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Neil Gaiman Celebrates Independent Bookstore Day (indiebookstoreday.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the too-weird-for-words dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Today is "Independent Bookstore Day," a national event promoting local bookstores which will feature exclusive bookstore-only offerings, including a Neil Gaiman coloring book with 20 black-and-white illustrations by Gaiman illustrator Chris Riddell and quotes from Coraline, The Graveyard Book, and Fortunately, the Milk. "Independent bookstores are not just stores, they're community centers and local anchors run by passionate readers," reads the event's web site, saying independent bookstores "are not just stores, they are solutions. They hold the key to your love life, your career, and your passions."
There's actually more independent bookstores this year than there were last year, according to the site, which argues that "In a world of tweets and algorithms and pageless digital downloads, bookstores are not a dying anachronism. They are living, breathing organisms that continue to grow and expand."

14 of 33 comments (clear)

  1. Growing bookstores ? by Ash-Fox · · Score: 1

    There's actually more independent bookstores this year than there were last year, according to the site, which argues that "In a world of tweets and algorithms and pageless digital downloads, bookstores are not a dying anachronism. They are living, breathing organisms that continue to grow and expand."

    If they are really growing and expanding, you wouldn't really need to tell people about it.

    --
    Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
    1. Re:Growing bookstores ? by Aighearach · · Score: 1

      There's actually more independent bookstores this year than there were last year, according to the site, which argues that "In a world of tweets and algorithms and pageless digital downloads, bookstores are not a dying anachronism. They are living, breathing organisms that continue to grow and expand."

      If they are really growing and expanding, you wouldn't really need to tell people about it.

      Those of us who shop at bookstores didn't need to be told about them. And yet, we wouldn't know if there are more or less overall.

      I don't think you really thought your comment through though.

      If the claim was, "bookstores have replaced all other forms of store," then it would be reasonable to presume that you'd have had to know about it for it to be true. But simply increasing in number? Why would that be obvious? Most people shopping at bookstores wouldn't know about a new bookstore across town. It seems more likely that only the people in the same part of town as the new store would even know about it, and they wouldn't have any idea at all if there were more new stores opening than old stores closing.

      Maybe, just maybe, bookstores are about books, not about telepathy? If you thought the bookstores were just telepathically broadcasting knowledge out into the community, then your comment would make sense. But what if they're selling books? Then your comment wouldn't make sense at all.

    2. Re:Growing bookstores ? by Aighearach · · Score: 1

      Wow, you must get out a lot more than any human could, to see the whole world all the time, and have time to write down the address of every new business and every closed business!

      Oh, you thought I meant a person couldn't make a wild guess! Oh, sure they could. But it wouldn't have value, or tell them if there are more or less stores than there were before.

    3. Re:Growing bookstores ? by Ash-Fox · · Score: 1

      Wow, you must get out a lot more than any human could, to see the whole world all the time, and have time to write down the address of every new business and every closed business!

      Whatever man, you read too much into these things.

      --
      Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
    4. Re:Growing bookstores ? by Ash-Fox · · Score: 1

      Why so tense, AC?

      --
      Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
    5. Re:Growing bookstores ? by Xtifr · · Score: 1

      Depends on the rate of growth and expansion. Your city might have had a small net loss, while your state as a whole had a net gain. Since you're unlikely to have surveyed the entire state, you might think there's still contraction.

      In my case, my city actually had a net loss of one last year (two closed, one opened). However, one of the ones that closed actually just moved to a nearby city where the rents were cheaper. So, overall, it was a wash.

  2. Put another way by Kohath · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Author of niche-interest fiction hypes small providers of a formerly popular type of entertainment media. It's ironic that science fiction fans are so attached to the past.

    1. Re:Put another way by JoshuaZ · · Score: 2

      Author of niche-interest fiction hypes small providers of a formerly popular type of entertainment media. It's ironic that science fiction fans are so attached to the past.

      I think the first sentence is a little unfair: Gaiman is extremely successful, and many of his works have reached the popular audience. Moreover, we live in an era where science fiction is highly successful and even mainstream, hardly niche any more in many ways.

      As for the second bit, it shouldn't be that surprising. Much science fiction, or what passes for it, has often had a reactionary element. Look at how much science fiction involves feudal systems with sword fights. Dune and Star Wars are the most prominent examples but there are many more. Science fiction has often been accompanied by a romanticized interest in the past which is part of why the readership and authors blend so smoothly with fantasy.

    2. Re:Put another way by Kohath · · Score: 1

      Gaiman is extremely successful

      I listened to the Neil Gaiman hype once and watched MirrorMask. I didn't like it. I don't understand why his fans like his work.

      They are absolutely welcome to like it and be happy, of course. But non-fans of Gaiman (and independent bookstores, and books made of paper) are left to wonder who any of this is really for.

    3. Re:Put another way by DogDude · · Score: 1

      Luckily, popularity and quality are rarely correlated in society-at-large. If popular=good, then the best food in the world is McDonald's, and the best place to shop is Wal-Mart.

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    4. Re:Put another way by Xtifr · · Score: 1

      It's ironic that science fiction fans are so attached to the past.

      Gaiman primarily writes fantasy.

  3. Anachronism day by russotto · · Score: 3, Funny

    There's actually more independent bookstores this year than there were last year

    So, 2?

    The problem with independent bookstores is they never have a large enough spot for my horse.

  4. there are... by bugs2squash · · Score: 1

    There's actually more independent bookstores this year than there were last year

    Shouldn't that read there're ?

    --
    Nullius in verba
  5. You can get a star named after you... by gavron · · Score: 1

    ...if you pay the right company.

    > Today is "Independent Bookstore Day,

    No, it's not.

    Just like those airline magazine ads that tell you "top ten steakhouses" that are paid for by... the ten steakhouses listed,
    this "day" is nothing other than sheer marketing.

    Big clue: It was formed in 2014 by a group wanting money to advertise for... independent booksellers.
    Read all about it here: http://www.indiebookstoreday.c...

    I'm surprised Scott "I hate Amazon and the Internet" Turow hasn't come out and supported it too.

    Still not a holiday.

    E