I went to one of the few big bookstores with physical storefronts remaining yesterday. I don’t need to name names. It was not the best experience and I had not realized just how far things had fallen since I last visited large chain bookstores.
Where it used to be shelves upon shelves of books to choose from, their inventory was greatly diminished and nearly half of what remained was only tangentially related to books. Lego. Jigsaw puzzles. Stuffies. Overpriced boardgames. Toys. Journals and bags to carry those journals.
One of their worst sins, in my skewed opinion, was the utter lack of anything but hardcover and QP (“quality paperback”) versions of books; those higher quality, but double-priced variants of the mass market paperback (“MM”). MMs were almost non-existent at the store unless you purchased boxed collections of an author’s work.
Sometimes, you want something on the cheap — not to put on a shelf, but to read and give away. Or resell. Or donate to a Little Library when you are done.
I like having books that you can not feel guilty for “living in”. I care for my books that I like, but I don’t need hoity-toity copies of the modern day penny dreadful.
I went there because I am in the mood to get back into reading as my escape. My only rules are for what I plan to read is that I don’t want anything to heady or too commonplace. One of the problems with shopping online is algorithms. Amazon and others have decided what I should see — so I receive a curated selection of next reads instead of letting me browse by section to see if a title or artwork grabs me enough to read a synopsis. And then, based on the synopsis, grabs me enough to give someone new a read. Or someone I’ve been meaning to try out a read.
Going to a physical store lets me browse without curation, which is becoming a curse of the digital age.
And, while I knew I wasn’t going to find something atypical at such a store, I had expected there to be some variety and some scaling of pricing based on the quality of the book I was purchasing.
Instead, almost everything was $20 (QPs) or $30 (harcovers). And there was very little variety. Even the artwork for most books is starting to feel very samey, with little or nothing to separate one title from the next — some of which is starting to feel very AI-generated, if you ask me.
I typically shop at a used bookstore chain and I regret not going there instead. I might have only found books 2 and 4 of a series of 5, but at least I would have had some variety and maybe even found a diamond in the rough. My main goal for going to the big chain was to take advantage of their organization and relative completeness. But it lacked even that, aside from containing the vast homogeny of Titles That Will Sell. It appears that they don’t even employ store-specific purchasing agents as they did in the past. Again, it felt as if a title might only appear if an algorithm decided it would sell.
Coming home and looking online, even the dread algorithm offered up more interesting reading that what I could find in a physical store. Having worked in a bookstore for a few years, I was saddened by the realization that many physical bookstores are actively making themselves irrelevant by not maintaining a focus on books, and not offering up a variety in either pricing or in selection.
I am reading more lately, for the record.
Currently, I am rereading the Witcher saga to remind myself of the events leading up to the two most recently available books in the series. While the fantasy world of that book includes magic, most of the storytelling is less about the magic than in most fantasy books. The stories are more about the human condition.
I am planning on reading the old penny dreadful that is best known as the tale of Sweeny Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street. And a few other titles from that era.
I also have The Poppy War in my to-read list, a grimdark fantasy based on events during the Song Dynasty in China. I like the idea of a non-European take on the genre. And having a female protagonist. It might not be my cup of tea, but I’ll give it a whirl, especially because it is a free read for me.
I’m mostly looking for “eye candy”, something that doesn’t require much brain power to enjoy, but that doesn’t insult my intelligence either. I’ll probably find something else if I just look around (which I haven’t done much of the past few years).
26 responses to “Same as it never was”
I feel this. It’s why I’m a self proclaimed library addict and no, I’m not quitting. 😁
Sadly, the used-book syndrome is showing up at the local libraries when it comes to physical copies and you can just browse without wondering if you pick up books 2 and 3 if you’ll be able to find book 1 in a series.
And ebooks… wait lists of an infuriating length for many titles (e.g., 67 holds on 4 copies). But I know how that happens because my twins request holds on anything that suits their passing fancy 😂. And that’s just physical books (they can’t stand ebooks), so you can only imagine if they decided to overlook their hate for ebooks…
I miss it when people never went to the library. I always had a ton to choose from in the 70s and 80s.
Aww I feel very lucky we have access to the interlibrary loan (melcat) here. If it’s not in library but is in a library in the state of Michigan I can get it. They’ll send it to my library. I’m often very surprised by the older and rarer books I have access to. College libraries typically have the rarer stuff. I’ll do ebook with no other option available but that’s only happened once so far. I’m the freak with a stack of library books plus shelves full of unread stuff I keep saying “I’ll get to”. I read differently now. If something starts losing my interest I’ll pick up something else and maybe go back to it or maybe I won’t. I always seem to remember where I left off too. I guess I’d rather absorb these tidbits rather than tweets or status updates, I dunno. 😁
It’s definitely refreshing to put that social stuff behind me.
We have the interlibrary loans, but the wait times are atrocious and the out state libraries are loath to actually send their books. Sometimes they refuse to loan!
I ought to hit the University library. I can’t check things out without being a student, but they’ve got some interesting titles in the stacks.
I love used book stores. books a million would have reduced prices tables. I would buy what ever i felt i need buying from there. Usually i shop for digital books via amazon. But if ww see a used book store we go in. One of our favorites.in this one in downtown deland floridan Mayas Books.
Working at Borders Books and Music was dangerous for me because of their cut-out selections and my employee discount.
We used to have a used bookstore just about a mile away, but they shut down and moved their inventory to their sister locations. It was a sad sad day.
