sold at Burton’s by local authors.
Boy Soldiers: A Personal Story of Nazi Elite Schooling by Helene Munson
Burton’s Bookstore is the only brick-and-mortar bookstore in the US currently selling this book by the Southold-based author, about her father’s time growing up in Nazi Germany.
Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow The World by Mark Clifford
This is a book about China’s crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong including suppression of the printed word, written by New York and North Fork-based Clifford. “Bookstores and publishers have been a major target [of suppression],” said Raulsome.
Horrific Homicides by Thomas Stark
This book about some of Long Island’s most infamous crimes was released posthumously by the late judge Thomas Stark, a Riverhead resident.
The Shelter Island 36 by Jason Casey
This cookbook remains a Burton’s mainstay, according to Raulsome, who said he constantly orders more copies.
Burton’s Bookstore (43 Front Street, Greenport) is currently open seven days a week. Check out their website for updated hours.
