The Case for Books by Robert Darnton

The book begins with an introduction by the author describing the parts he has played in the creation and keeping of literature. It then becomes a series of articles Darnton has written regarding books. He describes how Google has been attempting to digitize all books and the repercussions that will occur if they proceed with their plan. He explains the benefits and drawbacks of e-books and microfilm. Darnton describes the Gutenberg-e project, open access, and the future of libraries. He then reverts to the past describing the invention of paper and the book, the importance of bibliography, changes in reading and why it needs to be studied, and the general history of books including printing, publishing, and bookselling.

The book is filled with information and facts. Yet, there are many questions left unanswered. Overall it portrays the fact that literary history is still a very much buried field. There are thousands of bits of history waiting to be discovered within the realm of books.

The Future of Books

I went to visit my Grandmother yesterday and we started discussing books. She asked me if I believed what's being said about the printed book eventually becoming obsolete with all of our new technology. I answered, "No" and I firmly believe it.

The printed word has existed longer than Christ. It is the mostly widely used and longest lasting medium. Telephones did not replace it. The radio did not eliminate it. Television can barely be said to have competed with it. The computer did not destroy it. What makes these computer-savvy technology advocates believe the Internet will?

Yes, the Internet is a wonderful portal. It holds and shares massive amounts of information. I will even admit that I have had an Internet addiction since the beginning of middle school. That being said, the Internet does not even compare with the printed book.

First of all, books are gorgeous. Bookbinding is an art. Libraries are beautiful works. Even fiction books are true. They are true in the sense that blood, sweat, and passion all went into making them. No one can write a book in a few hours (while websites can be created by any person any age with or without any education on the subject matter). Furthermore, unless you have a lot of money or power, your book is not going to spread around the world unless it is worthwhile. Only good books are found in libraries and stores in every country. Again, the Internet has so much junk on it, you have to question the validity of every website you come across. Due to copyright laws, any relatively modern book can only be altered by the author (and editors/publishers with the author's permission). Therefore, the words of the author remain constant and unchanging as long as that printed book sits on shelves.

You can carry around books, flip through the pages, smell the fresh paper, and fall asleep with it in your lap. After your done, you hand it around to acquaintances who share your passion for literature. There is something magical in discussing books and letting people borrow them. The joint knowledge held only by that specific group who has read the book approaches surreal. Furthermore, books have caused the rest of media! Think about it... radio shows began by reading stories. Television shows and movies are based on written scripts and books. Many websites are devoted to books either by selling, publishing, sharing, or critiquing them.

Books are as solid a part in our future as the binding that holds the pages together. They're not going anywhere anytime soon.

The Likeness by Tana French

This is her second book; it continues with the character Cassie Maddox from "In the Woods." It is also a murder mystery but starts out very slow. The action is more psychological in nature than physical throughout the majority of the story. The characters fight with words and knowledge rather than throwing fists until about 3/4s of the way into it.

I generally am terrible at guessing who the murderer is in every book. I am always dead wrong. I tend to go with the person the author tries to point you to which is not the real killer 99% of the time. However, with this book, I knew it all the way through. There were times that French made me question my assumption but overall, this one person was guilty from Chapter 1. The questions were only how and why.

It was not as good as her first novel which was an edge-of-your-seat-everyone-seems-guilty type of mystery. I still found it entertaining.

English 001

I spent my evening at Barnes and Noble tonight celebrating my $80 worth of gift cards I got for Christmas. I spent an enormous amount of time in the classics section. Each time I peruse those titles, I have the same thought: "How have I not read these before??" Why are we not required to read the classics in high school? The greatest parts of the English language are reading and writing. If one is not required to read good books, how will one ever know what good books are out there? Furthermore, how can you seriously consider yourself an English teacher if you're not making your students read the classics?

I understand perhaps skipping Faulkner. He's brilliant yet heavy and even the brainiacs in the front row might not go for it. But Charles Dickens? Ernest Hemingway, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mark Twain.. where are they? Had I not taken the self-titled class on Shakespeare, I would not have read more from him than Romeo and Juliet. There are a hundred reasons to be reading all of these authors' works again and again. What reason is there not to read them?

I can remember spending two months reading one book in high school English classes. These books weren't classics then nor will they be fifty years from now. Yes, read them but no, don't devote two months to them and don't choose them over elegant pieces of artwork that are also sitting on the bookshelves.

