This is Greenlight Bookstore, in Brooklyn, not that far from BAM, which is where I always go, when I am in that area. It is beautifully laid out, great selections, the staff is friendly, and it is owned by Jessica, whom I knew, back when she worked at Three Lives, in the Village. It was always her dream to open her own bookstore, and this is it.
Bookstores are problematic in any time period, but especially during a pandemic. Let's face it, as the quality of technology has increased in our society, so has the quality of literacy decreased. People say they have no time for reading, but there is always an hour after dinner, standing in line for a movie, when such a thing was possible, waiting in a doctor's office, now the most popular social activity of the day. And bookstores.
Those of us who read, are a rare breed. But we are out there, and we need local bookstores, to give us the high of being in one, the sight of all those volumes, and our immediate gratification in picking out our own selections, and walking out with them, so that, if we wish, we can begin reading as soon as we get on the subway train.
Amazon is all right, in a pinch! But all that waiting--to hell with it!
Books have kept me sane. If the stores go under, I may end up in the nut house, hooked on dolls, like Neely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"I am NOT nuts! I am just hooked on dolls!"
Save me, darlings! Support your local bookstore!
Rare Breed indeed.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why, though?
Children are still being taught to read, The Book Fair is still popular in schools.
Who knows, maybe by the time we are long gone reading will be back in style!!
ReplyDeleteVictoria,
It seems adult reading for pleasure
or anything other than work related
stuff is not in vogue. I am glad there
are still book fairs in schools.
Some people never develop an interest
in reading for its own sake. Some of
my relatives looked down on me for it.
But now I realize that is THEIR problem!