Sunday, July 28, 2013

B3. Bookstore Observation


behold, the back of a bookstore.

On Saturday of the 27th day in the 7th month of the 13th year of the new millennium (of which there have been 2 that matter according to people long dead) I went to Barnes and Noble and investigated the young readers section. I have been in this bookstore many times dating all the way back to my childhood and, for some reason, the children's section does not look smaller despite my being somewhat larger. In the construction of this place, someone must have thought it a good idea to make picture books over a quarter of the inventory because this space takes up almost a third of the store and includes a gazebo, a wall, a stage, big wood cut outs of classic book characters that i seriously doubt any of the kids in there have actually heard of, and large wood pillars disguised as trees made out of paper and ink. Why tiny people need this much space is beyond me but it does make for an open and inviting area that was remarkably pleasant even though, as i sat at a tiny table on a tiny bench with a tiny tea set laid out before me, i kept feeling like i should be expecting a singalong number about a strangely tinted highway and any moment.

all good books. though it just occurred to me 
that there are no Dr. Seuss books in our reading list.

I was not offered assistance at any time during my visit but i suspect this was less about the attitudes of the store employees and more because of the strange imbalance of customers. The adult section of the store was bustling like i have never seen it before excepting the week before a fat man climbs down peoples chimneys and trades toys for calories. There were people everywhere in the main area but as i strolled calmly into the young readers area it struck me that there was a distinct lack of youth and, to a greater extent, reading. in fact, there were only two women chatting, a baby that was too young to read and one young boy playing with erector set toys from the far wall. There were lots of good places to play and comfy chairs to sit in but, despite the high demand for reading spots outside of this miniature bastion projecting into the store, i seemed to be the only person brave enough to come in here to read. i was sitting in the huge comfy story-time chair on the stage reading "William Shakespeare's Star Wars" and it made me wish that there were other people around to read it at.
I see adventure time coloring books on that shelf.
 Seriously, what kind of horrible parent lets their 5 year old watch adventure time? 
awesome show, not for kids.

i have bought books here on occasion in the past but i have a rich history of being poor and B&N is notoriously expensive as bookstores go. There was a huge selection of classic and new books that all looked remarkably appealing and were arranged in neat little displays around and on shelves that were, sadly, probably too tall for anyone under 7 to reach the top shelf.

1 comment:

  1. I have a great history of being poor as well, I feel ya on that one man! Overall B&N was a great choice because their children's section is so visually appealing. Great post overall!

    -Michael Streat

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