Comments

1
THIS. A million times this, Paul.

And that goes for record stores and video stores, just as much.

2
Hear, hear! I don't want bookstores to become some eccentric, antiquated indulgence. The moment we start calling them "steampunk", we're fucked.
3
Q: What do you call a not-for-profit bookstore?
A: A library.

Maybe book-related charity dollars would be better spent in libraries than in bookstores.
4
Rich authors who want to help could invest in bookstores as a vote of confidence, instead of giving charity. The money gets spent the same way but without the air of hopelessness.
5
I kind of like what Patterson is doing. But I also vote with my limited dollars. For example, I just bought Barry Eisler's new Rain thriller from Island Books. It's on Thomas & Mercer, an Amazon Imprint, but Island Books made money off it just like any other book. They know a lot more than any programmatic recommendation engine.
6
@4,

Rich people investing in bookstores with the realistic expectation of a small profit would do more to help small, independent bookstores, because, unlike most of the regular people who own those bookstores, someone like Patterson doesn't have to make a specific amount of money for the thing to remain viable.
7
I don't think any intelligent indie bookstore is "counting on" a handout from a wealthy donator. It'd be a sweet present; let's face it, any big donation to a small business is a lovely gift. But if a bookstore is counting on things like that, they won't last.

A lot of indies are hurting, it's true, and the recession didn't help, so an infusion of cash is always welcome. But as you say, survival comes from being something special, not from begging.
8
Ugh. Sounds like a tax nightmare.
9
For once, Paul Constant is right.
10
I think we all underestimate the lengths most people will now go to in order to avoid interacting with a clerk or store employee. There will always be a niche for people who want this interaction.
11
I don't understand your rant at all. James Patterson loves books and he obviously loves independent book stores. What is the big deal with him helping a few independent book stores so they can stay in business? It's not charity it's being a good citizen. It's called giving part of your good fortune back to the community. No different than when Paul Allen saved the Cinerama. Or when Paul Allen saved the Seahawks.
12
Bookstores outside of academic contexts are going to be a thing of the past, at least compared to now. Why am I going to plunk down for Haruki Murakami and then have another thing to keep because I bought it and it's a book vs just putting the thing on my kindle and being done with it when I'm done with it? Physical books aren't artifacts any more, at least not text. Text is text.
13
Most bookstores operate on a very slim profit margin. Around 1% if that. That's why most of them offer so many "non-book" items because the margin is higher. So many of them barely are breaking even.
Just an FYI. It is a labor of love for owners and workers these days, not really in any other "business model" as I can't see Starbucks or any other major company operating just to break even.

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