There are still a number of used book stores around St. Louis. Maybe they are an anachronism, but there are still plenty in a time when booksellers like Barnes & Noble are closing. This is another business on Manchester Road in Maplewood, called The Book House, and its endurance deserves a link: https://www.bookhousestl.com/ .
I used to read a lot of books until the point in my career when the time demands became too great. There was also an issue of space: our house isn't very big and we ran out of places to put them all. (Why do we keep all those old books anyway?) Now if I want something in print I buy a Kindle book. They have no physical presence but I can carry a large library around with me, although I like the feel of a paper book better. I also listen to a lot of audiobooks since, like most Americans, I spend a fair amount of time in the car.
Nothing beats a good book, but where you leave them is indeed a problem where other things are also fighting for more and more space. The e-reader is indeed a good second.
ReplyDeleteI'm hooked on books too Bob, the real deal 😊 I had a look at the link to the The BookHouse it reminds me of my favourite second hand book shop Elizabeth's, it's been around for a very long time and hopefully for many years to come. Re your post a few back, we haven't ever had to wear masks but there are definitely strict rules about distancing and how many can enter shops at one time.
ReplyDeleteI love that sign! My reading was a lot slower before this lockdown started. I had the same issue, not enough time. It seems like now all I have is time. I just finished reading that new book called "A Very Stable Genius" by Phillip Rucker and Carol Leonnig. It was a page turner and yet a difficult read. Difficult for no other reason than reliving all of DJT's horrible comments and nearly treasonous actions in such a short time frame simply takes your breath away. It was interesting though to read about things that happened around those incidents that we didn't hear about on the news. I picked up a good mystery to read after that and have enjoyed taking a bit of an escape from political reality.
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived in Portland, OR we used to stop by Powell's Bookstore a few times a month. We always came out with a book or two. My wife has a kindle but I don't like reading on a screen. Audio books are not for me, I'll probably nod off so I don't bother. I'm a book in the hand type person and that suits me. :)
ReplyDeleteI'd be happy in there.
ReplyDeleteI started re-reading Shelby Foote's three volume narrative of the Civil War recently. That'll take awhile.