Last time you were in a bookstore?

[Mike Hobart]

There used to be three bookshops that I regularly patronised in my home town. One has closed down and is now a discount pharmacy. Another put in a coffee shop and now feels more like a shop that sells books rather than a bookshop. The third sells a lot of stuff for the younger demographic, featuring a lot of comics and paranormal romances.

I have to say I don't get in to a bookshop much at all these days.

[petermillard]

Earlier in the year - but only because I found an unused Waterstones gift card from Christmas 2010... I don't think I visited a bookstore at all last year, and possibly not the year before either.

[CazMar]

Not since Borders went bust - the whole business and the near loss of big gift voucher reallt soured my bookstore feelings (I used to love them). But I have been to a 2nd hand book sale.

[elemenoP]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

I belive you may mean "bonsai" meaning "tray plantation" whereas "banzai" is long live as in long live the Emperor (lit. 10.000 years).

This thread begs the question; Will our children's children even know what a book store is?

I believe you may mean "raises the question" whereas "begs the question" is a logical fallacy or circular reasoning (cf http://begthequestion.info/)

(sorry, I had to do it!)

eP

[bevdeforges]

Last summer when I was visiting in the US I spent some time in Barnes & Nobles, browsing their selection and noting down interesting titles to buy later for my Reader. Didn't feel bad because B&N is pushing their Nooks. Now, if they'd only let me buy e-books from their online store, everyone would be happy. (Can't buy from them because I live overseas - not that I'm above hacking the system....)

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by elemenoP

I believe you may mean "raises the question" whereas "begs the question" is a logical fallacy or circular reasoning (cf http://begthequestion.info/)

(sorry, I had to do it!)

eP

Ahhh, the limitations of using a foreign language. Idioms are always the hardest to use correctly. I stand corrected.

[jocampo]

Both experience are inclusive, I think.

I must admit I buy most of my computer books at Amazon. This is not only because is more convenient and cheap, but because B&N computer book selection "is a joke" (sorry, but that's the true)

However, when talking about socialization, having fun, going out, nothing can or will replace visiting a mortal brick store like B&N.

Last time was like 3 days ago and I go almost all weekends. I don't buy books every time I go there, but I certainly spend some bucks in the store.

Also even though I can check Amazon reviews online and read some chapters for free, it its more interesting for me to check book covers or book's spine and compare titles myself. That's easier to do (or more fun) with a physical book.

I'm also addicted to caffeine .. and there is always a Starbucks inside B&N. While not the best Colombian coffee, it is still coffee.

[TimW]

Last Wednesday at Joseph-Beth Booksellers... My daughter got two books, including an autographed copy of Article 5.

[Salgueiros]

I never stopped going to bookstores (good bookstores). They are fantastical places still, full of wonderful things to read and with an above average concentration of interesting people.

[Fozzybear]

I was in one today, though I didn't buy any books as I'd just been into the library and borrowed a couple (Patrick DeWitt's Sisters Brothers and a guide book on Small Woodland Creatures).

I don't think bookshops have really deteriorated as such, though when Waterstones closed one of the two stores here they closed the larger one that actually held a decent range of books in favour for the small store on the High Street that has a pretty poor range in comparison (the old shop was fantastic as it was quite large and airy but still jam-packed with shelves of books), I think it's more that with online stores offering such a vast selection it becomes more obvious that regular-sized physical stores can't offer the same choice. If a bookshop has an intelligent attitude towards book choice and is well laid-out then it can still be a compelling experience though, there are some tiny bookshops I love to look around as they have such interesting books and browsing amazon is no comparison to exploring a good second-hand bookshop - you never know what you might turn up there.

[theducks]

Borders was the last 'New' bookstore and that was last year.
I have been in a couple of Used Book Stores in the last 6 months.

All my local 'good' (stocked my tastes, easy to locate those) stores have closed or turned into Not so Good stores
The 2 Big Name, Neighborhood Video stores have also closed.
We have Fry's and Walmart, Target for Video and Books (At least Fry's has a fair computer book section. Nothing like Computer Literacy Books had )

[Solitaire1]

As far as purchasing new books, I usually visit my local comic book shop at least once every other week. I also stop by my local Barnes & Noble about once a month, mostly for magazines and manga (I'm currently reading the manga "Afterschool Charisma").

Although I like shopping on line, sometimes I still enjoy going to my local bookstore and browsing the racks in the hope of finding a gem. Also, some types of books, like trade paperbacks, are still best on paper.

[DreamWriter]

The last time I was in a bookstore was just over a year ago.

[andyh2000]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Ahhh, the limitations of using a foreign language. Idioms are always the hardest to use correctly. I stand corrected.

Don't worry - 99% of people who have English as their first language use "begs the question" the same way you did. So you were correct with the common current usage.

Andrew

[mrscoach]

I was about to say it was almost a year ago, but realized I was in Hastings last weekend, but it was so my daughter could buy a DVD, so I'm not sure that really counts.

I only went two or three times in the year I lived in the same town as a bookstore. I am used to living in small towns without bookstores and when I do get to town I have other things to do so I can get home without spending 12 hours in town. I usually picked up my pbooks at other outlets while I was going about my business, such as the grocery store and Walmart. Now I hardly even look at their selections. I have shopped for books online so long it is most natural for me, both p and e editions.