Who killed the bookstore?

[elcreative]

Why do you assume that love.forever made a typo with the original mention of "Weathering Heights." I immediately thought it was an attempt at humour as it is a mis-spelling/title quote that is often used in discussions of classics... why you assume that I haven't read the entire thread again says more about you than me... do you often "contribute" to threads you haven't read, I certainly don't!

As for getting back on topic, that should be interesting...


Edit: Kennyc: wouldn't have bothered responding but we obviously posted at more or less the same time so I didn't see your last comment until I posted this...

Originally Posted by Quexos

Oups, my mistake for making it "see" like an apology. I can tell now that you were completely right to condescendingly try and demean someone who made a typo on "Wuthering Heights" (Oh boy )
And who is talking about apologizing ? One cannot be condescending and apologetic at the same time. I believe there is a contradiction in the terms here. Just nevermind all this and continue reading Jane "Air" ...



Again you got it all wrong, the typo or whatever you wish to call it was made by a third party to this little argument. the maker of the typo is not the one feeling superior. I can tell you really read the whole thing ...



I guess that should have been my first message on miss condescension 2011 Maybe she would have gotten my point across
Subtlety only protracted this whole thing and, as it turns out, to no avail.
And Kennyc, I believe the correct thing to tell me, all things considered would have been "drop the defense" which is what I believe I was endeavoring.
In any case I'll follow your advice. There are such things as lost causes ...
Back to topic now.

[GeoffC]

I spent over an hour in a hospital waiting room this morning, and unusually it was full of folk ....

I counted about 50% of them were reading books (paper), a small number magazines whilst the remainder were gazing about or chatting to their neighbour.

Me and mine were doing Killer Sudokus ....

The reading of books certainly isn't dead (yet) - though most of those reading were at the "greyer end of society".

With only 2 major bookstores in the city, choice is good if somewhat lacking in competition.

[faithbw]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

I spent over an hour in a hospital waiting room this morning, and unusually it was full of folk ....

I counted about 50% of them were reading books (paper), a small number magazines whilst the remainder were gazing about or chatting to their neighbour.

Me and mine were doing Killer Sudokus ....

The reading of books certainly isn't dead (yet) - though most of those reading were at the "greyer end of society".

With only 2 major bookstores in the city, choice is good if somewhat lacking in competition.

Besides Amazon, this is certainly a big part of the demise of the bookstore. People in my generation and younger aren't reading as much for pleasure.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by faithbw

Besides Amazon, this is certainly a big part of the demise of the bookstore. People in my generation and younger aren't reading as much for pleasure.

assuming the greyer mention was for the older folk

I tend rather more to the 'silver'.

[faithbw]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

assuming the greyer mention was for the older folk

I tend rather more to the 'silver'.

[jbcohen]

What do you believe is the role of the "big box" book store of the 21st century? For those that don't know the term "big box" store, that is a name given to those very large stores, including: Barns and Nobels, Borders, Wall Mart, Office Depot, Pet Smart, Target and perhaps a few more that I neglected to name.

At least in my humble opinion there is not much call for the "big box" book store of the 21st century now that they have been made obsolete by the invention of the electronic book. However there are some places for them in the electronic age:

1) serving that ever declining percentage of the population that either does not know about electronic book or refuses to use electronic books or is afraid of electronic books. The segement of the population will eventual dwindle away to nothing;

2) serving that portion of the population that does not yet have a computer in their homes as yet. Will eventually go away over time.

[mldavis2]

...additionally, I see most non-silvering persons spending time playing with their iPhones, Androids or other smart phones during times of potential boredom. Net surfing or e-mail checking has replaced reading for many of them, driven by their fascination of the technology as well as the fleeting content. I own an 'ancient' cell phone that sends and receives calls and is able to text on its tiny little screen but I avoid the exorbitant 3G contract costs of a smart phone for buying p/eBooks.

When brick and mortar stores cease to fill a need, they have no reason to exist. Do I need to see a cover in person rather than on a computer screen? Do I need to handle a book, physically, to be able to determine my interest and effect a purchase? I purchase hardcovers for durability only for books I plan to re-use for reference, for image quality (coffee table books), or for gifts. The only conceivable reason I can see for being able to physically view a book would be to evaluate the quality of the binding. Sorry. I don't even like their coffee.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by mldavis2

...additionally, I see most non-silvering persons spending time playing with their iPhones, Androids or other smart phones during times of potential boredom. Net surfing or e-mail checking has replaced reading for many of them, driven by their fascination of the technology as well as the fleeting content.

Perhaps your view of reading is too narrow.
Many of them will indeed be reading, just not books.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

assuming the greyer mention was for the older folk

I tend rather more to the 'silver'.

Yes, my grandfather had a full head of silver hair. I am quickly silvering myself.

[mldavis2]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Perhaps your view of reading is too narrow.
Many of them will indeed be reading, just not books.

Touche. Yes, I was using a more narrow definition of 'reading' which would exclude various forms of texting and reading e-mail which I though would be more in keeping with the nature of the MobilRead followers.

[elcreative]

Hmmm... obviously why most of the attendees for genre author signings are in the 20-30s, must be going "silver" earlier...