John, this article really touched me. I am about 20 years older than you, so I had the junior-high-through-college-aged experience of local bookstores like the Book Bin. I spent all my Saturday time divided between my local store The Book Stall, where I could only afford the mass market paperpacks, and the public library, which resembled a state capital building, where I borrowed and read nearly every fiction and drama book in the stacks. Between the two, i devoured equally willingly Leon Uris and Jacquelyn Suzanne, and Salinger, Steinbeck, Goldman, Eugene O’Neill, Tennessee Williams, James Baldwin, Ferlinghetti, Dostoyevski, Hardy, a wonderful series of Armenian family stories… I was a somewhat undiscerning reader, but I was totally moved and my current personality shaped by all these books. The bookstore itself was a godsend, because, unlike the previous bookstore with only hardcovers and no browsing, the new owner let young people linger for hours and even talked to them about their reading. Thank you for lighting up some joyous book memory neurons — with associated smells and emotions — in my brain today. You are a gifted writer! And much appreciation to your mother and other small bookstore owners for providing what amounted to the true eclectic education of many future adults.
I have fond memories of Kroch's and Brentano's, which you mention in your print column. It was a marvel! And the only store the credit card for which my parents were reluctant to let my sibs and I use. Field's, Carson's - we could be trusted with those. But heaven only knows how much we would have spent at K&B!
The Seminary Co-op is my favorite bookstore. I've been a member for quite a while (though not as long as some others), and browsing there is one of the most enjoyable pastimes I have. It's rare that I don't buy something, often several "somethings". When they moved several years ago, I wrote this: https://joansbooks.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-new-seminary-co-op-bookstore.html Jack Cella was in charge then. Jeff is doing a splendid job now, under difficult circumstances, and his book is must reading for any bibliophile.
John, this article really touched me. I am about 20 years older than you, so I had the junior-high-through-college-aged experience of local bookstores like the Book Bin. I spent all my Saturday time divided between my local store The Book Stall, where I could only afford the mass market paperpacks, and the public library, which resembled a state capital building, where I borrowed and read nearly every fiction and drama book in the stacks. Between the two, i devoured equally willingly Leon Uris and Jacquelyn Suzanne, and Salinger, Steinbeck, Goldman, Eugene O’Neill, Tennessee Williams, James Baldwin, Ferlinghetti, Dostoyevski, Hardy, a wonderful series of Armenian family stories… I was a somewhat undiscerning reader, but I was totally moved and my current personality shaped by all these books. The bookstore itself was a godsend, because, unlike the previous bookstore with only hardcovers and no browsing, the new owner let young people linger for hours and even talked to them about their reading. Thank you for lighting up some joyous book memory neurons — with associated smells and emotions — in my brain today. You are a gifted writer! And much appreciation to your mother and other small bookstore owners for providing what amounted to the true eclectic education of many future adults.
I have fond memories of Kroch's and Brentano's, which you mention in your print column. It was a marvel! And the only store the credit card for which my parents were reluctant to let my sibs and I use. Field's, Carson's - we could be trusted with those. But heaven only knows how much we would have spent at K&B!
The Seminary Co-op is my favorite bookstore. I've been a member for quite a while (though not as long as some others), and browsing there is one of the most enjoyable pastimes I have. It's rare that I don't buy something, often several "somethings". When they moved several years ago, I wrote this: https://joansbooks.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-new-seminary-co-op-bookstore.html Jack Cella was in charge then. Jeff is doing a splendid job now, under difficult circumstances, and his book is must reading for any bibliophile.