Missing Borders

For a long time I had a love/hate relationship with my neighborhood Borders bookstore.

Love: Books!

Hate: No indie store to balance the corporate-driven selection.

Love: Less than a mile from home!

Hate: They rarely carried the titles I specifically went looking for.

Love: Coupons!

Hate: What a mess that store was. Until a B&N moved in down the street, Borders was the only game in town, and they knew it. They didn't have to try, and so they didn't. Even after B&N opened, things didn't change much at Borders. Except they went out of business. Hm.

The store has been gone for over a year, but it didn't hurt much. There's always the B&N, which is better than nothing, though the lack of competition changed the B&N too. It became messy. The staff is indifferent. They won't (or can't) stock even a few copies of a local author's books, even when asked; even when the author explains she will be doing local school visits and kids WILL come asking for those books, and instead of ordering them from YOU and having to make a second trip back, they'll just go home and order from Amazon. Hm.

But still, I thought I could handle it.

Until last week, when the old Borders space reopened, as a HomeGoods store.

I have nothing against HomeGoods. Not sure any community needs another discount knick-knack store, but who am I to say?

Out of curiosity, I wandered in. And was surprised by a sudden feeling of loss. This huge space that once was filled with books, isn't.

It made me sad. Even though I had a love/hate relationship with Borders, at least that little piece of Earth was occupied by books. And now it's not. And I feel like my community is poorer as a result.

My first Skype visit!

It was a great discussion with fifth graders from Waunakee Intermediate School in Wisconsin.

A complete summary of the experience is here.

I can't wait to do it again!

Book-a-Day Advent calendar: Dec 14

BC/AD: Christmas Poems
U.A. Fanthorpe
Enitharmon Press (U.K.)
2002

My favorite kind of poetry: short, clearly expressed, and evocative. Favorite selections of mine are "BC-AD," "Cat in the Manger," and of course "The Sheepdog."

Book-a-Day Advent Calendar: Dec 13

The Christmas Book
edited by Francis X. Weiser
Harcourt Brace
1952

"The story of the celebration of Christmas, the growth of its many customs through the ages to present day American festivities."

I found this at an antique store a few years ago for $3.

Weiser was a Jesuit priest born in Austria. He dedicates the book to "the memory of a cherished friend: Georg Von Trapp, 1880-1947."

(Von Trapp is better known as the captain father in The Sound of Music.)

Book-a-Day Advent Calendar: Dec 12

The Polar Express

by Chris Van Allsburg

Hey: I was reading this book to my kids before it was a movie.

Book-a-Day Advent Calendar: Dec 11

Hogfather

by Terry Pratchett

Going a little farther afield on the holiday theme, but it's a favorite.

Book-a-Day Advent Calendar: Dec 10

When Cows Come Home for Christmas
Dori Chaconas
illustrated by Lynne Chapman
Albert Whitman
2008

You think you have crazy family holiday reunions? Ha!