This week, because of our fundraiser at the B&N, I have received so many comments about the evils of B&N.
Some friends told me I should have had the furndraiser at one of our local bookstores (which is not a bad idea, but it's certainly easier to have a fundraiser at a place that already has a structure for the event vs. a place where I'd have to invent the details). This is an idea that I will likely pursue, but the vehemence with which the suggestion came was a little, well, annoying.
Another friend passed by me, cocked her head, and intoned, "Barnes and Noble?"
I understand all of the arguments against B&N and for independent bookstores, but the preaching gets tiresome. I find the evangelical enthusiasm for independent bookstores particularly surprising around here where everyone is so uptight about the evangelizing of a certain religion.
I did make a deal with a friend that I would stop shopping at B&N if he stopped eating baby carrots (which I personally find ridiculous and are often produced in sweat-shop type conditions). That seems like a pretty good compromise--one pecadillo for another.
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7 comments:
It does seem a bit disingenuous of folks who do all their other shopping at non-local concerns to harp on a bookstore. While I'm not big B&N fan, I have shopped there mostly out of convenience, or because they have something that I need immediately and the other book stores don't. I really don't know how I feel about the whole thing, although, like you, I would be tempted to fly in the face of any self-righteous person who insists B&N is the devil.
Anyway: I still prefer Sam Weller's for all its quirkiness.
Yeah, why don't you try to see if those local bookstores would sponsor a fundraiser like the one B&N will routinely do. They can't absorb the cost--they're not big enough. I used to be one of those annoying harpers (harpists?), actually about a lot of things, but I have tried to stop, because it's not like there's just one way to look at it, either. I live in the burbs, and to shop at any of the good local bookstores, I have to drive. So, when I'm already downtown, if I have my head on straight, I patronize those stores. I have dropped plenty of my book-buying dollars at Sam's, Ken Sanders', and the King's. But don't you dare try to make me feel guilty if I go to the closest bookstore to me when I really need to do it. Not that you, personally, assertively unhip, would. Just don't do it, anyone who's tempted. Don't!
So. Irritating.
I believe in small bookstores. BUT. Mega stores have more money to give. Small bookstores just can't do that. And many times the small bookstore doesn't have the book I need, so I go to the Megastore. Sometimes I go out of convenience. I just don't like any self-righteous preaching.
I hope the fund raiser was a success!
The common liberal complaint about B&N also reflects one of the most irritating and least effective trends in contemporary liberalism: the belief that if we can just purchase the right things at the correct places, then the world will be a better place. I can feel good about myself and purchase a twenty dollar tube of pine tree essence lotion because I know that no puppies were hurt in the process of making it. It's not that I'm for hurting puppies, I just find the self satisfaction a bit much.
Also from a fair wage perspective, big bookstores often pay better than smaller bookstores and they often provide benefits when small bookstores don't. (I believe Sam Wellers may be an exception to this.)
I shop at both big and small bookstores, but I find that I probably purchase most of my books online now. It's more convenient. Amazon always has what I want. And it's cheaper.
(Dr. Writes says, as I type this, "What, are you writing a lecture?")
Lecture away, MB. I've stopped all online purchasing of books. I'm tiltling at several windmills, but I would rather buy from the local B&N than have the wrong book delivered to me from online.
We are at the cusp of some very serious change in the delivery of things like music and literature. Lucky for me that my favorite book still can't be downloaded into a human-friendly format.
Too bad about music, though.
Our local music stores are much more threatened than bookstores at this point. The best solution, of course, is to have the local music store offer iPod stations. There is nothing quite like browsing a music store....well browsing the local bookstore.
We live in a city that affords such antiquated luxury. Imagine living in Panguitch. They finally have access to the world.
Are we just being hugely selfish ab out our previously "sealed" access to things?
I was thinking about your B & N fundraiser just last night as we stopped by our local B & N. I didn't buy a thing but I was able to write down a number of books I'm interested in and then will purchase online. They have an amazing manga/graphic novel section now.
I'm probably guilty (though not of a fundraiser) of preaching that we should shop small local book stores. Of course I'm totally hypocritical as I buy almost all my books online now because it's cheaper and easier.
Yes, we definitely should question such "evangelical enthusiasm," as such enthusiasm most almost always shuts down critical faculties and reality.
Funny that the Tribune and DesNews are running stories about local book sellers today who seem to have lived through the B&N onslaught and are doing fine.
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