The staff at Borders never gave me recommendations of books to buy.
Neither did anyone at Barnes & Noble. In fact, the last time I went to Barnes & Noble, I was so insulted, I never went back. The clerk ringing me up took a look at one of my books, and smirked. “So, you read that kind of book.” Yes, I do, but I don’t buy them from you anymore.
The Great Exchange, a used bookstore chain here in San Antonio, does a magnificent job of handselling books. They know what you like to read, and they hand you a copy of the book they’re recommending along with comments other customers have made.
Most chain bookstores have forgotten how to sell books. They sell calendar and coffee and the experience of reading books – so they think. My reading experience is me on my comfy chaise, a good light, the low murmuring of the TV in the background, and the snoring of the dog. I don’t pay any attention to anything else because I’m hearing the book.
Goodreads has taken up where bookstores have fallen down, I think. So has Amazon, who sends me: you bought XXX book, other readers think that YYY is similar. If I’m intrigued, I’ll download a first chapter. Sometimes, the reviews at Amazon are helpful. Sometimes, they aren’t.
I’m not the “normal” reader, in that I never looked at bookstore browsing as a fun, relaxing experience. But, then, I’m not a shopper. Not even of books, which are part of my life. I want to get a book without having to jump through hoops, stand in line, or endure the smirks of a teeny-bopper.
That’s why Amazon – even before I got a Kindle – was ideal for me. I used to buy from Barnes & Noble, too, but now mostly Kindle books.
I think there will always be paper books. I think the distribution system will be different. I think the days of shipping thousands of books out only to have hundreds come back in is going the way of the dodo. I think inventory will be tightened, and online distribution of both paper and ebooks will take the place of bookstores.
Authors will be impacted because we always are in times of change. But I think the new distribution model will mean that readers get books faster, and ultimately that’s good both for reader and writer.
I don’t like shopping so I do most everything on line . I know where all the good food is
We have a Chinese restaurant not far from me that just went online. Oh, no! I love their veggie fried rice, but it’s SO NOT what I’m supposed to eat. It’s a weekly temptation, building my character. Sigh.
Won’t get me here, dear heart. I absolutely refuse to talk about book signings.
As for online take-away food… Oh. My.
Oh, honey chile, I have had some GREAT moments at book signings.
1. You the one who writes crotch novels? (Dirty old man leering.) 2. Where’s the men’s room? (Gorgeous guy with two year old in tow.) 3. Everybody says I should write a book. (Lost count.) 4. If I gave you the idea, and you wrote it, can we go 50-50? (See number 3.) 5. So, did you really write this? (Thumbing through book, creasing the cover, looking for good parts.) Any sex in it? (I just went kind of blank at that point.)
OMG !!!! Now I’m wiping laugh tears off my face. Hey… did you send all these people from your signings to mine? I rather think so….
Forgot to say, I do love browsing bookstores. I think the scent of books, new or used, is enough to make any book-loving soul swoon. Convenient as the Internet is, nothing can compare to walking into a real bookstore and catching that first whiff of BOOKS!!
Because you’re my friend, I’m going to ignore the fact that you just said you LIKE shopping! Browsing a bookstore is SHOPPING.
I do hate shopping. I make exceptions for BOOKS. That’s not shopping. It’s like breathing. Necessary to life.
‘Course, I’ll admit that about the only time I get out to do such shopping… er, ah… browsing, is when an English friend is over here and we go out on a girlfriend day jaunts.
The bookstores we have here are cold places all bussiness.( they aren’t to close,Daytona or outskirts of Orlando)best guess there. Now put me in old buildings with wood shelves lots of old books along with new, seating so i can loaf and watch people.I might do it. You know maybe some lighting to give the place a homey feel.A few well placed dust motes.
so I’ll settle for blogs that might be all I get since I would rather be home than flitting about. The exception would be a road trip which I’m starting to map out.I wanna see the northern lights better this time , and critters of course.
Now our library is wonderful ,lots of seats really nice people who don’t seem to mind people talking and kids have a room to go a little nuts in with lots of books to look at.They also have reading activities for kids .This week they are starting up a group of people who are interested in writing.They have book signings with local authors and they seem to do well .I’ve had fun meeting people in the rows and hearing what authors and books they liked . Talking to a person hearing what they say is so much better than reading a review. Now saying all that I would like to meet some of my favorite authors but would probably not go to book signings I’d rather meet in a neutral setting where you really talk and find out about them.I want personalities
The only food they deliver around here is pizza.
Jeanne,
Ther is a book store on Cape Cod on 6A down around Yarmouth. This place is amazing. It is in an old wooden building from the 1800s and is like a rabbit warren. You squeeze between the piles of books and ask the owner were you might find what you are looking for. He also has books and books piled up alon the outside of the building. And yes there are dust motes!
I would go there in a heart beat
I want to go to your Yarmouth book store, Kathy. What a grand place that must be. A book lover’s dream.
There used to a wonderful place here called Brant’s. It was in an old army barrack and crammed with books. Bliss! Place had character and was so much fun to browse. The wooden floors were crooked and creaked. I loved that. There was also a resident dog which made the place all the more special to me.
Sadly, they closed a few years ago. Readers here were shattered, myself included.
Take a look here: http://www.brantsbooks.com/
Be sure to scroll down and look at the gallery photos to see how neat it was.
‘Course the granddaddy of atmosphere-laden book stores – to me – is Baldwin’s Book Book in West Chester, PA. OMG!! I imagine it’s similar to your Yarmouth book store.
Take a peek: http://www.bookbarn.com/home.htm
And be sure to take a ‘walk-through’ tour: http://www.bookbarn.com/about/walk.htm
Years ago, they had two darling Jack Russells running about the place, greeting visitors and just being cute little Jacks. Talk about a good pr move. My kind of place: lots of BOOKS and dogs welcome.
The bookstore in San Antonio has two cats. They give you the same look as the owner. Too funny.
There’s a book store like that in San Antonio. Echoing wood floors that slant out from the center of the house, stacks and stack and stacks of dusty books. Wonderful place, owned by a curmudgeon who really doesn’t care if you’re there to buy or not.
When I voted in November, I was shocked to discover a great library about a mile from my house. It was huge, and so busy that after I voted, I walked around. They had groups discussing books and children’s reading hour, and projects, and all sorts of great community things. I’m a little embarrassed that I didn’t know it was there!
That’s how ours is and the ladies are so cute…All is almost volunteer run.That’s one of the places I donate to .They are worth a million .
I can spend hours in a book store, even our local Borders. I went there first to look for one of your books. Of course they only had your last two on the shelf. That is what really bugs me about them. Then I have to order it and wait. I am finding Borders online does not offer everthing. I ended up ordeing your book from Barnes and Noble and have it sent directly here. I usually have books sent to the store but my nearest B&N is a good half hour on the highway away.
I have a Sony e-reader and like it but find that I would buy e-books from B&N but they don’t work on my Sony so am now thinking of adding a Nook to my collection. While I will always buy hard copies of some authors I am running out of room and e-copies can be endless. I can see book stores changing. Not sure I like it.
I can see book stores changing, but I’m one of those people who looks for the sunshine in the middle of a storm. I think we’re on the cusp of some fun things, but – like all times of change – it’s a little scary.