Image: eflon via flickr
I can’t imagine a world without bookstores. Of course, 5 years ago I would have said I couldn’t imagine a world without record stores. Always a record store junkie, I was slow to embrace online music sales, one, because I appreciate the actual CD, & two, just because I love the atmosphere inherent in a good record store. But for the most part, I’ve accepted browsing and shopping for my music online.
There are definitely advantages: I can listen to samples & I can buy only what I want. Admittedly, online music sales have likely increased my music buying given the fact that I can try before I buy. Still, I always make a point to stop by my favorite record store in LA–Amoeba–when I’m in the neighborhood or when I really do want the hard copy of a favorite CD. I’m thankful Amoeba, and all the other independent stalwarts, have held-out. But, I guess if they too disappeared I would survive.
However, I can’t say the same for my favorite bookstores.
Just like online music sales, online book sales have become the future of the book-selling. Yes, there are advantages here as well: it’s easy to find those books your local bookstore doesn’t carry, & thanks to Amazon, books are often cheaper. I’ll confess, I frequently buy books on Amazon & I’m more likely to buy in bulk to take advantage of free-shipping offers. But, the fact remains, Amazon can never replace the pleasure of browsing in a good bookstore. Just as Charles Rosen points out in his blog post, The Lost Pleasure of Browsing, on Tuesday’s New York Review of Books blog, there is a certain pleasure in holding a book in your hands, and turning & reading a few pages before you buy.
Weekly, I can be found in one of my local bookstores. It doesn’t matter if it’s the local independents like Book Soup or Vroman’s, or one of the major chains like Borders or Barnes & Noble. I just like bookstores. I like wandering through the aisles, along the tables, pulling down & picking up books just because something about the title, the author’s name, or the cover or spine art caught my attention. For the most part, this is how I discover new books & new writers. I’m horrible at accepting someone else’s recommendations, and I’m reluctant to follow the crowd & read what’s on the New York Times best-seller list. I need to hold a book in my hands, flip through the pages, and stop at random somewhere in the middle & read a line or two & see if my interest is piqued.
I sincerely hope bookstores survive. Without book browsing in my favorite bookstores, I’m not sure what I would do with my Saturday afternoons.
October 16, 2009 at 9:03 am
I don’t do as much browsing as you, but I do think my colleagues think I’m crazy because I’m known relatively often to go to the bookstore when I’m not working so I have *time* to look around (Particularly upstairs, where I”m not usually working. I usually have a pretty good handle on fiction since I spend all day retrieving books, hauling them up from the basement, recommending them, etc.)
The lure of the weekend afternoon browse is great, but I must say, it has to be a painful experience here in Paris. Since there are not really a multitude of large-size English bookshops to go to (with the demise of Brentano’s this summer), it just gets crazy crowded. As a customer, I would HATE it, and would certainly never come try to peruse during that crush of people. Ugh.
Looking forward to reading the article you highlighted.
October 18, 2009 at 2:38 am
Kim,
Brentano’s closed? I spent more than a few hours in there over the years.
I think the reason I’ve always been horribly reluctant to live out my dream of working in a bookstore is for all the reasons you listed. Where would I go spend all my free-time?!?!?! I wouldn’t know what to do with myself!
October 17, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Great post (and loved Kim’s comment, too).
I love bookstores too … have written about travel and books a bit on my blog, and the joy I find in exploring bookshops anywhere.
Your blog is wonderful – really enjoy reading about your writing (and reading) journey.
Cheers.