anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book.

[chicafrom3]

So apparently Borders is declaring bankruptcy and closing a bunch of bookstores, which is actually pretty sad. I remember when I was a kid and the only major bookstore I had regular access to was the WaldenBooks at the local mall. And then Borders bought them out and they were still WaldenBooks, technically, but with different rewards cards and a website and a new store layout. And then a couple years ago they closed and I stopped considering that mall to be a mall (you can't be a shopping mall without a bookstore, okay, you can't). And then six months or so ago they opened a Borders Express in that mall and I begrudgingly let them reclaim the title. And then last time I went which was like a month or two ago they were having a going-out-of-business clearance sale, which was...ridiculous, they'd been there about five months.

Which is a roundabout way of saying that it makes me sad when bookstores close.

(Also sad: that the more-local independent bookstore sucks and only wants your business if you know exactly what you want and spend under five minutes finding and purchasing it. You are an independent bookstore. You are supposed to encourage browsing and community and people who enjoy looking for a book when they're not sure exactly what they want to buy and whatever.)

Comments

[brandy-took.livejournal.com]

I was really distressed to learn this. Years ago I imagined getting a job at Hollywood Video. Then they went under and Borders seemed like a reasonable place to seek employment once I actually got around to getting a job. I sure know how to pick 'em.

Also I'm sorry to hear your local independent bookstore isn't friendly. That should be against the rules.

[chicafrom3.livejournal.com]

I feel like in a couple years every major chain I remember from my childhood will be gone. :| It's very depressing.

I guess law of averages meant that there had to be at least one unfriendly local independent bookstore, but man, I really wish it wasn't mine. Or that there was more than one around here. That would be nice, too.

[isabel79.livejournal.com]

I hated when they stopped selling DVDs and CDs at my local borders. I mean, I love books, but they're the only place I could get the harder to find / British dramas / Bway cast recordings! I'm the type that likes to touch before I buy. Glad my local store seems to be staying open, for now...

[chicafrom3.livejournal.com]

Touch before you buy is definitely nice. Plus, immediate gratification -- you buy it and you have it and there's no shipping or anything!

[ascendant-angel.livejournal.com]

Borders opened up one of the largest, if not the largest, book shop in the UK just down the end of my street, a couple of years ago , so I was surprised when it when it closed it's doors for good just last year, it was a sad day.

I remember there was loads of hype around this shop opening, seems a shame it only made such a fleeting impression before it was gone again.

[chicafrom3.livejournal.com]

That is really sad. Big bookshops are good, they can provide more of a variety simply by right of having a larger selection!