The Border's Trilogy. Sponsored by the Oprah Book Club who's latest pick The Road by Cormac McCarthy...We won't get into the possible psychological motives for such a choice but let's just say that I can't understand half of what McCarthy writes, he is a bit reclusive and has given one interview in the last 40 years and he is going to Oprahland!As surprising as this pick is for Oprah is how unsurprising the recent news is from Borders.New CEO George Jones laid out his blurred strategic vision for the company.It includes a new and less improved loyalty programand "significantly reducing...
When You Lose Your Heritage
Probably the biggest event in the antiquarian bookselling community since the internet arrived was announced a couple of weeks ago.Heritage Book Shop, one of the leading antiquarian bookshops of the world, has announced a major downsizing that is sure to affect the trade for years to come.Founded in Los Angeles in 1963 by brothers Louis and Benjamin Weinstein, Heritage has blossomed into a pillar of the antiquarian bookselling trade in this country and abroad.The Weinstein's have created one of the most beautiful high profile shops in the world and their inventory consists of some of the finest material available in...
The Evolution of a Beautiful Space
El Ateneo: The Largest Bookstore in Latin AmericaIn 1919 a young man named Max Glucksman decided to construct a theater that would be both grand and splendid. Originally a performance space it was converted to a cinema in the late 20's and was the first place in the region to show movies with sound. For a time it was also home to Radio Splendid and a recording studio, Odeon Records, that recorded some of the early Tango greats.Now housed in the perfectly restored building is the bookstore El Ateneo.All the original features have been preserved. The stage is now a...
The Bookshop as Sacred Space
We who love books know that spending time in a bookstore is, on some level, a spiritual event. The creative output that is housed at the bookstore is awe inspiring.A bookstore just opened in the Netherlands that is housed in a 13th century Dominican church. The church was built in 1294 and was recently converted.There are also people I know where going into a bookstore is a physical event. They get so overwhelmed by the bookish surroundings that they immediately have to go to the bathroom.Thanks to Kimbooktu for the lead