tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post8472618867219734030..comments2024-03-27T05:15:13.440-04:00Comments on * Author Karen Amanda Hooper*: THE STORY BEHIND A STORE OF STORIESkahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789825860272178765noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-56681934151467616522010-05-04T17:13:13.988-04:002010-05-04T17:13:13.988-04:00Oh, I wish we had a store like this in my home tow...Oh, I wish we had a store like this in my home town!Kellyansapansahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01255309437963616569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-14245140123379408122010-05-03T10:13:37.970-04:002010-05-03T10:13:37.970-04:00I love independent book stores. One of my favourit...I love independent book stores. One of my favourite ones in Vancouver just closed, and like Halsam's, it had been around since before the depression. There is a used bookstore down the street from our place that was recently put up for sale. He was selling it for 20K cash. And I thought to myself, "How could we come up with 20K?" The new owner isn't quite as enigmatic as the old eccentric guy who ran it before. But it's still a treat to visit on a Sunday afternoon. You never know what you will find! - GAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-17996721844318117452010-05-03T08:59:30.910-04:002010-05-03T08:59:30.910-04:00A fabulous post, Karen, and you're very lucky ...A fabulous post, Karen, and you're very lucky to have such a wonderfully big independent book store on your doorstep. Independents here are so sadly few and far between. We like to travel to Hay-on-Wye though, which is the UK's most famous book town, with some 40 fabulous book stores all in walking distance. Bliss! Bright wishes, dear one. xxCarol Anne Strange https://www.blogger.com/profile/03754641845220443208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-22206342170964372062010-05-02T11:47:46.049-04:002010-05-02T11:47:46.049-04:00There's a small bookstore in my area, and I de...There's a small bookstore in my area, and I definitely buy books there if they have what I'm looking for. I think it's good to support local business, and I like the idea of small bookstores, so I want to help this one stick around.Kelsey (Dominique) Ridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10646757546422013401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-71503016753312187472010-04-29T19:03:57.758-04:002010-04-29T19:03:57.758-04:00What I wouldn't give for a bookstore in my are...What I wouldn't give for a bookstore in my area. Sigh. We have an itty bitty one, and I try to buy as many books there as I can, but most have to be ordered. I would love to go through stacks and stacks and just find something that makes me smile and buy it on the spot. This looks like a great store!!B.J. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10767654810069240472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-8041508057642849272010-04-29T16:24:22.400-04:002010-04-29T16:24:22.400-04:00Oh god, I just love book stores. All kinds. I wo...Oh god, I just love book stores. All kinds. I would live in one if I could. There is a great indie book store in my hood that, in addition to its great stock, highlights Brooklyn authors. Again, I could live in that place.Mollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09737883086499020291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-75804245144005953672010-04-29T12:29:13.656-04:002010-04-29T12:29:13.656-04:00We just had our big and wonderful "Elliot Bay...We just had our big and wonderful "Elliot Bay Bookstore" close up and move in Seattle. That area will never be the same. I loved the wooden planks in that store. It's so sad to see a part of history drop out like that.Wendy Sparrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06240583852940769313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-5348574561111138312010-04-28T01:57:26.846-04:002010-04-28T01:57:26.846-04:00This is such a lovely and nostalgic post! I love t...This is such a lovely and nostalgic post! I love the smell of books in a bookstore, and it's just something you can't find ordering books online.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-52992818719304727502010-04-27T21:47:49.748-04:002010-04-27T21:47:49.748-04:00I love hearing about these places. When I was teac...I love hearing about these places. When I was teaching college writing, I always had my books stocked at the independent book store in town. Although this particular store also smelled like incense much of the time ;)Carolina M. Valdez Schneiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589934533051907801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-87319042867776432972010-04-27T21:10:40.578-04:002010-04-27T21:10:40.578-04:00wish we had one here. When I lived in New Orleans...wish we had one here. When I lived in New Orleans I loved to peruse the used book stores you could find in the French Quarter.. smell of history indeed. I collect antique books as well so I really look at places like this as a goldmine!Amie Boudreauhttp://www.chasingcornfields.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-13175891498951544312010-04-27T19:14:42.197-04:002010-04-27T19:14:42.197-04:00Great post; wish I could visit Haslam's. I hav...Great post; wish I could visit Haslam's. I have a few indie bookstores near me. My favorite is Skylight Books in Los Feliz. <br /><br />It's not very big, yet they seem to have everything! There are personal recommendations everywhere, and the organization of topics is intuitive yet unlike any other bookstore I've been to. Definitely has that personal touch.Sarah Skiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18242496273739569661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-42499668934616331912010-04-27T17:43:32.390-04:002010-04-27T17:43:32.390-04:00Sadly, there are no independent book stores close ...Sadly, there are no independent book stores close to where I live, only the big name stores. But I am a huge B&N fan!Melissa Hursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530652829980250261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-17606040669534150512010-04-27T15:59:47.916-04:002010-04-27T15:59:47.916-04:00omg the minute you described THAT smell, i knew ex...omg the minute you described THAT smell, i knew exactly what you were talking about. i wish there were more independent bookstores in my area.<br /><br />you rock for supporting them.