Borders no more

Sad, Borders is closing doors. This is inevitable as brick-and-mortar bookstores, as well as all traditional media distributors, are giving ways to Internet. Although I have largely converted to Kindle, I assumed that close-out sales will be great bargains. On this beautiful Saturday morning, Kid and I went for a bookstore adventure.

I have forgotten the joy of book exploration. When I was much younger, I used to spent many weekend afternoons in the bookstore district, where dozens of bookstores concentrated within a couple of blocks. I would browse, flip, and read until my legs are sore. I would make mental notes and came back whenever I have saved up enough. Delight was the surprise discovery of a good book or author.

There was also this used-book district that I practically visit everyday. I collected Charles Schultz, Reader’s Digests, classic comic books, and photographic magazines. I bought my first I-Ching from the used-book district and treasured that particularly one still.

And that was oh so many years ago. After I have “grown up,” I would enter a bookstore, went directly to the staff, asked for the specific title, and walked away with it in less than few minutes. Later, I became more efficient; I would have called ahead and pick them up at the counter. Recently, I bought books almost exclusively online. There is little browsing, or even looking at the “recommendation” by whatever artificial intelligence those sites put on my account.

The price of the book is the least of my consideration. Every books trades away part of my life, I cannot afford bad books. All my books are referred, reviewed, recommended, or at least written by an author that I had good experience with. But, I know value when I see one. Books are the definition of commodity, each copy is perfectly interchangeable with the other. There is no point paying more on the same book. Bargain hunting is fun.

That’s why this Border trip is a nice nostalgia. I found myself wandering among the aisles with a mild glee. Sci-Fi, graphic novels, history, travel, pets, even autobiographies. I have really forgotten this leisure mood.

Finally, partially based on “staff recommendation,” I picked up Orson Scott Card’s The Lost Gate. I was surprised to learn the close-out sales is only 10% off. Borders would sell me the book for $24, including taxes. Seriously!? A quick check found the Kindle version at $12. What would you do?

“No wonder Border is closing doors,” I left the store empty-handed. “Can’t even sell me at the close-out.”

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