Just looking at the pictures made me smile.

at my local independent bookstore, which is nice enough but not as picturesque as those.

In fact, I've pre-ordered a novel on Amazon, and I need to go down to that bookstore, order it from them, then cancel the Amazon order. Either that or buy it directly from the author, who is my niece.

We live in the boonies where there are no bookstores of any kind. Since Waldenbooks closed we never see a book store of any kind.

When we would make the rare journey to the Waldens book store I would undergo a kind of sensory overload.

up. I didn't know they'd been acquired by Border's, and would have a very hard time saying when I last saw one.

While I understand the genuine pleasures of living in the boonies, among the reasons I stay reasonably near major cities is for things like good bookstores. Or even the convenience of various big box stores. I'm in Santa Fe, and the big box stores here are at least thirty percent smaller than their counterparts in Albuquerque. We actually had two Border's locations, and when they shut down we were all rather surprised that Barnes and Noble didn't move in. Oh, well.

If you ever get to the Kansas City area, Rainy Day Books in Fairway, Kansas, right next to Kansas City, MO. One of the very best independent bookstores out there. It's not terribly large, but they carry an amazing mix of books, have very knowledgeable staff, remember their customers, and sponsor author events. I do miss them since I moved here.

Thanks for the photo link.