tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post7061069415192313936..comments2024-03-25T22:59:30.053+00:00Comments on Desperate Reader: Trying to SpendDesperate Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15708411387912078122noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-82812865075290833512009-09-29T11:55:17.758+01:002009-09-29T11:55:17.758+01:00How annoying! I'm checking every bookshop I g...How annoying! I'm checking every bookshop I go into for Miss Hargreaves now, just to see - in Oxford she's in Blackwells, but not Borders or Waterstones - but she was in a tiny, lovely independent bookshop in the Lake District. Small bookshops which choose their stock really well are so refreshing after the chain bookshops in Oxford.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-670171787170099522009-09-29T09:31:10.307+01:002009-09-29T09:31:10.307+01:00It's so frustrating when you really want a boo...It's so frustrating when you really want a book, and you want it NOW rather than when Amazon deliver not to be able to find it in a bookshop. It so often happens with me, with slightly offbeat new releases. So I end up resorting to Amazon, and I suppose the pleasures ofgetting post somehow make up for a bit of not being able to pick it off the shelves.<br /><br />Good luck with the job!verityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16825551404394913715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-29348571414638711092009-09-29T06:15:39.645+01:002009-09-29T06:15:39.645+01:00As much as I love the ease and discounts of Amazon...As much as I love the ease and discounts of Amazon, I have much the same reaction when going into any of the big chain bookstores. It's just sad to be surrounded by so many books, often so beautifully packaged and presented, but of such bland content that I have no desire to even pick them up let alone take them home. And it's more than a little depressing to see books like "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" and the new "Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters" or whatever it's called at the front of the store, but the actual Austen novels are hidden in the tiny classics section. I seem to have most of my luck at the one local independent bookstore (which is fortunately quite large) and at the many smaller used bookstores. I do wish we had something like the charity store books I keep reading about - it's a wonderful idea. <br /><br />I'm sorry you didn't find anything, particularly when you had such a lovely reason for celebrating. I hope you can locate a copy of "Some Tame Gazelle" - it's one of my favorite Pym novels. And best of luck with the potential job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-22155146236003226082009-09-29T00:39:39.988+01:002009-09-29T00:39:39.988+01:00I know, I know. I always want to buy from the shop...I know, I know. I always want to buy from the shops to support them but they rarely have what I want. They have to stock what the masses want, and sadly those of us with more eclectic taste are too much of a minority to take a gamble on. I agree with you, I find it so frustrating browsing the shelves of bookshops and finding nothing that I want. That's why I head straight to the second hand ones as they always have something interesting, and I prefer old books anyway.Rachel (Book Snob)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13669640788036671572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8011557877105021955.post-17264072718970864082009-09-28T23:18:48.416+01:002009-09-28T23:18:48.416+01:00It is so difficult for small bookshops. They can&#...It is so difficult for small bookshops. They can't compete with the supermarkets and bigger booksellers on the high-volume fast-turnover books, and there is such a range of slightly-off mainstream books. What to stock?! <br /><br />Here in small town Cornwall with none of the chains our two independent booksellers veer towards local books which are safe sellers, but they are very good at identifying and quickly ordering things they don't have on the shelves. Though that doesn't really work on a day-trip!<br /><br />So I buy little on the high street, but I do support the second-hand bookshops and when I buy online it's direct from smaller presses or sellers wherever possible.<br /><br />Not perfect, but it's the best I can do to support the book trade!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com