I am sitting in Barnes & Noble, a place I haven’t been in an awfully long span of time. This used to be my hangout, of course, with its rows upon rows of books spread out toward the horizon, as far as the eye could see. So why haven’t I been here in so long? Life happened, and it has taken me along with it. But I’m here now, soaking up the atmosphere and wondering how I can do this more often. A sigh just escaped my lips at the prospect.
Of course it’s not the same, though, not how it used to be. In the old days the side area by the windows was full of comfortable chairs, ambience if you will. And over by the entertainment section there were more soft, cushy chairs that invited people to sit and stay a while. In fact, it wasn’t unheard of to laze away an entire afternoon or even a whole Sunday relaxing in those chairs and reading my life away. So refreshing. Now there are three of those such chairs, and the culprit… the Nook.
In the exact middle of the store now is a section that has been hollowed out, displacing rows upon rows of books, as well as those extra chairs that created such an atmosphere that I thrived on. And I understand why they did it. I do. Obviously books aren’t selling like they used to, those physical behemoths with spines and that fresh book smell. They’re losing out to so many other types of media, including the eBook, and Barnes & Noble saw the writing on the wall. They jumped in with both feet, and the results are evident.
And I mourn the loss of those books that were displaced by the revolution.
Every single section became that much smaller, and every minor author disappeared, outlasted by the classics and the major authors that suck the life out of bookstores but that also continue to sell. Maeve Binchy is still here, along with Gregory Maguire, Ernest Hemingway, and Tom Clancy. But gone are Jeff Perry, George Frederick, and William Bell. And I miss those guys. How else would I have found out that they even existed and had written amazing pieces of fiction?
And the sounds of Starbucks in the other corner remind me that even before Nook came in, this place wasn’t just a bookstore. How many rows upon rows of books could have been in that section if Starbucks wasn’t here? What did I miss out on that I never even knew I was missing out on? Now people come here and spend money on coffee, sit in the cafe and leave. They come to meet others and disappear again into the ether from which they came, not even realizing the difference, never mourning as I mourn this morning while sitting in a hard chair where soft ones used to reside.
Sam
Sam's Online Journal 
What a nostalgic post! You are mirroring my thoughts in many ways. In one of my previous career lives, I worked at one of those big box bookstores–when the focus was on books, books, and more books. And as a customer I used to love browsing through ENORMOUS history and biography sections at the bookstore–now both sections are down to one or two cases to make way for shelf upon shelf of games, puzzles, educational toys, etc. Not that I don’t think those products have merit . . . but I do miss those “old days”!
Oh yes, those educational toys and games. I agree that they have merit, but why not open up a new store and call it “B&N’s Educational Toys and Games” so those people who want those items can get them there, then move all the BOOKS back into the BOOK STORE! I was seriously waxing nostalgic today! If I had only known then how it would get, maybe I would have opened my own book store and kept it retro. Thanks for the response!
I will ALWAYS get a real book over an e-book.
I understand the appeal, but for me?
There’s absolutely no replacing them.
You sure it’s not just because your eyes don’t adjust well to screens? 🙂 Just kidding. But seriously, there’s just something about a real book that can’t be duplicated or replaced!
I don’t care how popular an e-book is – I’m staying with hard copy – something substantial for all the author’s hard work. But I know what you’re saying.
There’s something about cracking open a new book, that fresh smell, it’s incredible, nothing like it. And I hope to God that the death of books, real books, will never happen while I’m alive.
You and me both, Sam. My little library here at home has about 400 and I keep accumulating.
And I’m sure each book has a story behind it finding its way into your home, and into your library. I am so glad I’m not the only one.
You’re right there, many stories. But, the only one? NO! I have met many people who after talking about books, finally admit that they got the Pad and bought the e-books just because in was the “In Thing” to do. Funny, those e-books aren’t much cheaper than the hard cover.