Stephanie Yap from Straits Times today wrote in the Culture Vulture section "Buying books without Borders", pondering on the evolution/revolution of bookshops in the light of bankruptcies of both the US and Australia Borders companies.
She is able to take it in stride because she buys books from Kinokuniya and BooksActually. I don't think I've been to the latter, but since it moved to Tiong Bahru near my in-laws, I think I could make a trip down soon.
She also outlined 2 types of shops "serious buyers" go for. One would be where the buyer has a clear idea of what to get, and the other is where the buyer hopes to find something interesting.
I asked myself - what kind of a book shopper am I?
Well, I do buy books, and I am not partial to either bookshops like Borders or Kinokuniya, or to used book stores, or antiqurian as some tries to pass themselves off.
Given practicalities like budget and space constraints, I cannot afford to buy just any book I fancy.
Most of my purchases are books I read from my childhood days, especially those no longer in print, such as Biggles and Three Investigators. When I was young, it never occurred to me they might not be available in most bookshops.
Recently, I also bought some Boomkids comics - Walt Disney comics, some translated from Italian - I learned my lesson that these are the type of books that contain interesting stories and will also be likely not commonly available in time.
I even forked out for a new ligne claire style comics Rainbow Orchid. I regretted not buying a first edition of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen just because I thought the bookshop was asking too high for USD 15 back in 2002.
One thing I'm certain is that I'm not going on the eBook bandwagon. I still want to hold a conventional book and read from paper instead of electronic screen.
I am also thankful that I am instilling in my children a habit and a love for reading. Even my younger son who cannot read many words enjoy looking through old Sesame Street Dictionary and Encyclopaedia.
Singapore is already experiencing decline in 2nd-hand bookstores. Perhaps in this decade, it will see a decline in mainstream bookstores too.
But I suspect there could be a revival of independent book retailers. By then, my family might be more settled (hopefully), I'll have some more personal time to go "treasure hunting".
Yes, Snowy, I do prefer to hold a book too, and to see it in my shelves.
ReplyDeleteI believe that independant book retailers are not dead. In my town, they are working quite well. You know, people like to get back to their childhood preferences. Nowadays, even the vynil records shops are more and more numerous and you can find great new record players in the specialized market. :)
There is a 3-days Borders book clearance in Singapore at the Singapore Expo. I went during lunch time yesterday and the lines of people queueing to pay for their purchase (with boxes or baskets of books) snaked all around the perimeter of the Hall.
ReplyDeleteBook buying is not dead in Singapore ... I just wish the buyers and browsers would be more considerate and not leave the piles of books in a mess ... :(
Just for the record Borders Singapore by itself is profitable. Singaporeans love books and they will still buy books from bookstores. No figures to back it up but I suspect we have one of the highest book buying and borrowing rates in the world.
ReplyDeleteSnowy, what is your objection to ebooks? What if the screen clarity is as good as text on paper? And the ebook reader has all the portability of a book? I am a bit surprised you used the word 'certain'.
Ur,
ReplyDeleteA. eBook need a power supply to be used.
B. Files need to be reformatted or transferred from one eBook reader to a new one.
C. I can read a book far longer without strain
D. eBook readers cannot match the size of some of my books.
E. eBook cannot match the sheer pleasure of going through a bookshelf and wondering which will I choose ...
F. Read more than one book at a time? Switching is a pain with computers.
Many others. Aesthetics ...
There is one Terry Brooks Shannara series where the heroes went in search of ancient knowledge. They found the repository, but alas, since it was in magnetic disks, they could not even study it, much less decipher. Books are viewable without additional instrument.
>A. eBook need a power supply to be used.
ReplyDeleteYes, but how often do you need you charge a modern reader? Amazon Kindle goes two weeks without charging. in the future battery life will be even more impressive. You may be able to charge your book simply by carrying it with you one day.
B. Files need to be reformatted or transferred from one eBook reader to a new one.
Format changes are handled automatically these days. more importantly there are international standards for ebooks and the trend is for them to standardise on one or the other.
C. I can read a book far longer without strain
Try the new Amazon Kindle, you might change your mind. More importantly the technology is improving all the time.
D. eBook readers cannot match the size of some of my books.
You mean you prefer a larger device? This is true if for some reason you prefer to have a large book. But in the future may come technology where the screen is projected directly to your eye in which case it can be as large as you want.
E. eBook cannot match the sheer pleasure of going through a bookshelf and wondering which will I choose ...
Future augmented reality or virtual reality technology will still allow you to navigate in a 3-D space, going through literally thousand of shelves, flip through virtual books and choose the one you want.
F. Read more than one book at a time? Switching is a pain with computers.
On an ebook reader it is very easy to do.
It is entirely possible that the current eBook technology is not quite up to your taste. However I think we will see the technology improve to the point whereby the reading experience will be superior to a book. Some already claim there is no significant difference, and in one respect it is already superior, you can read at night without an external light source.
This is not to mention the many other things ebooks already do better than traditional books.
No dice, Ur.
ReplyDeleteExternal light source is not an issue.
While reading is a personal experience, what you're describing doesn't sound like reading experience but a series of external stimulation experiences.
While traditional paper book has a lot going into it - decision about page size, fonts, layout etc., the reading experience is primarily an internal exercise of engagement.
If I'm doing research, the kind of technology you described or predict might be useful.
But if I'm reading Agatha Christie or Lord of the Rings or Biggles, it's a different story (no pun intended).
For pretty much the same sentiments, I hit the roads for a run rather than treadmills, no matter how advance the treadmill is.
Once, I found a little book on a seat in the train... It was a nice surprise and I thought the owner left it intentionally for the next traveller who would sat at the same seat as him/herself. Of course, I read the book, of course I liked it, couldn't help myself thinking about that person who turned these pages at the same place than me, who left his fingerprints on the same corner of page, who had the same feelings as me while reading these lines. I remember I hoped to find a name or an address on the inside cover, but this book was definitely left for another human discovery. Selfishly, I kept the book. And still have it. Considering it was a nice gift from an unknown friend...
ReplyDelete