<p>I’m with you on that one mousegray, if there’s one positive thing about the importation of American companies abroad, it’s that the bathrooms are something to be counted on. I don’t go to McDonalds at home (there’s not one in my town) but I was very happy to see them in China!</p>
<p>One of THE BEST I’ve ever found THE BOOK PASSAGE in Corte Madera, CA (they also have a little branch at the Ferry Terminal in SF) </p>
<p>[Book</a> Passage | The Bay Area’s Liveliest Bookstore!](<a href=“http://bookpassage.com/]Book”>http://bookpassage.com/)</p>
<p>As many others have mentioned for other stores, Book Passage not only has very knowledgeable staff, gift-wrap, new and obscure authors, autographed copies of bestsellers, a frequent buyer club for discounts, a cafe; but also they host Literary lunches with authors (Isabella Allende and her new book are next) and food catered from local restaurants; writing classes for all ages; book clubs and guidance and suggestions for your own clubs; conferences; kids book fairs, etc.
They are also great community citizens–they donate many Book Talks by Staff Members to all the school auctions–found some of my best books at these. They also support literacy events in the community.</p>
<p>BP has also embraced the tech age in that they have an extensive website, staff suggestions, Salon, writing classes for all ages, blogs, along with normal selling of books, as well as e-books. So when I’m traveling, I can almost feel like I’m in the actual store!</p>
<p>well worth the stop when traveling to the Bay Area…</p>
<p>Without handselling by the independents, we will end up with books “written” by celebrity authors and the latest by James Patterson, John Grisham, and Dan Brown. All have their place, but one cannot live on them.</p>
<p>The few dollars extra I pay my local bookstores over Amazon or B&N covers the enjoyment factor, the thrill of finding something new, introduction (in person!) to an author I’ve never read. There is one author I’ll never read again because of how she and her publishing company treated the bookstores who gave her her start. Other authors have gone from library to purchase list because of a rec from the bookseller.</p>
<p>There’s even a controversy over the sandwich board on the edge of the sidewalk by my favorite store. The city decided to enforce a reg, and the board had to come down. Right in the middle of prime tourist/selling season & right after a famous indy moved away from the area because of poor sales/ambience. Grrrr.</p>
<p>I just returned from Edinburgh Scotland. The indie coffee shop next to our flat had a sandwich board outside reading “analog chat room, free fifteen minutes with coffee.”
Made me like their coffee even more…Go independents.</p>
<p>I love my independent new bookstore. It may not be as big as Borders but it has everything I need and more. I love that if my D goes to the young adult section there is at least one clerk who only works that section. If I want to buy a children’s book as a gift they know what is new and where I can find the books my children loved. My favorite baby gift is to buy books that my children have loved. They wrap and they are always happy to help you and find what you are looking for. No wandering around like I do at Borders trying to find someone to help me.
Both my D’s love to read. Both of them loved to just go and browse at our local bookstore. We have two Borders and a B%N and they never ask to go browse in them.
Due to the economy we have gone back to using the library. I also have a Kindle. It works great for travel and there is that instant gratification factor. But it isn’t the same reading the Kindle in bed. Or as my younger D say you can’t read a Kindle in the bathtub.
We do have several used stores. For the most part I find them overstuffed and expensive for what they pay you for them.</p>
<p>Chain bookstores carry what the bean counters at headquarters decide ship to them.</p>
<p>Independent, locally owned bookstores are usually owned and stocked by book lovers who also understand their local markets. A small press publishes a short run of a book that will be of local interest and the indie can stock it.</p>
<p>And as important to me is the fact that the money stays in the community when it is spent at a community enterprise.</p>
<p>Full disclosure: I have a kindle, too. I love it, except that I cannot pass my books on to friends and I’m not supporting my local book stores (one of which is closing next week).</p>
<p>I buy some kindle titles and some “real” books.</p>
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<p>Imagine my dismay, when during a recent excursion, I stopped in a B and N for just that purpose, only to be told that there was no restroom. I couldn’t believe it – I’d never been to a B and N that didn’t have a restroom. Fortunately, a store across the street had one.</p>