Will the book really die?

People often ask me what I think about the Kindle and other e-reader technology. I have briefly perused an article from the New Yorker on my friend's Kindle. I thought it was a fine enough experience. I suspect that e-readers are more that just a fad, but I am not sure how much of a dent they will make in traditional book sales. I know that e-readers have already affected my little store a bit. I had several customers who used to spend and average of $60-$100 a month on books. Then they told me they got Kindles last year and I have rarely seen them since. A customer and his wife inquired this past weekend if we would ever have the e-reader technology for sale, and the e-books to go with it. These are smart, no-nonsense people; people I admire. They wanted to buy this technology, from me. It made me pause. For the last four months I have been wondering if/when I should try to get a piece of the e-reader market. The technology is almost there for me through the American Bookseller's Association. It is likely that within the next six-to-eight months, thanks to the ABA I will be able to sell e-readers at my store (probably only the Sony version) and sell e-books on my website.

I am unsure, however, about the viability of these sales for my store. There is a significant initial investment in time and money to upgrade my website so that I can offer e-readers. Then there are monthly fees (which are not cheap) and whatever kind of routine management the website will need. Do enough people in Yamhill County want to be able to buy e-readers to warrant this investment? That is what I am trying to figure out. There are many catches. Kindle users can only get books from Amazon. Nook users can only get books from Barnes & Noble. Sony e-reader users can get books from independent booksellers. How many people will get a Sony vs a Kindle? Or a Nook? These are all questions I ponder.

There is always some big drama in bookselling. When I started as a bookseller, it was the early days of big box stores coming to steal market share from the small independents. Many small stores closed. But many of those were poorly run and probably would have closed soon anyway. This is an ongoing process, highlighted by the current lackluster economy. Then Amazon came onto the scene. Amazon was a threat to all bricks and mortar stores. Over and over I heard the death knell being rung for traditional bookstores. People were saying that in ten years, there would no longer be any stores for people to walk into to touch a book before they bought it. This was back in 1995. Again, there were many stores that closed, but many also adapted to what their customers wanted and became better at what they could reasonably deliver.

An article in this morning's New York Times actually prompted this post. The article (you can read it here) talks about the resurgence of vinyl records. Remember those? I bet you or your parents have a stack somewhere in the garage, likely in an old milk crate. In this article, there was one line that made me stop and laugh a bit: "And with the curious resurgence of vinyl, a parallel revival has emerged: The turntable, once thought to have taken up obsolescence with reel-to-reel and eight-track tape players, has been reborn." Hmm. Now, vinyl record sales are no where even close to what they used to be, but there is a ton of competition. And people are rediscovering the superior sound quality that vinyl produces. So here is the question: Will this happen with books? I mean in ten, maybe fifteen years, will people be so sick and tired of everything being so rush, rush? Will we discover that e-readers give off some kind of noxious gas that causes painful pink blisters on our faces when we are using them? Will technology come full circle, and like vinyl, we will rediscover the book? I wonder.

-Sylla

Eight Good Reasons to Shop Early, Shop Often.

I am shamelessly stealing this from a fellow bookseller's Twitter feed, via a trade newsletter, Shelf Awareness.

1. We have not yet started playing Christmas music.
2. That feeling of self-righteousness over starting so early translates into treating yourself to something as well.
3. You can make a list of all the things you want, so that you can hint liberally at Thanksgiving.
4. If there's a hardcover you've been eyeing, you have time to read the whole thing before giving it away.
5. We have free gift wrapping. By Christmas, you’ll forget what it was you bought. Aren't surprises great?
6. It’s much easier to stick to your budget when we aren't serving you eggnog like we do the week before Christmas. (*NOTE: We don't do this at TSB, but it might be a good idea!)
7. All versions of The Night Before Christmas are still in stock. You won't have to settle for that one weird one left over on Christmas Eve.
8. You'll bring smiles and joy and a twinkle to the eye of your favorite local, indie bookseller.

Katherine Fergason (@KatherineBoG), manager and children's buyer at Bunch of Grapes Bookstore, Vineyard Haven, Mass.

-Sylla

Our peeps! On bikes!

So for the last few years, we have been partial sponsors of a group of crazies who ride their bikes in the mud. Have you ever heard of cyclo cross? Non? Well, visit here the local organizers of semi-weekly races to get a better picture.

The main sponsors are our friends at Staccato Gelato in Portland. We were given the opportunity to help out and said, why not? We like bikes. Lots of people who ride bikes read books too, right? Ok, the logic may be a bit flawed, but whatever. Here are some pics of a few members of the team:



Here is our logo on the back of the jersey:



Doesn't everyone look swell? We will write about books again soon.

Ack! It is the last day of August!

We have been woefully absent from this blog. It doesn't mean we aren't reading, or thinking of books. It just means we are busy selling books and enjoying the summer. I sense that fall is in the vicinity. The light outside has changed. Did you notice? It happened very subtly. You were probably too busy swimming, or camping or complaining about the heat. The angle of the light is at a greater slant. I love this. I love the way it changes not just the shadows of the everyday stagnant objects around you, but the colors of them as well.