Glad to hear you’re still reading, although saddened by your negative experience at an actual bookshop. Cash is king all around these days, it seems, and when the publishers decide which of the millions of submissions they receive will net them the most of that they’ll back it all the way – and nothing else gets a look in, it seems. I requested my local independent bookshop to keep some of my books in, and was disappointed in the negative reaction I got. I would have supplied them, so no layout required, but the woman still wasn’t interested. Had I been a regular customer, apparently, she might have given me a hearing; I’d love to know if she tells the ‘big name’ authors the same, but I already know the answer. I appreciate the difference between them and me, but still … I had hoped for a bookseller who actually cared about books, but no; money, all the way, it seems. And yes, they have to pay their bills, but there ought to be a space for others. Whatever, I’m rambling. I hope you find more of what you’re looking for, and thoroughly enjoy it when you do. 🙂
I’m a big fan of used book stores. Even thrift stores are interesting to find a book.
Me too. I had to fight the urge to buy more tonight.
I dislike being told what I want to read too. I want to be the program director! And no commercials!!!
It’s all commercial breaks these days. How dare you refuse your programming!
On that note . . . I have a request for you, Michael.
What would that be?
“Shut your pie-hole, Michael!” perhaps? 🤪
🤣But no.
I’m thinking that I’ve found a lot of talented writers on WordPress. I was wondering if you’d be interested in curating a collection of new short stories from ten or twelve of them. I know some and you know some and together we know some. It’s just an idea, but it seems to me you would be the right sort of person to put it together. I’m thinking of kind of a long term project, nothing immediate, no specific theme other than quality work, and no real thoughts on physical publication, more just for the blog, at least for starters. Interested?
I’ll have to think on it, find out more about your vision. Shoot me your ideas via email, even if they’re not fully fleshed out. Toss in the bad with the good in case the idea is a diamond in the rough.
If you were thinking publication, I’d probably tag Tara to see if she is inclined to do something under her imprint (Red Earth Ink).
If purely digital, I can work around that, but I’d want to know more (hosting, management, fiction theming & etc.), especially if you thinking more magazine and less one-shot.
But, yeah, color me interested.
I’m mostly thinking digital and WordPress, for the moment. I wouldn’t turn my nose up at physical publication and I know you have some connections and experience in that world, but I was thinking mostly as a way to encourage some of the talented writers I’ve found by using this site. My next step would be to start reaching out to the ones I think would be interested.
I’m still finishing up this novel, but I should be done with that in a month and I’m interested in taking on a new project. I would also be interested in seeing what you could come up with (I know prose ain’t your first love, but I do think you’re one of those talented writers😉)
Also, I know WordPress isn’t necessarily your favorite thing, but I think I would stick to it at least to get rolling, because that’s where I’m doing most of my reading now and it does seem to facilitate our collective communication the best.
I don’t have anything against WordPress (I haven’t left since I started in about 2006), but I do think that their paid hosting is a bit restrictive and overpriced. The tradeoff, of course, is that it mostly “just works”, whereas I have to play games at times — mostly due to my personalization. The transferred domain has had almost zero problems, but it has also undergone fewer modifications.
I just haven’t been in the mood for writing prose lately. Or been very happy with my ideas when I test them out. Poetry always came easier for me.
I think a magazine-style publication might work better than a one-off, although I could certainly subdomain a one-off at either ravensweald or sceadugenga (TedFabulousCollectionOfAwesomeness.ravensweald.com, for example). Zero hosting cost if you wanted to go that route. Probably should plan on chucking out the $20 or so for a domain registration as a .com or .org if you are thinking magazine/journal style. It looks better than it being a subdomain. Again, I have server space and bandwidth to spare to host it on my account.
Another thing to discuss/debate is monetization to pay for hosting and domain registration (not ad-barf, which is something I would never help with and I can’t imagine you going for either). Tasteful stuff and limited, if much at all. There’s always the Kofi/donation route as well.
Like I said, lots of options to consider on the logistics if you want to think about it a bit and get back to me.
Sounds good, Michael. Again, I’m just kinda kicking the idea around right now. Think on it and revisit in a month or so? I won’t start soliciting stories from anyone yet, I figure you might know a couple writers we might query that I don’t know as well, and I would love it if everyone would agree to write something new just for this, so that might be a big ask. From me, too. I only have ideas for what I’m doing right now, and can’t start work on something new until I’m finished. Don’t sell yourself short on the prose, but I get it if it’s not your inspiration. Let it churn, though, and we’ll wait and see what happens . . .
Sounds good. In a month I’ll need a distraction from considering another NaNo run 😂
You can save me from myself by giving me something else to think about.
Channel that energy my man! WE ARE THE PROGRAM DIRECTORS!!
Pretty much the same here, really. Book Stores are mainly stocked (aside from games, toys etc) with books that will shift units and several repackaged versions of the Classics. Every now and then you can find a gem or something out of the ordinary, but they tend to be single copies so you have to hope your luck is in!
Over priced? Certainly, but it is good to be able to browse, and there is nothing like the feel of a good book.
Charity and second hand bookshops are always worth a visit – picked up one or two goodies which had led on to delving deeper.
Good to hear you’re reading more!
I’m determined to break my reliance on modern day distractions and dopamine triggers…
Count me in.
You are always welcome to join in to this madness of mine 🤪
👍
[…] the opposite end of the spectrum from my recent nationwide chain bookstore experience, I found plenty of things to throw my money at last night at the used bookstore last night. It […]