How Barnes & Noble Came Back From Near Dead - Page 4

DNSB · 02-09-2023, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Critteranne

I'm not crazy about stores separating SF and fantasy (and separating fantasy into urban and dark fantasy). Some books are hard to classify. Also, books often get misshelved because they "look" like fantasy when they are really SF. But maybe it works better for most shoppers?

Or where books 1, 2, 6 & 7 in a septology are filed in SF and books 3, 4 & 5 are filed in fantasy which I ran into once at a local bookstore. Pretty much up to the person who was shelving the books.

I personally preferred shelving them together under SF&F

Quoth · 02-09-2023, 04:35 PM

Yes, there is smooth range between the two extremes.

haertig · 02-15-2023, 10:14 PM

We have a large B&N near me. I haven't been there in years. I need to go back. This thread has motivated me.

I remember when the kids were young, we always had a great time going there as a family. We had a standing offer for the kids - "We won't always buy you a toy, a video, or things like that, but we will always buy you books that you want." So we'd walk into that B&N store and their faces would just light up. The family would disperse on our own individual searches and meet up again in an hour or so to decide if the adventure was wrapping up or if it should continue for another hour before regrouping. Sometimes we'd run into each other in the store and say "hi!" in passing, before continuing on with our personal quests. The agreed upon "You want it, you can have it" rule (as long as it's a book) brought a sense of freedom and fun to everybody in the family.

Now that the kids are grown and moved out

I don't go on these adventures anymore. I mostly get ebooks now, and most of them come from the library. Sitting at your computer doing searches is quite boring compared to the old days. Instant gratification to get the book. But no excited anticipation of the family bookstore trip.

I just went into The Boulder Bookstore last week for my first book signing. By my favorite author. And I was immediately thrown back into earlier years at the sights. I'm not kidding, it was actually thrilling and awe inspiring for me to see all the books on display. I was like a kid again myself. Because the book signing was my goal for the night, I did not do as much looking around and shopping as I would have liked. But I want to go back there. I just need to schedule a few hours to wander.

I think it's the bookstore experience that I like more so than paper books. I do like paper books, just staring at them even, but digital ones are more convenient and practical. Just being at a bookstore is so peaceful for me. It makes me feel happy. I had totally forgotten how great a bookstore is, but re-experienced the wonder at that book signing last Friday.

frahse · 02-21-2023, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ntsimp

As far as I'm concerned, no one has yet come up with a replacement for the experience of discovering new books by wandering the physical bookshelves, whether at a bookstore or a library. It's why I still love Barnes & Noble. Amazon can't do that. Goodreads can't do it. I suppose it's possible in principle, but it hasn't happened yet.

"experience of discovering new books by wandering the physical bookshelves"

Amen. Amen!

I loved going to the local small newstand in a small college town nearby, but then the owner died. We used to talk Sci Fi books and authors all the time. He knew what the authors were up to. He asked me once if I wanted him to call me when some came in.
I told him, "No, I want the pleasure of scanning the rack and the surprise and excitement of seeing a new title."

It was a small store, so it didn't get everything, and then I would drive 25 miles one way to a BAM and 35 another way to a B&N. Now both those stores are considerably reduced in their offerings.

ZodWallop · 03-01-2023, 10:04 AM

I went to my local B&N for the first time in a few months last night. The store is so different than what it was when I worked there part time a decade ago (when the first Nook came out, in fact).

Stores of B&N becoming a toy retailer with a sideline in books have been greatly exaggerated. At least at my store.

And handling the Pearl Pink Nook Glowlight 4 made me SO tempted to buy one.

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02-09-2023, 04:35 PM	#47
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 7,212 Karma: 63550109 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: Both Kinds: epub based makes and Kindle	Yes, there is smooth range between the two extremes.

02-15-2023, 10:14 PM	#48
haertig Wizard Posts: 1,553 Karma: 22523942 Join Date: Sep 2017 Device: PW3, Fire HD8 Gen7, Moto G7, Sansa Clip v2, Ruizu X26	We have a large B&N near me. I haven't been there in years. I need to go back. This thread has motivated me. I remember when the kids were young, we always had a great time going there as a family. We had a standing offer for the kids - "We won't always buy you a toy, a video, or things like that, but we will always buy you books that you want." So we'd walk into that B&N store and their faces would just light up. The family would disperse on our own individual searches and meet up again in an hour or so to decide if the adventure was wrapping up or if it should continue for another hour before regrouping. Sometimes we'd run into each other in the store and say "hi!" in passing, before continuing on with our personal quests. The agreed upon "You want it, you can have it" rule (as long as it's a book) brought a sense of freedom and fun to everybody in the family. Now that the kids are grown and moved out I don't go on these adventures anymore. I mostly get ebooks now, and most of them come from the library. Sitting at your computer doing searches is quite boring compared to the old days. Instant gratification to get the book. But no excited anticipation of the family bookstore trip. I just went into The Boulder Bookstore last week for my first book signing. By my favorite author. And I was immediately thrown back into earlier years at the sights. I'm not kidding, it was actually thrilling and awe inspiring for me to see all the books on display. I was like a kid again myself. Because the book signing was my goal for the night, I did not do as much looking around and shopping as I would have liked. But I want to go back there. I just need to schedule a few hours to wander. I think it's the bookstore experience that I like more so than paper books. I do like paper books, just staring at them even, but digital ones are more convenient and practical. Just being at a bookstore is so peaceful for me. It makes me feel happy. I had totally forgotten how great a bookstore is, but re-experienced the wonder at that book signing last Friday.

03-01-2023, 10:04 AM	#50
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 9,713 Karma: 90747213 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara HD; Nook ST w/Glowlight, (2015) Glowlight Plus, Glowlight 3	I went to my local B&N for the first time in a few months last night. The store is so different than what it was when I worked there part time a decade ago (when the first Nook came out, in fact). Stores of B&N becoming a toy retailer with a sideline in books have been greatly exaggerated. At least at my store. And handling the Pearl Pink Nook Glowlight 4 made me SO tempted to buy one.