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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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Finally, partially based on “staff recommendation,” I picked up Orson Scott Card’s The Lost Gate<\/em>. 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?<\/p>\n “No wonder Border is closing doors,” I left the store empty-handed. “Can’t even sell me at the close-out.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 … Continue reading