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FOR THE LOVE OF A GOOD BOOK............



During part of the summer... I live in a very SMALL town in Northwest Montana.  Simple pleasures are a must here.
Sailing on the lake ....... buying yourself beautiful flowers .... reading a great book,  you get the picture.







Which brings me to the point of this post...I'm sure all of you know about all the Borders Stores that are closing.  Well.....ours in a little town north of us is one of the ones closing.  I'm so sad over this....
I was there yesterday with a multitude of other people picking up things that were being marked down 50 to 75 percent.



Don't get me wrong, I love a bargain as much as anyone...but I would have much preferred not getting any bargain and having Borders REMAIN OPEN.


With the Kindle, Nook, I-Pad, etc...I am truly afraid books will be put on the shelf along with the typewriter and rotary dial phone...just to name a few of the things that are now obsolete in this world of ours.


I love being able to hold a book, mark the pages and underline passages that mean something to me.


Oh...I know you can order a book on-line from Amazon...but nothing is as pleasant to me as spending an afternoon in a local bookstore scanning the shelves .... choosing a book or magazine I want to look at......ordering a cup of coffee and just relaxing.


I, for one,
will truly miss my local Borders.  I just hope Barnes and Noble manages to hang in there.


Enjoy the day,


Jo

Comments

  1. I completely agree with you that browsing in a brick and mortar bookstore like Borders, is an enjoyable experience, and I am sad Borders is closing. As an author that impacts me too! I love to walk the aisles of a book store and find things by happy accident. No online store has that exact experience.

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  2. Good Afternoon Jo Sweetie...
    I am right there with you. There is something about the smell of new books when you pick them up in the store. Something about all the colors of the bindings you see on the shelf as one flow. Something about the togetherness you feel when you are in a book store with other fellow readers and lovers of books.

    My fondest memories as a child, were in the library reading their books, because we didn't have the money to buy books back then. They were a luxury meant for birthdays. I give my grandkids giftcards to the book stores to go out and buy what they would like to read, as I so want to encourage that always, as I did with my kids.

    A beautiful post sweet friend. Just beautiful.

    Please stop by and leave a comment for Miracle Makeover sponsored by Design Gives Back and Guideposts Magazine. They are paying 1.00 a comment from my blog towards the next makeover. There are several of us hosting this year. You can leave at least a couple a day through the 18th of August. So you have a couple of days yet. Every comment counts sweet one. If you haven't seen Charlie's makeover video please stop by and watch it. It will melt your heart.

    Have a glorious evening. Many hugs and much love, Sherry

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  3. There is nothing like browsing in a bookstore, holding the books, seeing the displays.... My next door neighbor owns a small independent bookstore in our neighborhood. I love going over there and I try to buy all my books from her to support her business!

    On another topic, I spent some of my youth in the mountains near Whitefish, MT. I still have friends in Bigfork. What small town do you live in?

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  4. New books, secondhand books, and borrowed books will always be part of my life. Enjoying an afternoon is a bookstore is one of my favourite pastimes. Sad to hear about your Borders Stores!

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  5. I, too, have not gone over to the e-book side. I like having the book in my hands. But I agree with you, I think they are going to go the way of the dial telephone. So sad.

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  6. Well as someone who works for B&N, I can say we are still going strong! And if people are going to cry about bookstores disappearing, then they need to quit ordering online and support local stores. We can't stay in business if people use us only to look at books, then go home and buy them online. I understand for some people online is the only way they can get books, but please, if you have a neighborhood bookstore--support it. It is part of our culture and if bookstores disappear, I fear for the intelligence of our country.

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  7. I think it's only a matter of time until bookstores and libraries are quaint memories. Too bad but c'est la vie.

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  8. I agree, Jo. Nothing is better than spending a rainy day in a bookstore looking at all those treasures, and they are just that to me. I also loved the scones and coffee at Borders and treated myself each time I went. I have to get used to Barnes And Noble, but with my love of books, it won't be hard.

    XO,
    Jane

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  9. I will miss Borders. I am stunned we are loosing some of our Barnes and Noble stores too..

    "If You Lived Here I Would Know Your Name", love the title and adore the Moose picture!

    Happy Trails.

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  10. Dear Ms. Caboo.....thanks so much for your wholehearted comment about bookstores...I feel all of us could not agree more!!

    Jo

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  11. Thanks so much for stopping by my Art Blog. I think you have a most beautiful blog, and love the Title and your reason for blogging.

    I agree with you. It's a sad day when a Book Store must close. A little scary to be honest. I love to read, and have one or two books going all the time. Like you my books are personal, they are highlighted, underlined and notes in the margins...and you can't put a pretty lace and ribbon marker in a Kindell!!!

