Recent comments in /f/books

ameliaspond t1_j2eq1vk wrote

Reply to comment by Autarch_Kade in Friendly reminder bookshop.org exists. by smita16

>why does a bookstore deserve money due to the arbitrary coincidence of its zip code matching your own?

I think it's because indie bookstores usually offer something additional to their communities!

For example, the indie I work for has the only free public restroom in the shopping area (we believe it's a human right), hosts free in-store events with authors, promotes locally self-published authors, drives authors to schools for in-classroom experiences for kids, hosts a holiday book drive to replenish our local school libraries, and sponsors events across the community!

Yes, we sell books to the people in our community, but we also try to lift up our community. I hope that makes sense.

5

unklethan t1_j2eppzx wrote

Reply to comment by Nossmirg in Friendly reminder bookshop.org exists. by smita16

I worked as the store manager of an indie shop for a few years after running their online store by myself.

Abe hardly benefits the actual book shops. It's crowded with megasellers, just like Amazon is. I would say half of listings on both sites are by HalfPriceBooks or Goodwill. Most sellers who move over 1,000 books a year online will use an automatic listing service like Neatoscan that posts on Amazon and Abe (and like 10 other sites) at the same time.

If you want to benefit actual book stores, buy from their website, call them and buy over the phone, or go visit them in person. Bookshop gets an honorable mention, because they share 30% of the profits with the book store while hosting the site and storing the books and doing the shipping. It's incredibly generous.

4

Ryleebirdee OP t1_j2ep9sp wrote

Reply to comment by bluebelle236 in My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh by Ryleebirdee

If anything, this book made me kinda ~depressed~ and I say that very loosely. Seeing how bad the main character got was just upsetting, especially if you are someone who struggles yourself. Hence why I was so tempted to stop reading it hahaha but I sadly assumed there would be a “breakthrough” moment for both the MC and my own mental sake

3

Mister_Sosotris t1_j2ep7kk wrote

Reply to I read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and I didn't find a deeper meaning in the story. Am I dumb? by -greek_user_06-

As a former English teacher, I can confidently say that there doesn’t have to be a deeper meaning. You can always apply different branches of critical theory to find different layers to a story if you want, but you can also just get swept up in the story and enjoy it for what it is. It doesn’t matter what the author INTENDED you to get out of a story, but rather what elements speak to you specifically. Don’t feel bad! It’s okay to just enjoy things! ^_^

1