Quote:
Originally Posted by J. Strnad
This same article was posted at Kindleboards, and the responses were about the same...as mine will be!
It is a selfish and juvenile love that professes to love something but gives nothing in return. (See "parasite" in the dictionary.) Anyone who "loves" to walk around their local bookstore and pick up books and read a little and discover new books and new authors really needs to buy a book there if they want to continue to have that option. It isn't "love" if they then go home and download the books to their Kindle. That's "using," it's unsustainable, and soon enough that option will go away while those users shed copious crocodile tears over losing their "beloved" bookstores. (I'm reminded of the guy who killed his parents and then pleaded for mercy from the court because he was an orphan.)
If you really love something, you give to it, you nurture it, you help it to survive. You don't just take what you want from it.
People don't love local bookstores enough for them to survive. End of story.
I'll have, as long as my brain cooperates, very fond memories of the local libraries and local bookstores of my youth. But the world changed and they became less integral to my life. We may lament the change, but who wants to turn back the clock to the days when books and their content were available ONLY at local bookstores and local libraries? (Apart from the publishers who are fighting the changes tooth and nail, of course.)
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Although stated a little stronger than I would have put it myself, I agree with this post.
My love of bookstores stemmed from my love of books, not really the stores themselves. Yes, there is a part of me that likes/liked to browse, but the prize was bringing something new (or at least new to me) home.
Now that I can do that from the comfort of wherever I am, and have it instantly, my desire to visit a bookstore isn't really as strong as it once was.
In fact, the most recent visits to the bookstore are more for my children than for myself. It gives them the opportunity to see a large variety of stories "just for them". It is especially appreciated, as our local library is pretty pathetic.
I believe, however, as they get older they too will lean more towards digital options.