    Thanks for a lovely post.

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  12. I couldn't agree more Jo!
    I love love book stores. Actually so do my husband and son. We love to spend an afternoon at Chapters!!

    Pamela xo

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  13. I know I am so sad about our big city losing Borders. At least we still have Barnes & Noble. I love going into a bookstore and perusing the shelves. So many hidden treasures. And then when they had coffee too? I was in 7th heaven. Here's to a wonderful independent bookstore opening up near your summer home in Montana soon!

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  14. I hate that the bookstores are closing. For now we have Barnes and Noble, but for HOW long? I love the musty, scent of a bookstore. I love how you can see dust motes floating in the drifts of sunlit windows. No Kindle or I pad is going to bring those to me. I love the texture of a page as I finger it before it is turned...oh yes, I am a Book lover. A real Book Store Book Lover.

    Hugs~

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  15. There is nothing like spending time in a book shop.

    I love the smell of new books and it is always great to go home with something good to read.

    I hope you don't miss your shop too much, hopefully another one might open up.

    Take care


    Fiona

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  16. You're totally right. Reading a book was such a part of "our" generation's life, but I think that the current younger generations are so reared on electronics that in 50 years "real" books will be a curiosity. I think that is sad. Don't really like this faster, faster, faster world we are starting to live in .... seems like we are so separate and isolated.

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  17. The same thought has crossed my mind, and I am equally concerned that all of our sources for goods are becoming "mega sources"...I really don't want just one large store to shop in. Don't need to buy my books where I buy toilet tissue or sandwich bread! You can't...mmmmm....what's the word...!! meander! I want to just meander from shop to shop sometimes. Wal*mart just doesn't fit the bill, and Amazon isn't even close to useable that way. ~sigh~

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  18. Jo you are so right when a store closes we all lose. I went to get my car washed the other day at a hand wash station the sign read closed thanks for everything. I was sad in my heart as I am each time I pass be and closed business. I try to go the road less traveled oft times just in case the little I spend there may really make some difference and keep that sign from ever being posted.

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  19. I think it is very sad. I live in a country that still censors books and magazines and even the subject books used in school so I've always enjoyed going back to the States and visiting big bookstores filled with everything imagineable. I for one do not want to go to a wholly technical world. People are already lost in their gadgets. Going totally tech just seems to me to have so many negatives. There has to be some sort of balance and lots of folks, especially kids in this day and age, are unable to find that. :/ Hope your day is good. Best wishes, Tammy

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  20. So many changes are being made today due in part to technology. Some good, some not so good. I love browsing in book stores and I hate the thought that they might all be done away with because of the Nooks, Kindles, etc. Nothing can replace holding a real book in my hands. And I enjoy seeing rows of books on my bookshelf. The tech gadgets certainly don't have that warm, cozy feel a real book offers!

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  21. Technology is reshaping the world. I will never own a Nook or Kindle. Like you, I enjoy the feeling of holding a book in my hand, the pages etc. There is just something totally awesome about the entire experience. I don't know if our Borders are closing, I must look into that! How sad indeed to loose such a great piece of our heritage! ~Hugs to you my sweet Jo, M

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  22. Jo So GLAD I was able to "introduce" you to Jane at Small but Charming. I feel like I have known her for years - maybe someday we will meet in person. A great blog!

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  23. I feel the same way about books, I love to not only read them, but touch them, feel the paper, smell the age of the books. I would be upset also, if I were to find our book stores here closing.

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  24. Oh there is nothing I love more than getting into a good book that sits in my hands. I also don't get much of a chance to get to a library or book store, but when I do I can spend hours there browseing thru all the sections. For me to buy a book I like to have it in my hand. I don't own any of those readers. Anyway been looking at some of your blogs and you have a wonderful way with your thoughts along with your wonderful art.

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  25. I cannot agree more. It makes me so sad to see these major bookstore chains going out of business. There is nothing like the feel of a book in your hands and paper between your fingers. One of my guilty pleasures is hanging around a large bookstore for hours and just browsing. I always finish it off with a cup of latte or a frapachino and a sense of wonder. I hope your week is going well, my dear friend.

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  26. Hi Jo...a beautiful post and tribute to books..I agree..I love the feel of a book in my hands..and reading by candlelight! Sorry the store is closing...very sad! beautiful photos...thanks for adding sparkles to my world!
    Kiki

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  27. I am hoping independent bookstores can return. The mega stores and lower prices knocked them out along with Amazon..but as an avid reader at least 6-8 books a week, I will never stop yearning for the feel and smell of new and old books...
    Progress and BIGGER is not always better and I think America is learning that the hard way.
    xx
    z

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  28. Progress really stinks sometimes! I can't imagine a life without a book to read...

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