Where are the books?

There's a wonderful cartoon in a recent issue of Oh Reader. It shows a man reading in a chair while a woman heads out the door with her purse. She says, "We need throw pillows, potpourri and coffee, so I'm going to the bookstore."

That's funny because it's so true. Bookstores stay in business because they sell so many things other than books and magazines, as The New Yorker cover at right illustrates. I have commented previously about the college bookstore at Grove City College, where my son once attended, that other than textbooks sold no books at all. You could find mugs, sweatshirts, etc., but no books.

Most bookstores do sell books, but often these are kept toward the rear of the store. Upfront is where they place the greeting cards, calendars and so forth that may actually be more profitable for them.

This can be annoying to those of us who go to bookstores to shop for books. We want to see books when we walk through the door, not birthday cards. Yet I am as much at fault for this reality as anyone else.

Consider some of the non-book items I have purchased in bookstores over the years: datebooks, puzzles, games, tote bags, calendars, food, large quantities of tea and, of course, many magazines and greeting cards. One of my favorite bookstore purchases is a carrying case for my iPad that doubles as a makeshift desk when I travel.

But at least I have never purchased throw pillows, potpourri or coffee in any bookstore.