At the bookstore
It had been a while since I’d been in a bookstore. I saw my chance, and I took it — a great big Borders store. I went in just to browse. I don’t know if perhaps the nature of the business just requires them to cast a wide net, or what, but it felt like miles of shelves of junk with just a few gems hidden here and there. Two sections dear to my heart particularly made me cringe; the Christian section was bad (lacking depth), the YA section seemed worse. Immensely worse. I found myself thinking “who’s reading this stuff?”
I worked my way through the rest of the store, and as i got to the other end, I said to myself “This is it… there is no longer any need for bookstores. There’s nothing about this experience that I can’t beat online. It’s useless.” I aimed for the door.
My path took me through the children’s section. As I walked through, I heard a little boy, probably 5 or 6 years old, say “Where the Wild Things Are? Can I read that one, mom?” I teared up. It was just a little bit because I don’t cry.
That’s a special book. And maybe that kid was drawn to it because he saw the movie, but maybe — just maybe — he stumbled into it. And that’s not something you can do the same way online. You can’t just be immersed in great books and have the opportunity to stumble into Where the Wild Things Are.
I said a silent apology to Borders. I also decided I wanted to own a bookstore, which my wife mentions might not make sense in our market. I’d want to run it entirely on recommendations… staff recommendations and public recommendations. If it’s a great book and you’ll tell people about it, we’ll stock it. Otherwise, we just won’t bother. Less “throw it against the wall and see what sticks” and more “Here, there be great books.”
I was reminded this evening of the power of books. Even if I don’t ever own a bookstore (and I probably won’t, realistically), I’m committing to going to our local store and spending the occasional dollars. I want my kids to have the chance to pick up a good book by mistake.
So kind of like The Shop Around the Corner in You Got Mail? Sounds lovely! But it would have to have a coffee shop and live music, right? I’ve read that a few unique independent bookstores have survived.
Hey Drew, while I think your idea sounds awesome, I have to warn you. Some people actually like the twilight series. and some other really weird books that you would then have to sell.
I miss you bro.
Just wondering, couldn’t your “kids” (have I been asleep?) pick up a good book by accident at the library? Although I’d be happy to shop at your
store when it opens.
Love you,