re: #302 Blind Frog Belly White

Still no reply from my sister, the one who posted that HRC’s book blamed everyone but herself and to whom I said, “You’ve read her book then? Great! Send it to me!”

So I went out last night and bought a copy.

Also bought Al Franken’s book, Naomi Klein’s book, and ‘Hyperbole and a Half’. This is my first time in a bookstore (the local Barnes and Noble) in probably at least a year. Sure, it was a Thursday night after 8 PM, but the place was EMPTY! At least 4 clerks asked me if I was finding everything.

Is it just the timing? Or is it really THAT BAD in the retail, Brick And Mortar world? If The Older Boy was still dating the woman who worked at Williams Sonoma, I’d feel compelled to go buys something.

I fear that Amazon will be the death of book stores. Unlike clothing, where certain die hards (like me!) insist on trying on the merchandise before purchasing, there is typically no need to go to a book store to sample the wares; fewer people are reading and, of those that do, most get recommendations from others. It’s far simple to order online than to drive several miles, park, find the book(s), and then potentially wait in line. You do have the advantage that if the book is in stock, you can get a copy immediately. But that is irrelevant if you are using a Kindle or iPad to read anyway.

—minor edit