The Half off Bin

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:43:42 +0100

Yesterday I went out shopping. The first store I stopped at, books were being sold for fifty

cents. I bought three, including "Tuesdays with Morrie", which was on the bestseller list not

that long ago. I could not believe it and not I couldn't believe it as in "I can't believe

I got such a good deal" (even though I did buy three books for under two dollars).

How disheartening that a well known book such as "Tuesdays with Morrie" (by Mitch Albom) is

now worth no more than 2 lousy quarters.

Later on I went to the Galleria and stopped in at Borders. This saddened me even more to see this up

until now successful and popular book store advertising their going out of business sale. And not

just this Borders, all Borders. Books and everything else in the store, being sold at 40 to 60% off.

What is a world without literature? What happened to sipping cups of java in the local bookstore?

What happened to people buying books? What happened to reading? I must admit the store was packed

with anxious shoppers, trying to get a deal for their buck. But action like this could have perhaps

helped the store actually stay open. People are so willing to pay fifteen dollars for their favorite cd, why

not for a book? I am hoping that the newly invented Kindle is the reason for this book store going bankrupt

and that people still actually do in fact enjoy a good read.

Way before I ever realized I had a love interest for writing and poetry, I loved reading, I

still do. I grew up on books. The world of literature is an amazing thing, you just open a

book and you are in a different place, a different time. I am currently reading "Memoirs of a Geisha",

an absolutely amazing book! I still carry a book with me almost everywhere. You never know when you

are going to have time on your hands. You never know when that book will come in handy.

A few days ago, my publishing company posted a status on Facebook that was not too inspiring:

"Because of the economy, bookstores close and book sales are down. Authors are paid lower

royalties everywhere. How does this affect your desire to write?" I know personally, this does not make

me feel too good as a writer. It doesn't affect my desire to write but certainly lowers the excitement for

greatness in the future. My book comes out in the upcoming months and I have no choice but to wonder

what will happen to me, to my career. How long will it be that it is I who ends up in half off bin?

traceys-blog

The Half off Bin