B(u)y the Book
Normally, anyone who likes books in general or likes buying books in particular would be overjoyed to see a sign proclaiming "Huge Book Sale." However, years of experience have taught me one thing when it comes to expectations regarding such beckoning heralds: be ready to be disappointed. I realize this isn't the way in which most people would approach such a beacon of commerce, but, like I said, I've grown accustomed to being let down in more ways than one.

The store, one of the many defunct Phar-Mor drugstore/grocerystore/entertainment complexes in the Erie region, now sports a yellow banner hanging over the partial lettering of another failed venture, which obscured by the sign remains a mystery, that practically shouts of a book sale beyond comprehension. As one approaches the entrance, other signs plastered on the windows promise savings upwards of 80%! So far, so good. Walk in to the store, and what you're greeted with are tables of books, thankfully arranged by subject, that stretches towards the back wall. In my experience, it seems that no matter how many books a seller might be trying to unload, they inevitably choose a space much too large for their wares, thus only really occupying a small fraction of the space available. This was no different. From the radio tuned to a terrible local station, to the unceasing wattage of the florescent lighting against the equally luminous white floors, the entire enterprise screams of desperation, or flea market. All of this hits you before you even get a chance to look at any of the books.

As one might expect, the books in any sale that promises such huge savings are nothing more than the smattering of recognizable titles littered amongst the enormous amount of books so unfamiliar that they might as well originate from a foreign country. There are tons of books of all kinds here. Fiction, history, children's, cookbooks, technology, etc. Any category imaginable is represented here, and, for the most part, by texts that have little or no name value. Sure, you see books by authors you know, Henry Kissenger seemed to occupy a nice section, and some titles you recognize, Pynchon‘s Mason & Dixon, but, all in all, it really amounts to little more than publisher's remains and bookstore remainders that couldn't be sold for anywhere near the cover price, and, thusly, they are relegated to a status that seems befitting for only those books that are downright awful and tremendous flops. Books that crazily demanded upwards of $30 in price are now yours for the taking at about $6. A sad comment to say the least. Another frustrating aspect of any type of mass liquidation sale that inevitably rears its ugly head, are those moments when you recognize a title that you do in fact own, but, in all likelihood paid full price for. This likely thought racing through your head, as it did with mine when I saw the above mentioned Pynchon book, “Why did I pay full price for that when it came out in, what was it 1997, when I could have waited seven years and bought it for $7?”

This leads me to question a lot of conceptions I have about the publishing industry. Where do all these books come from? Why were they printed in the first place? If all this dribble can be mass-marketed, then why is it so hard to be published? All of these can most likely be answered easily by publishing executives, and I'm sure there's more than meets the eye when it comes to costs, revenues, and profits for publishing. However, it's maddening to see tons of books, namely the fiction, by authors you've never heard of and titles you've never seen on any bestseller list selling for even the modest sum of $6 when so many other good books, i.e. books that you'd love to see for 80% off, are gathering dust on so many bookstore shelves.

So, what it comes down to is that it's not so much that these books are most likely shit, which I'm pretty confident in labeling them as, it's the idea that books that you want to buy are never for sale like this. Books that cost well over $10 and upwards of $30 languish on the shelves. Books I, and I assume many others, would gladly pay $6 a piece for. The same copy of a coveted book sits forever on the shelf of a local bookstore because no one in their right mind would pay the cover price for a tattered, used looking book. Why isn't this book sent to the limbo of the massive book sale? Is it any wonder that used book sales are soaring on sites like Amazon?

Publishers just don't seem to get it. Articles come out and proclaim that people aren’t reading as much as they were before, but what do you expect when so many factors come into play? Two reasons for the decline of reading that I think are important are as follows. First, you have the high prices that, even if discounted heavily, are still enormous that essentially preclude many people from building up personal libraries. Second, you have libraries that seem to be more concerned with encouraging patrons to use the library for every other purpose other than checking out books. The internet, movies, and cds have replaced the book as the main reason for people to frequent their libraries. I realize you can't force people to read books, but why not try to make them your focal point instead of internet access? Finally, for all the doom and gloom predicted by publishers, isn't it funny how they always seem to make out with the timely release of a book like Clinton's My Life or another installment in the unending Harry Potter franchise? My sympathy wanes and my cause for concern at the unnerving decline in readership subsumes.

The other issue is the simple reaffirmation of my previous claims of publishing, or, to echo Dale Peck's assessment of writing today, most, if not all if it is terrible. I will argue with Peck on the issue of the writers he chooses to skewer, but I do think writers today are producing works that, if not total failures, are at least so far beyond below par that they seem to be written by amateurish fans. Book sales like these serve notice to people that we, as publishers and likewise consumers, aren't able to distinguish between the good, the bad, and the horrific. I would think, if anything, the only good that can come out of sales like these would be that aspiring writers may feel a little more optimistic in their chances when they see the works that do make it through. I doubt, though, than anyone wishes to see their books sold for 80% off, but being published and sold at a discount and not published at all is really no choice at all.