<br /><br />great post!Taherehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03111022596822176769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-16825568159139606832010-04-27T15:50:14.407-04:002010-04-27T15:50:14.407-04:00I wish we HAD an independent bookstore! I would su...I wish we HAD an independent bookstore! I would surely patronize it. It's the library for me. I hope Haslam's stays open for many more generations to come!Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-40575933978124592722010-04-27T13:50:19.321-04:002010-04-27T13:50:19.321-04:00When you put it like that, it makes me want to sto...When you put it like that, it makes me want to stop in to an independant book store and give em a shot, but alas, I rarely set foot in stores like that. It's more of a selection issue in most cases, but I'm not opposed to themVoidwalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06688751100806767843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-80629016273555152682010-04-27T13:48:39.089-04:002010-04-27T13:48:39.089-04:00Oh, how I wish there was a bookstore just like tha...Oh, how I wish there was a bookstore just like that one near me. It sounds wonderful! :-)Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-79766608529704915652010-04-27T13:37:50.287-04:002010-04-27T13:37:50.287-04:00I drive by Haslams almost every day, and it makes ...I drive by Haslams almost every day, and it makes me smile everytime. Especially in this area so rich in history but seems to be leaning more toward the notion of "out with the old and in with the new and pretentious". Instead of investing money into what made this area so beautiful, big money out of town investors come and take over, throwing up massive buildings of condos, most of which have failed miserably, and at the expense of the little independant "mom and pop" stores. It's nice to see this book store has been left alone as a staple of the area. As Karen said, it is not the prettiest building to look at, but that doesn't matter.<br /><br />I'm not as much of a reader as most of you, though I really enjoy it when I do have time. I'm a DJ so this topic does hit very close to home as all my independant record stores have sadly disappeared as well as most of the online ones. I do embrace the new technology and the digital era of music, but I really miss the days of walking in to Neptune Records with my mates on a Saturday afternoon and spending hours digging for and listening to our little vinyl pieces of heaven, yup real records! <br />Whether looking for the hard to find classics, picking through the $1 bin, or the owner bringing a stack of the latest releases for us to check out, I'll always miss those days, and I really hope the same doesnt happen to book stores. <br /><br />Yes it's nice to have basically any book or piece of music you want at your finger tips from the comfort of your couch or wherever you surf. Still, nothing beats tracking down that obscure record or stumbling across a classic book at your local independant store.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-25183370034473204612010-04-27T12:42:14.059-04:002010-04-27T12:42:14.059-04:00I also wanted to say that I was shocked to find ou...I also wanted to say that I was shocked to find out that I wasn't following you!!! I am ashamed *blushes* but I have since corrected the problem :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667521490706435608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-52620702790612862172010-04-27T12:39:54.674-04:002010-04-27T12:39:54.674-04:00How awesome! I love bookstores that are so big and...How awesome! I love bookstores that are so big and have the smell of tons of books!!! I have a corner bookshop called Blue Willow Bookshop it's super cute and they are the nicest people ever!! I think us as writers and then book store owners are always nice, I guess writing stories or spending our days reading them must make life blissful versus everyone else...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667521490706435608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-30787092947895022402010-04-27T12:33:08.274-04:002010-04-27T12:33:08.274-04:00Ah, you bring back memories. Back in my checkered ...Ah, you bring back memories. Back in my checkered past, I used to own an independent bookstore. Not as large as Haslam's - but with regular customers not unlike CHEERS. I served cokes not beer though.<br /><br />But life changes, and my path took me elsewhere. Thanks for your lovely blog. It takes effort, and I appreciate your labor. RolandRoland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-27367686179938953992010-04-27T12:18:40.187-04:002010-04-27T12:18:40.187-04:00I love independent books stores. Sadly there aren&...I love independent books stores. Sadly there aren't any in my area anymore. When I travel, I always make a point to stop in every independent bookstore I see!Laura S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13934230198562773803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-3521113054062537452010-04-27T12:12:24.647-04:002010-04-27T12:12:24.647-04:00Ah, yes. The smell of history. There's nothing...Ah, yes. The smell of history. There's nothing like it. The old bookstore by us is built in a really old house with all these staircases and tiny rooms. It's fun to go wander through, and realize what your house would be like if you could own all the books you wanted. Pretty cool. :)Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-83440665056537915222010-04-27T11:55:39.624-04:002010-04-27T11:55:39.624-04:00There's a few independent bookstores in NH and...There's a few independent bookstores in NH and they have neat little poetry readings and guest author talks. I love independent bookstores.Aubriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10884036126491922530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-70732022991322169952010-04-27T11:53:54.711-04:002010-04-27T11:53:54.711-04:00wow. I love that story I wish I could find one lik...wow. I love that story I wish I could find one like that here when I lived in texas there was one right down the street from my house I loved the smell and the books that's were I really fell head over heels in love with books.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11322055251970439959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302980868146183599.post-26497348944002190052010-04-27T10:58:45.789-04:002010-04-27T10:58:45.789-04:00Ah, this makes me sad that Philly has no large ind...Ah, this makes me sad that Philly has no large independent bookstores. The few left are all small and niche-based. Now I have another reason to be jealous of you, besides your writing room. *sigh*Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com