This past weekend I worked the vender booth for my publisher, MLR Press, at the gay erotic expo in NYC. I met a lot of nice people and, though completely exhausted by the end of the weekend, I had a good time.
But I’m not here to talk about my vender experience.
What I do want to talk about is books, specifically whether you’re reading, and consequently buying, more or fewer books than you once did.
On our table at the expo we had an attractive display of books, all gay fiction, all discounted for sale at the event, and they got quite a bit of attention. People would come up to the table, pick up one or another book, admire the cover, a few even engaged us in lively and interesting conversation about reading.
But do you know how many books we sold?
None.
That’s right, not one book was sold at that event.
In talking with other venders I learned that it wasn’t just us. The author in the booth next to ours sold one book, a volume on meditation that he had included as a last-minute throw-in with his cash of fiction titles and never in a million years expected to sell.
When I asked him and others what they thought the problem was, the answer was always the same. It’s the economy.
“People just aren’t buying books,” one vender told me. “They’re saving their pennies for stuff like food.”
She followed this statement with a laugh, but I don’t think either of us thought it was particularly funny.
The fact that you’re reading this blog leads me to believe that you are, if not a writer, then certainly a reader, a person who loves books. As both a writer and lifelong reader myself, I can’t imagine a time when I wouldn’t want — or need — to read. Even in my poverty-stricken student days, when books bought and read for pleasure frequently took a backseat to textbooks, I was a fixture at the local library. That is to say that all my life, books have ranked up there with food and shelter as necessities. So it’s hard, well near impossible, for me to believe that the economy is really to blame for people’s unwillingness to shell out ten dollars for a book.
But what if not the economy, then what?
As readers and writers, do you find that the economy has impacted your reading habits? Are you buying fewer books? Reading less? Or are you getting your reading fix in other ways by borrowing books from friends or from the library?
In short, is reading truly fundamental? For me it certainly is. What about you?
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:16 am
Reading is entirely fundamental. I recently went on vacation and packed over a dozen books. And read every single one of them. *grins* For me, reading is like breathing. Can’t do without it.
I don’t buy as many books for myself as I used to, but that is more because I’m constantly receiving books to review. And because I’ve got three children, I buy a lot of books for them. Sort of cuts into MY book budget, but encouraging them to read and fostering a life long love of reading makes it worth having less books for myself.
At the moment, even though we are deep in the middle of classwork, I’ve got a book open for those few seconds when the kids are doing seatwork and don’t need my help.
Until next time, open a book and enjoy yourself!
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:27 am
I know what you mean about not being able to go on vacation without taking a mini library. *g* Thank goodness for ebooks. I can take literally hundreds of books with me on my laptop (which goes everywhere with me), and not take up extra room and weight in the suitcase.
I’ve been a voracious reader all my life as well. From my very first library book — Harriet the Spy — to the book I’m reading now — Ian McKeown’s Atonement — I’ve always got at least one book in progress and dozens more in the wings. So I applaud your encouraging your kids to read. The ability to read and the love of books is the greatest gift I ever received.