Many students don't continue taking English classes after high school or the first year of college. Therefore, high school is when all of these titles need to be introduced and reintroduced until they are truly ingrained in American culture once more.

Ernest Hemingway on Writing

Hemingway has every right and reason to be one of the greatest literary masters of all time. His pieces are gorgeous: so real you can reach out and grab them, alive to the point that you can envelope your own life around them. This book is all quotes that Hemingway wrote in his books and letters (mostly to other authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald) and things he said. Each one is about writing and living your life like a writer. Whether you're aspiring to be published yourself or just enjoy a good book, I recommend it. Each page is inspiring and beautiful. Below is one of my favorite quotes. Not only is it written well, but it also is so very true.

"You see I’m trying in all my stories to get the feeling of the actual life across –not to just depict life –or criticize it –but to actually make it alive. So that when you have read something by me you actually experience the thing. You can’t do this without putting in the bad and the ugly as well as what is beautiful. Because if it is all beautiful you can’t believe in it. Things aren't that way. It is only by showing both sides -3 dimensions and if possible 4 that you can write the way I want to."

Barnes & Noble vs. Borders

Everyone that knows me obviously knows I like to read. I was given $80 in gift cards to Barnes and Noble for Christmas. I was just thinking about the fact that I have been given a lot of gift cards there over the years but never one to any other bookstore. There are three indies within the area as well as a Waldenbooks yet I've never been given a gift card to any of these. Granted Waldenbooks is closing at the end of January and it wouldn't make much sense this year but in the past, sure it would've been fine. Now there's no doubt about my support of indie bookstores. I am passionate about them and I am working towards having one.

However, the simple fact of the matter is that Barnes and Noble gets it. They're doing every piece of book selling right from the commercial aspect down to the literary fanatic aspect. They've gotten large enough that they're cheap(economies of scale). Furthermore, they print their own titles allowing them to charge even less. I personally adore the Barnes and Noble classics where you can get the majority of great historical literature for less than $5. When Starbucks introduced this whole coffee revolution enticing people not to go do some activity but just meet everyone in the coffee shop sitting around for hours looking intellectual and talking in hushed tones, Barnes and Noble was there. The company scooped Starbucks up placing them in their stores so even if perhaps you don't read so much or don't plan on buying a book right now, you still might be willing to meet for coffee. If you're the least bit vulnerable when it comes to books (huge problem of mine) you'll grab something on your way out. Bam!... another niche: a grand one in fact.

I don't agree with the e-book situation that's on the brink of exploding right now (we'll discuss this another time) but Barnes and Noble is tackling it. Not only do they have their own personal e-reader out (the Nook) but they also allow you to download an e-reader for free for your PC. Furthermore, they have already become the largest supplier of e-books (last time I looked it was about 2 million). They pioneered the concept of the book superstore. They have a tremendous amount of new and used books offered online. Their inventory in the store is large enough to please any interest.

Borders is slacking. No coffee shops, no e-books or e-book reader, nothing new or innovative. Borders does not invite you to sit and spend your day there regardless of whether or not you're purchasing a book. It's not asking to be your third place (a home away from home or work... I love this concept so you'll see it often). Borders has far less community events and activities than Barnes and Noble. The selection is smaller. They choose mall locations for many stores rather than free-standing superstores. They also did not get online until August of 2008... umm hello, the Internet has been around for how long?

And... they're going out of business! Voila, there you have it folks. If you don't stay ahead of the curve, if you're not innovative, if you don't make a niche and another and another, you won't survive in today's marketplace. Borders closed 178 stores between 2001 and 2008. In January they're closing 200 more. They've had negative cash flow, negative net income, and have not paid a single dividend in at least the past three years. It may take many more years to close all of the locations but Borders is going out of business. There's no doubt about it.

I don't blame it on Barnes and Noble, or Amazon, Target, or Walmart. I blame it on the pure fact that Borders does not change. The company refuses to niche market and really appeal to what their customers are looking for. It's sad to lose so many bookstores but really, how could anyone not have seen this coming?

Merry Christmas!!

Might I recommend re-reading Rudolph or The Nutcracker or one of my childhood favorites, the Little Fir Tree? Happy Holidays!