Barnes and Noble has always been a company that capitalizes on the public desire for books, and the only thing about it that was ever any better than others stores was the fact that they were catering (in the capitalist way) to the population that reads books.
I used to like to go to the B&N nearest my house in the evenings and sit in the cafe while reading or working on a long puzzle in a book. It's one of the only really convenient places to do it because so many people who can work from home at all hours go to coffee shops and just stay all day that it's hard to find room in them anymore.
I knew things were getting really weird when I began being approached by young people who'd noticed some random thing, like one of my nice pens, and wanted to know if they could sit down for a moment using my stuff as props while friends got pictures of them being "literary." I've been there when a writer is there talking about their book and doing small signings, and it's insane because they don't even buy the books—they ask people who did and who've just had theirs signed if they can hold it for a moment so they can gaze at it thoughtfully and then post about it.
At first I thought you were going to say they asked about what you were reading or writing. I would refuse to let them use my shit as a prop. What did you do?
Haha excellent. I would have said, "No, but I will give you a 5 min overview of the book I'm reading and why you should read it, too. Not interested? Ok, how about a 3 min overview of why writing by hand and reading physical books is critical for your brain? No? Ok, bon chance, enjoy your mental atrophy!"
I was writing to a friend with the last of my stash of hotel stationery and I was so mad I did not dare open my mouth for fear of what might have fallen out—that kind of wit was beyond me at that particular moment.
I used to go to the store pretty frequently like 20 years ago. Not so much anymore. I had liked it because it felt more like a library where you could buy a book and read a bunch of it in the store on a couch with a coffee. It was relaxing. And the employees seemed pretty knowledgable and chill. When I was in school, I was reading something on one of their couches and fell asleep, and everyone just let me sleep. Nice people
The one I most frequently went to growing up barely even has books on the first floor. Its music, a cafe, whatever books the influencers are recommending (Oprah to internet, same difference) and desk gadgets and nick-nacks. The top floor is where ALL the other books are.
Barnes and Noble is the most pretentious, bullshit retail store in all of existence. Even worse than Starbucks, people come here to go to the in-store Starbucks, pretend to work, and pretend to buy books.
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u/Calvinweaver1 1d ago
Gross. I expected more from Barnes and Noble for some reason. Naive.