dagblog - Comments for "Dividing My Books"

Political books and romance

Ramona — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:31:00 +0000

In reply to You covered the right wing

Political books and romance novels do have much in common, don't they? I hadn't thought of it before. By the way, when I tried to get attention for Blowing Smoke, the only way that book could end up in my cart was for me to order it online and pick it up in the store. There was no way I was ever going to find that subversive book sullying their shelves!

Another thing about the original Borders: They refused to carry romance novels. I was in there one day when a woman came in asking for some books and the clerk had to tell her that they don't have any of those titles It was a genre they didn't carry. She was outraged. She stormed out kind of shouting, "What kind of a book store is this?" I guess they could get away with that in Ann Arbor but I'll bet they carried them later when they became a chain. They're undoubtedly their bread and butter.

I could have put this in the

Donal — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 03:16:08 +0000

In reply to Dividing My Books

I could have put this in the news section, but it seems to fit here:

The Twilight of Meaning

It will doubtless be objected that we have the internet, and thus all the information we could possibly need. We do indeed have the internet, where sites discussing the current color of Lady Gaga’s pubic hair probably outnumber sites discussing Newberry Award books by a thousand to one. We have an effectively limitless supply of information, but then it’s not information that I got from reading The White Stag at age eight, and it’s not a lack of information that’s dragging us down to a sorry end.

You covered the right wing

Emersonian — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 01:23:53 +0000

In reply to Em, I'm back in the boonies

You covered the right wing books up with romance books? Is there a difference? Both need the reader to transport themselves to an imaginary world where people behave in a strange manner and have well built men on the front cover with shirts ripped open as they...oh wait. Maybe they are not exactly the same. (Although I don't really know for sure considering I have never read a conservative political book or a romance novel. So, by all means, correct me if I am wrong.)

I can see you going through Wal Mart clearing your throat loudly so people will look at you and see G's BS in your basket. Sorry it didn't work out so well. That would have been funny to see!

I have found the people working at Borders to be quite knowledgeable as well. It is quite sad as some of the people working there have been there since I moved here 3.5 years ago. This is their job and they are losing it without too many places to go where they can use that knowledge. Hopefully Borders is helping people find work.

Em, I'm back in the boonies

Ramona — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 01:01:17 +0000

In reply to Ramona, anymore bookstore

Em, I'm back in the boonies again. Real bookstores are far, far away. But the WalMart, more than an hour away, only stocks Republican Right Wing political books. I do cover them up with Romance books whenever I'm there but it's not the same as the work I'm obliged to do at Books-a-Million, the blatant bastion of Winger books.

This particular WalMart is the site of my march through the store with Genghis's book riding cover up in the kid seat of my cart. Nobody, and I mean nobody noticed. So disheartening. It's no fun trying to be a maverick up here. (But thanks for asking.)

I used to go to the original Border's in Ann Arbor years ago, when it was still the one and only. I loved going there and could spend hours losing myself in the stacks on both floors. Everyone who worked there took pride in knowing everything there was to know about books and writers. What a great place.

I was stunned when they allowed themselves to be bought by K-Mart, of all companies. and now I'm saddened but not surprised by their closing. I think the bookstores of the future will be small independents staffed with people who actually know something about the books they stock. Sort of like the old days, before the mega-stores. Round and round we go.

Ramona, anymore bookstore

Emersonian — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:38:35 +0000

In reply to You're all right, Oxy.

Ramona, anymore bookstore adventures recently? The bookstore closest to me is closing - a Borders. I am quite upset by it. But I am trying to be brave and strong.

I agree - you can never have too many books!

I can relate. To me books

Emersonian — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:31:00 +0000

In reply to Dividing My Books

I can relate. To me books feel sacred because a 250 page Thoreau book isn't just a hardcover with paper in between it, it is days, months, years worth of someone's thoughts and beliefs, and actions. The knowledge in books is humbling to me. My living room/library is full of bookshelves and books and I love it that way. Way better than a 70 inch tv taking up an entire wall! (In my opinion.)

When I stayed at my parent's house a few years ago I at first only brought a few of my books and had the rest in storage but over the months the inventory at my parent's house got larger and larger and... Pretty soon I had transferred most of my books to their house. I constantly refer to my books so I can feel your pain.

Nice thing about digital readers is the Project Gutenberg. All your classics for free. Also there is a fantastic app called British Library 19th Century Collection. You can read a scanned copy of an original print. They have a selection of books from fiction to history, travel, geology, etc. I love it! I have tried to just buy new books electronically although I still collect old books and will keep doing so. It is a passion of mine. One downfall to the electronic book though is you can't get autographs. I bought Blowing Smoke last week electronically. Guess I will have to try to get Genghis' signature electronically.

Well good luck with making your decision as to which book goes where. I imagine it will be a rather dynamic process. But whatever the case, whatever situation you find yourself in, wherever you are - May the book be with you.

I love stories like that. To

Oxy Mora — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:01:53 +0000

In reply to I have a copy of "Remembrance

I love stories like that. To me it's better than keeping a journal. I once researched the number of signed first editions of an author on the internet. Mystery writer, I think one of the best. Turns out the number of signed copies of his first book was fairly low so I bought all that I could find. Now there are only one or two available and I had to laugh recenly at one bookseller's description "signed copies of his first book have become quite rare". Now one of my grandchildren will eventually run across a box of his books and say to themselves, "What do you suppose grandpa was thinking when he did this?"

I have trouble communicating

Michael Wolraich — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 19:57:53 +0000

In reply to Tell that to all those old

I have trouble communicating with old 8-tracks. They don't get me.

I'd prefer to see a dust to

Donal — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 19:45:18 +0000

In reply to True. But there's no excess

I'd prefer to see a dust to dust analysis of the paper vs digital delivery systems before I give up my books. For one thing, if I get laid off, I can cancel all my utilities and still read them in daylight.

Tell that to all those old

Dan Kervick — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 19:43:34 +0000

In reply to I appreciate the kindle's

Tell that to all those old 8-tracks.