Today I did probably one of my favorite things, I went to the bookstore! I love browsing books, wandering the isles just trying to find a book that screams "READ ME". If you drop me in a bookstore I can amuse myself for hours! If it's a Used Bookstore I may be gone for days! I think it's the smell of books that get me. Plus, it is so rewarding to go searching for a book then it is to just click buy on the computer. And the E-book craze has taken the world by storm!
Now don't get me wrong, I love Richard Henry (my Kindle) more than words but there is just something about holding a real book in my hands. Not to mention the some of the covers are absolutely beautiful that I just have to have them so I can look at them!
So, I was at my bookstore when I discovered that many authors were not stocked. And these are pretty big authors not to have stocked. I also noticed that the Romance section seems to be setting smaller. (Also, the switched the escalators on me so I looked like a idiot trying to go up the down escalator) Plus, I know that this just isn't a ransom day where everyone is buying all the romance novels by these authors and I'll tell you why.
I was at this same bookstore a couple of weeks ago with my friend Gypsy, who I recently discovered loved romance novels when I spied Sabrina Jefferies in her purse. So I told her all about reviewing for The Season and all my Twitter peeps and fellow bloggers who recommend some fabulous books and she wanted my input about some new authors to try. Now, I like to think I know my friends and so far haven't steered them wrong yet. Like Jess, she LOVES vampires and True Blood so I suggested JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series and I haven't seen her since because "she's busy reading" and I need to leave her alone with "The Brothers". Now my friend Karen is new to the whole romance world and has been begging me to tell her what to read. She wanted a contemporary so I gave her Victoria Dahl's Talk Me Down.
There are certain authors that are my go to recommendations. Victoria Dahl is one of them so when they were out of stock of her book 2 weeks ago and told me that they would restock soon I was surprised to find that they didn't have ANY of her books, historical or contemporaries. Gypsy now thinks that I have made Victoria Dahl up but I assured her she is real.
I have also been chasing the elusive Unveiled by Courtney Milan. The didn't have it at any of my stores when it came out so I put it on my Remember To Get List. They didn't have it at my Borders, but sadly it was closing down, so when I went to my big chain store today I looked for it. Again, NOTHING by Courtney Milan.
Another thing was that they only had the most recent book of most authors. I'm big on reading series and reading them in order. I had Pamela Clare's newest book Breaking Point in my hand but where was her back list. Breaking Point is book five in her romantic suspense series but there was no book 1-4. (also there where also none of her historicals) Now, yes you don't have to read a series in order but I like too, especially when I know characters from earlier books are going to pop up.
Now, I did finally cave and order Unveiled but it's just not the same. I like going to the store and wandering around until I find a book. It's like a treasure hunt! I know that everyone is jumping on the e-book crazy but I hope that these bookstores get their acts together and start shelving these amazingly talented authors. How else am I suppose to pimp their books if they're not there.
And PS... I'm a really good book pimp! Just sayin!
Have you noticed the lack of books in your bookstore? Has your Borders shut down? Or... what are your feeling about the e-book craze?
Duuuude! I went to B&N and got some good books but you've already seen the picture on Twitter. Both B&Ns near me have a 1/2 aisle of romance books. Ok, it's 2 parallel bookshelves but still! I wish I could find a used bookstore where I live. As for Borders, haven't seen one around here. I love my Henry Hugh. He's gotten a lot of love but nothing beats the smell of books. Yes, I sniffed the ones you sent me. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Jamie. I like to hold the book in my hand. I have noticed that more and more bookstores are building up the online stores so that they can cut down the cost of the brick and mortar stores. I can understand this with the economy the way it is. However, it does force us to pay more for the books with shipping costs. Living in a small rural area that is just a fact of life. Once in a while I'll find a few books at Walmart. We do have a good used book store in the valley.
ReplyDeleteI can see having a kindle for ebooks for things like traveling and such to save space and weight. I've even been saving up for one for just such a purpose along with the ability to get things like enovellas and those books that are only available in e pub format. But for me, the ability to hold that book in my hand will always reign supreme with me.