Changes Afoot (and Ahead) in The Square
Some big changes in Davis lately. Aside from the addition of the BSC in December along with a not-too desperately needed CVS, and the yet-to-be delivered Shino Express where the old La Contessa Bakery once was, used bookstore McIntyre & Moore is moving back to Cambridge when their lease is up next month. To balance that out, though, Somerville has stolen Candlewick Press away from Cambridge — they've just moved in right down the street from me.
It'll be interesting to see what goes in when McIntyre & Moore vacates the premises. It was nice having a bookstore right there, although I only dropped in occasionally. As you know, I am a member of the Goodwill Book Club, and the Elm Street Goodwill Store has an exceptionally rich inventory. Sure, it's a little random, but it's perfect for supplemental subway reading.
My Goodwill reading list so far this year has included Michel Tournier's dark and mysterious The Ogre, William Maxwell's evocative, elegiac So Long, See You Tomorrow, Alfred Kazin's delightful A Walker in the City, and the charming Little Ottleys Trilogy of Ada Leverson (whom Oscar Wilde once called "the wittiest woman in the world").
As well as Choke, by Chuck Palahniuk (full of shocks of brilliance but a little weak on the plot), Maureen Dowd's Are Men Necessary? (which left me with the question: Is Maureen Dowd really necessary?) and Mark Dery's The Pyrotechnic Insanitarium (culture criticism is usually a little stale after a decade, especially in this day and age, but Dery's insights into millennial America, published in '99, are still incendiary).
And all of that cost me less than ten bucks.
Why not just use the library, you ask? Well, it's a good question. First of all, I'm still an outlaw in the public library system here. I have late fees dating back to the turn of the century, which I have been meaning to pay, I swear.
Secondly, I find the whole time-limit thing oppressive and unduly stressing. I also like to take notes and revisit the text. I can never say, once I've finished a book, when I'll need to return to it. Things I read wend and weave their way into the deep recesses of my consciousness only to pop up with urgency months later.
Plus, I have to say I just like having lots of books around. I've always lived with lots of books. It's a kind of practical aesthetic. I like how they look lining a shelf, or stacked on a nightstand. And they're useful for propping up lopsided tables, and they make great doorstops!
Speaking of book decor, I heard today that Borders, following the trend set by Wal-Mart, has decided that rather than spine-out, they'll display more books cover-out.
The Wall Street Journal reports:
In a radical move aimed at jump-starting sales, the nation's second-largest book retailer is sharply increasing the number of titles it displays on shelves with the covers face-out. Because that takes up more room than the traditional spine-out style, the new approach will require a typical Borders superstore to shrink its number of titles by 5% to 10%. ...I'm totally on that bandwagon. "People don't want choice, they want what they want. And what they want is sometimes constructed for them in the store by the attractiveness of what's on offer." America in a nutshell. Obamania! Hardcore. I like it.
Some think the move is overdue. Unlike modern supermarkets, booksellers haven't done enough to make books look attractive on the shelves, says John Deighton, editor of the Journal of Consumer Research.
"Breakfast cereals are not stocked end-of-box out," he says. "You want to your product to be as enticing as possible. It's a little bizarre that it's taken booksellers this long to realize that the point of self-service is to make the product as tempting as possible."
At the same time, Borders' willingness to reduce the number of titles it stocks reflects a growing view that store customers can be intimidated by too great a selection. "We can be overwhelmed or thrust into indecisiveness by the presence of a large number of temptations," Mr. Deighton adds. "People don't want choice, they want what they want. And what they want is sometimes constructed for them in the store by the attractiveness of what's on offer."
One last change in the square: I had my mullet lopped off yesterday, and donated it to science. I feel a little naked now, and I'm a little shy about showing off my bare neck. I met an absolutely adorable Merchant Marine last night who didn't seem to mind at all, though. The shearing of the mullet and the shagging of the Merchant Marine are signs of spring, I've been told.
Changes afoot! Changes ahead!
Sounds like Davis Square is getting less Davis Square-like by the minute. I am completely with you on books. Which is why my apartment looks like a bookstore threw up on itself these days.
When you say you had the mullet removed, does that mean you've gone back to the buzz cut?
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Not quite:
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I think the 'want' thing is actually warmed-up Reagonomics in the sense of supply creating its own demand.
I'm a sucker for hard-covers - sans dust jacket! It gives it an old-school library feeling.
It's fleet week already?? It must be spring, then!
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Argh...Borders (et al.) are perfect, of course, for W's Amurrica...better marketing, fewer titles! Just in time! Oh, no...sorry, out of print...it didn't sell enough. I suppose we've always been a nation of Gloria Upsons (not entirely to confirm a gay stereotype, but here I am quoting "Auntie Mame"): "Mmmm...MY, what a STUNning aPARTment....Books are AWfully decorative, don'tcha think?"
I'm with both you and Tony - living a bit in fear that my books, de facto decor, I suppose, but nearly all with cracked spines, are going to collapse the house eventually...
Here's to spring, anyway!
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I'm glad to see you've kept the curling locks. I rather like the new look, but you are a handsome dog regardless of your hair length.
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Tony, people are going to figure out that I am paying you to comment on my blog.
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Hey, where's my check for the compliments? I've been stalking...er um...giving you compliments for months now. Well? I'm waiting....
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I'm on a budget here, RG. You might be able to talk Tony into splitting his take...
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Like I'm going to split a dollar with Tony. Pfssst...
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a DOLLAR? Tony's obviously trying to impress you.
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Go ahead. Let everyone know what a cheap whore I am!
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Thanks for the heads up on McIntyre & Moore move. With the 50% off sale, I went a bit crazy in the store last night - the structural load on my apartment floor is even worse thanks to this news.
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I'm actually surprised Cambridge hasn't collapsed under its own weight yet. Mack-n-More moving back might be the last straw.
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Darling Mikey, so you've stumped me again. I went dashing to the Standard College to look up mullet but I am still in the dark. Whataya doing with a fish on ya head anyway?
I sorta guess from the general chit chat that I really don't get it but hey at least you didn't shave the old noggin again. Next time you have a razor in your hand remember "shave your balls not your head"
And while we're on that topic whatditha Merchant Marine look like? Can we please have the video camera over here-NOW!
As for books yes the little devils breed when we are not looking. Yes Mike contrary to your admonition against breeding-and I support you whole hog with that one- books breed like bastards. As soon as I leave home they're at it and when I return, boom they're more of the little fu--er's. And I love'em all.
I am glad you turned me on to the Goodwill book thing I am sending ten copies of my "Naughty Astronautess" over there this morning to satisfy their discerning clientèle
Love the new you look in the button bar but what's with the stairs? I luv'em too, are stairs a big deal on J1148 + 5241?
Kisses on all four cheeks, Mr. Iory
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Iory's back! YAY!
Oh, and here's so you don't have to be in the dark anymore. ...
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Mmmmmmmmmm....Mullet-headed white trash...aaarrrggghhhllll....
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Last night I had a dream that I was a merchant marine. Damn you!
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If your dream was anything like my reality over the past week, you should be thanking me, Gavin!
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