Ok I really like bookstores….for the most part. I can remember when it was fun to go into a bookstore and look for something new to read, or something from an old favorite author. Or even to find something completely new.
I went to a (large national chain(changed to avoid libel allegations)) bookstore the other day and was almost (read totally) annoyed with the trip. Just when did the salespeople at (large national chain) get direct dispensation from Jesus himself that they were darn near the center of the universe?
It was hard to get someone who was willing to help and didn’t seem like I was inconveniencing them. And they worked there! Even the girl who was ringing up the books seemed like a) she had better things to do, and b) what kind of a low life wretch would bring his kids into (large national chain) bookstore and then presume to actually buy something?!?! And if that wasn’t bad enough, c) no club and discount card???? Oh the humanity!
But I digress….There are some very…interesting people who hang out at (large national chain) bookstore. I am quite sure that a few of them lived at the bookstore or at least waited outside the door for the place to open like a junkie looking for a fix. People hanging out with their laptops getting coffee and just hanging out.
There were even people there who were quite enthralled in a novel, and at that point about half way through. I don’t know if they finished the book but I am quite sure it wasn’t paid for beforehand. I could be wrong, I frequently am.
My point is this, the word Store is in the title of the place which would mean that they sell things like…say….BOOKS! and another key word in the last sentence was SELL. C’mon people, if you go to a bookstore find a book and pony up some cash for it. Then go outside and read it! Or save your cash for our Cantankerous Old Coots book that we are working on. It will be worth it.
A bookstore is not a hangout joint. Go read something good, away from the bookstore!
Go live life for a while, summer is about over.
-Justin
