Tag: independent bookstore

Weekly Tea Discussion: Amazon vs. Bookstores

~ karma2015 ~ 1 Comment

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Welcome to the first week of Weekly Tea Discussion!

In honor of Independent Bookstore Day this Saturday, I thought we talk about Amazon and independent bookstores.

When the whole Amazon and Hachette dispute over e-book pricing that occurred last year, I watched everyone, from writers and readers alike, attacking Amazon, especially criticizing their actions for withholding Hachette print books from their website.

Now, I don’t agree with what Amazon does sometimes, especially in this case. What I don’t agree with is everyone making Amazon public enemy number #1. Mishka Shubaly, the author of Sympathy for the Devil: In Defense of Amazon, I feel said it perfectly:

Jeff Bezos didn’t build Amazon: We did. Amazon didn’t buy out and board up independent bookstores. We abandoned them. We chose convenience over community, commerce over art. The Big Five sell glossy-covered, sensational page-turners and celebrity tell-alls and escapist vampire soft-porn because this is what we’ve told them we want to read. The solution isn’t to order the latest Hachette bestseller online from Wal-Mart.”

Continue reading “Weekly Tea Discussion: Amazon vs. Bookstores” →

Day 23: 10 Things I Miss

~ karma2015 ~ 2 Comments

1. I miss the vast amount of independent bookstores in the city.

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Coliseum Books (Closed since 2007)

2. Peeps all year round.

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3. I miss the “original” Strongbow, not this sweetened Americanized Strongbow they’re pushing on us.

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4. Movie tickets costing $5.00 or $.6.00.

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5. I miss when classic books were at a decent price, like those Bantam Classic Books

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6. I miss London.

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7. I miss not having to worry about taxes…or bills…or anything about being an adult.

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8. I miss Smallville

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9. Oddly enough, sometimes I miss college.

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Hunter College

10. I miss my grandma.

My grandmother (left) and my cousin Rhonda (right)

 

.This is Day 23 of the 30 Day Writing Challenge.