Bookshops and Bed Sheets

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The modern bookshop looks like Sears, the departed department store that went out of business. They sell almost everything. I looked like a crazy person yesterday when I did a double take, looked left and right scanning the space for books. I was in a bookshop after all.

You either enter the bookshop from the shopping mall food court or the open air car park. Either way, you land on the main floor full of bed sheets, pyjamas, disposable morning slippers, ladies hats, bags, scarves, casserole dishes and coffee mugs. At least the shopping mall entrance has a royal indication that you are entering a bookshop. SPARE, Prince Harry’s book is on a tall display.

The bookshop also has a children’s clothing area which used to be a reading area. They had chairs where book lovers sat while they listened to authors talk about their books. Authors loved it. It was a chance to sign their books. Some readers loved it because it is a big deal to have the author’s signature on the first page. Is there virtual book signing now?

Why did bookshops decide to be a Sears or Karstadt, the German department store? Maybe they wanted to kill two birds with one stone, buy pillow cases then browse books. Is it working? We’ll wait for their annual reports.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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