Slight distraction. We are headed to the PNBA Trade Show next week. That is the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Trade Show. We hope to meet with some authors, chat with other booksellers and gather information about the best books for the fall. This blog post is actually a break from writing orders for the show. Is there something in particular that you want?

-S

Fall books

We are finishing our fall buying right now and I must say the upcoming list looks very, very promising. A lot of these titles are coming out in October and November but you can come in and pre-order any of them now. There are so many good titles coming out I can't list all of them, but here is a little taste of what to expect this fall.

Young Readers

Waddle by Rufus Butler Seder: Seder has two other Scanimation books to his name but this one will be in color. (Available Oct. 1st)

Day Is Done by Peter Yarrow: Here is another book/Cd combo for those of you who loved Puff the Magic Dragon and the Peter Yarrow songbook. (Available Oct. 6th)

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart: This is the third book featuring the wonderful Mysterious Benedict Society. Perfect for kids who like a light mystery story. (Available Oct. 6th)

Ghost in the Machine: Skeleton Creek #2 by Patrick Carman: A really creepy series set in a fictional Oregon logging town. This book has a multi-media approach. Kids can read the story and watch mysterious videos online. Lots of fun for adults and kids. (Available Oct. 1st)

Sent: Missing Book 2 by Margaret Peterson Haddix: Found: Missing Book 1 is on the Battle of the Books list for Oregon students this year. I haven't read anything from this series, but I have heard from many enthusiastic kids that it is fantastic. (Available August 25th)

Young Adult

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater: This book is perfect for Stephenie Meyer fans. It has werewolves, intrigue and a bit of a love story. Teens will love this first book in a planned series. (Available August 1st!)

The Amanda Project Book 1: Invisible I by Stella Lennon: This book is a bit like The 39 Clues but it is geared for teen girls. The Amanda Project has a dedicated website and the author is planning multiple books. If you want to get your teen hooked on a new series, this is a good one to try. (Available September 22nd)

Catching Fire: The Second Book of the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: Collins does not disappoint with this follow up to The Hunger Games. I'm already looking forward to Book 3! This book is great for guys and girls because it has strong male and female characters. (Available Sept 1st)

Fire by Kristin Cashore: Cashore's first book, Greaceling, is one of my top YA picks of 2008. Fire is presented as a companion to Graceling, but the books only share one character. If you have a teen girl who can't get enough to read, steer her to Cashore. The author does a wonderful job creating strong female characters who know what they want (and it's not always a boyfriend) (Available Oct. 5th)

The Maze Runner by James Dashner: I finished this book earlier this week and I cannot stop raving about it. Dashner creates a Lord of the Flies type world, only the boys are not completely wild, they have no memory of where they come from, they spend every day trying to figure out how to get out of a maze and there are really creepy creatures that try to kill them once they enter the maze. So, not really like Lord of the Flies, but a tense, quick read. Great for adults and teens. (Available Oct. 6th)

Adult

Gathering Storm: Wheel of Time #12 by Robert Jordan: It's almost here! (Available Nov. 3rd)

Lost Symbol by Dan Brown: I know a lot of people have been waiting years for this title. At 528 pages let's hope it's as intense as his other books. (Available Sept. 15th.)

Children's Book by A. S. Byatt: I'm working through this 688 page book right now. Even though it's long, it is very compelling and I am enjoying it. (Available Oct. 6th 2009)

Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakaeur: Who doesn't love a new Krakaeur book? His subject this time around? Pat Tillman and what exactly happened to him. (Available Sept. 15th)

Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson: Three Cups of Tea is still selling well for us. I know a lot of people who can't wait to get their hands on this book. (Available Dec. 1st)

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Winters, Ben H: For all of you who have bought, read, and loved Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, here is another great title from Quirk Books. (Available Sept. 15th)

Angela

Finally, an update!

Well, it's been far too long since we updated our blog! We've all been busy with getting out of school frenzy, early summer camping trips and, of course, selling books. I spent this past weekend in the Cave Junction / Grants Pass area and I finally got around to reading Coop, the latest by Michael Perry.

If you haven't read anything by Michael Perry you should check him out soon. I would recommend reading Truck: a Love Story first because Coop picks up where it left off. In Coop Perry writes about his family, the arrival of his first child and his new role as a farmer. As usual he writes with a certain Midwestern flair that will have you laughing one moment and wiping away tears the next.

For fans of the current vampire / paranormal craze I recently finished the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. I like this series because it appeals to teens and adults and it has more adventure than romance. This is a fast-paced read with lots of fight scenes that will appeal to everyone. Another plus of this series: it features every paranormal creature imaginable and the author does a wonderful job weaving the different factions together.

A few more updates: This week we received Border Songs, the new book from Jim Lynch, and The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Next week the new Janet Evanovich will be available. This makes #15!!

We have most of the Battle Books available now. If you buy 10 off any list you get a 10% discount. Come in now and stock up!

Book Pirates!

Share this with a kid!




Thanks to Jessica at The Written Nerd for the link.

-Sylla