A Boy and his Bookshop: A tragedy in three acts
Okay, nobody’s bones were ground up
and baked into bread. There was no
exchange of severed heads. So
maybe the tragedy does not quite reach Shakespearian levels.
Still, I Love a Mystery bookstore
closed, sprang back to life and closed a second time. I don’t think even Lazarus got a third chance. The first time the store closed was half way around the world in New Zealand. The shock was cushioned by my being too
far away to experience it in person.
The earth shook (repeatedly) but no graves gave up their dead. No comets
scorched the night skies. I suspect the shaking was due a series of earthquakes
along the ring of fire. It might
not have been related to the store closing at all.
After returning to the United
States, a real estate deal fell through and I Love a Mystery unexpectedly
reopened. Alas, poor mortal fool
that I am, I did not full savor the autumnal moments with my beloved
store. My idle dallying with other
independent bookstores ‘twas only when I was bespelled by their glimmering
tomes.
ILM held my
heart and graced my dreams. Oh
store, you gave your honors to the world again. Your blessed part is in heaven.
May you sleep in peace.
Yes, Warren, what a loss! And the sad thing was that they were doing so well after re-opening. Unlike most indie bookstore closings, this one was not due to poor sales.
ReplyDeleteWe are fortunate in Kansas City to have another nationally known independent bookstore, Rainy Day Books, and The Raven, a mystery-oriented bookstore in Lawrence. Could we say Lawrence is an exurb of KC?
The bittersweet, of course, lies in the opening of Mysteryscape bookstore. So many cities lose a major indie bookstore without anything coming in to replace it. It seems as if every week or so I hear of something like that on Twitter. While I say the kaddish in ashes and sackcloth mourning for wonderful I Love A Mystery, I welcome the newcomer and count my blessings.
In my area, we lost both the Borders and B&N bookstores. There are no Indy stores either. It's very discouraging. I hate seeing small bookstores in particular closing.
ReplyDeleteIs Amazon gobbling up most of the business these days?
Jacqueline Seewald
DEATH LEGACY
LInda,
ReplyDeleteI join you in your sentiments. Rainy Day Books is a local institution, the oldest independent bookstore in town and Mysteryscape is a very welcome new comer,
I'm sorry, Warren. BAM is the only bookstore close to me now, and I've never liked their organization of books on the shelves and their limited range of books. Bookstores specializing in mystery are best for me. My only recourse is to buy from those remaining online. The Chesapeake Chapter's choice stocks all of the chapter's authors' books and our anthologies. I hope another one opens near you. Liked the blog!
ReplyDeleteSo sad when any independent bookstore closes. I'm sorry :(
ReplyDeleteJacqueline,
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid so. Amazon seems to be after publishers too.
Alice, Thanks for the sympathy. That store was wonderful to writers as well as readers.
ReplyDeleteOur only independent book store, The Booknook closed up quite a few years ago. Recently Borders closed and Barnes and Noble is at least 25miles away. BAM went in, but like E.B. said, it's not the same. I miss both my indie book store and Borders. There's something more personal about the indies - and even Borders, to some extent. BAM has no place to sit and browse through books or visit for a few moments with fellow book lovers.
ReplyDeleteMy only other option is a small, but very nice, used book store in a small town nearby that carries a wide range of books including mysteries. The owner, Ellen Eckhouse, has a large inventory.
EB, Thanks. I hope you get an indie near you.
ReplyDeleteGloria, I love little bookstores and the people in them.
ReplyDeleteWarren, Seeing bookstores closing is heartbreaking. We only have one store in my area, and they do more business with movies and music rather than books, and that breaks my heart, too.
ReplyDeleteMarja,
ReplyDeleteSo many bookstores have closed. It is sad.
I'd thought it was back for good, and I mourn a little bit with you, Warren. On a happier note, bookstores are opening and expanding as we travel across the country. But the closing of even a one is a real cultural loss.
ReplyDelete