CoverSpy

A team of book spies hits the subways, streets, parks & bars to find out what New Yorkers are reading now.

[coverspy]

Hold Me Tight, Dr. Sue Johnson (F, 30s, white and blue striped linen blouse, tan slacks, wedge espadrilles, finished book and tucked it into bag, 3 train)

[coverspy]

The Red Tent, Anita Diamant (F, 20s, flower bouquet sticking out of tote bag, pleather jacket, Adidas sneakers, 4 train)

[coverspy]

Central Places, Delia Cai (F, 30s, wet curls, fuzzy fleece, backpack at feet, open book on lap, scrolling through phone, Q train)

[coverspy]

Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace (M, 60s, long grey hair beneath flat cap, leather jacket, iced coffee with no lid, Q train)

[coverspy]

These Precious Days, Ann Patchett (F, 20s, Mets beanie, blue and white puffer coat, opaque black tights, Asics sneakers, New Yorker tote bag, black N95 mask, 2 train)

[coverspy]

Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison (F, 40s, blunt bob, long black overcoat, dark checked pants, black boots, black N95 mask, Q train)

[coverspy]

Cloud Cuckoo Land, Anthony Doerr (M, 30s, Mets cap, black puffer coat, very clean black and white Asics, wire glasses frames, Q train)

[coverspy]

The Creative Act, Rick Rubin (F, 40s, light grey hoodie with hood up, light wash jeans, melon colored puffer coat, Blundstone boots, Q train)

[coverspy]

Sea of Tranquility, Emily St. John Mandel (F, 40s, very thick glasses frames, nose stud, red nails, large black cross body bag, library copy, 2 train)

[coverspy]

Solitary, Albert Woodfox (M, 50s, greying at the temples, navy cotton face mask, wool lined black jacket, black slacks, 5 train)

[coverspy]

Loot, Jude Watson (M, teens, grey puffer jacket, wearing black Herschel knapsack, standing in the doorway, 4 train)

[coverspy]

Prayer on Fire, Fred Hartley III (F, 40s, tan sweatsuit, thick gold hoops, Skechers, patterned “love” socks, 4 train)

[coverspy]

Slouching Towards Bethlehem, Joan Didion (M, 30s, grey Under Armour cap, navy jacket, backpack at feet, large headphones over ears, Q train)

[coverspy]

Theodore Roethke: Selected Poems, ed. Edward Hirsch (M, 30s, scruffy, army green utility jacket, jeans, 4 train)

[coverspy]

Den of Thieves, James B. Stewart (M, 30s, tall, glasses, black puffy Marmot jacket, all black Allbirds, duffle bag at feet, eyes resting intermittently, 4 train)

[coverspy]

The Speed of Trust, Stephen M. R. Covey (F, 50s, glasses, silvery bangs and ponytail, backpack on lap, tan booties, 5 train)

[coverspy]

Hell’s Angels, Hunter S. Thompson (F, 40s, navy knitted beanie, black belted puffer coat, thick boots, uptown 4/5/6 platform at Union Square)