I’d already written some of this post about bookstores in New York when saw Neil’s post on homogeneity. My point was going to be that you can stand in almost any Barnes and Noble in the world and probably NOT know what city you’re in. Same with Starbucks.
I lament the homogeneity of our culture, even though I know that there’s not much we can do about it, and that it makes no sense for me to try and deprive people of their cheap Wal-Mart goods if they want them. But still, I do sometimes get sick when I go to a place like Santa Barbara and the main esplanade is littered with chain stores. Which all brings me to this fine little piece in the Globe and Mail (Canada’s answer for the New York Times) about little bookshops in Manhattan.
Having lived in New York City for the last seven years, I always try and buy my books in little bookshops. I also really enjoy wandering among the stacks in these stores, plucking up the newest non-fiction hardbacks and feeling their lovely, brain-enriching heft. It is sad, though, that while several great stores still exist, many have gone the way of the Dodo. Several old-school, wonderful bookstores like Coliseum Books and Brentano’s are now gone…which breaks my heart. Again, what do you do? Maybe just try and appreciate the old stores while they’re still around…and buy a book or two while you’re at it.