Discussion Post
Bookstores
When was the last time you were in a bookstore? Or have you even been to a bookstore?
Many answers will be, well I do my shopping online. And I get that. A couple of clicks and you have your books ordered, or even better, they’re already downloaded to your device.
BUT I really believe that bookstores are essential. They’re a place to find new discoveries, sit quietly, meet new people and sometimes sip your coffee while reading. It’s a vibe.
When I was a kid my dad and two siblings would ride our bikes to the local mall and hang out at Walden Books. (Yeah, I just dated myself 🤷🏼♀️) We would spend, what felt like hours in there. So, I would find a good book and sit in the corner, quietly reading. Those were some of my favorite memories. I loved being surrounded by books, while reading books.
As an adult, I upgraded to working at a bookstore, Barnes and Noble, to be specific. It was a dream job of mine since I was a kid (for obvious reasons), and I applied to the one by my house every year after my sixteenth birthday. I had other jobs in between, but I finally got the job and LOVED it. Granted, I worked in the café, but I worked around books EVERYDAY. Yeah, it was as glorious as it sounds.
I was there for special release parties, nerdy events and the discount was amazing. I definitely felt like my job was just paying for my addiction at one point 😂 #NoRegrets. Plus, my coworkers were just as nerdy as I was, if not nerdier. So that was pretty awesome. It was the first place I really felt I belonged. I haven’t worked at a bookstore in almost a decade, and I seriously miss it every day.
Then there’s this whole thing about physical books. How they smell, how they feel. It’s an experience you lose when you buy eBooks.
Now, do I buy most of my books online? Yes, Kindle Unlimited is just built that way. But I still like to pop in a bookstore every now and then. Just to feel the vibe. Maybe add more books to my 636 book collection. You like how I just dropped that bomb casually? Yes, I have 636 books, aka a small library 😉. And no, I haven’t read them all. But half of it is collecting books, to me at least. After I got my first job, I spent a lot of time at Half Price Books, dropping $1 a book! A dollar a freaking book?? That’s insane.
Anyway, bookstores have always held a special place in my heart. I grew up in them and never left. So, I may be biased when I say bookstores are essential.
If you’ve never stepped into one, look up your local bookstore, grab a coffee and wander around. You’ll get what I mean.
Now, Go forth and sniff some books!
Diary of a bookworm 
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