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Title: Bookstore: The Life and Times of Jeannette Watson and Books & Co. by Lynne Tillman, Lynne Tillman ISBN: 0-15-100425-0 Publisher: Harcourt Pub. Date: 11 October, 1999 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.09 (11 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Good portrait - but not for everyone...,
Comment: As a follower of "bookstore biographies," I felt compelled to read Lynne Tillman's history of Books & Co. and its founder/owner Jeannette Watson. Tillman paints a singular portrait in that she allows us to see the bookstore through the eyes of so many different people. The booksellers, publishers, customers, writers and even those who were involved in the struggle that led to its demise all get their chance to state their case through the use of extensive quotations. There also emerges an interesting portrait of Jeanette Watson, the driving force behind Books & Co. - an enthusiastic bookseller with a few off-beat interests. Unfortunately, while some books of this genre manage to attract a wider audience than one would expect, I suspect that by being so specialized this will be of most interest to bookstore devotees. Another problem was the lack of any sort of division of the text into chapters - even some sort of chronological headings would have helped in this regard. I also found the voice in which it was written somewhat jarring as Lynne Tillman is given credit as author but writes the entire book in Watson's voice - as if it is a first person account. Maybe I'm being too picky, but I found that a little distracting. Still an interesting read for those interested in the day to day world of bookselling.
Rating: 5
Summary: Must Reading for Booklovers & Booksellers
Comment: Lynne Tillman's 1999 book "BOOKSTORE" about the New York City independent bookstore Books & Co. and its founding owner Jeannette Watson is must reading for any booklover who can't resist the treasure hunt in whatever environment that presents itself, and for any bookseller who delights in the total preoccupation of books. Ms Tillman's book is an excellent biography of a successful, compassionate bookseller and an insightful history of the mid-to-late 20th century book business. It is both immensely enjoyable and, for me, a bit sad to read; my wife and I owned a smaller independent bookstore of a similar name Ñ Books & CO Ñ that specialized in quality pre-owned hardback books and, coincidentally, was closed in the same year (1997). We didn't know, then, about Jeannette Watson's Books & Co. and took our name from Marks & Co, the English bookstore featured in Helene Hanff's marvelous book "84 Charing Cross Road" and in the equally delightful film of the same title Ñ "Co" represented the English bookstore's silent partner Cohen; our "CO" represented nothing at first and, later on, stood for "Collectibles" when our business expanded to include antiques and collectibles as theme objects for our books. As Jeannette Watson attests, those were wonderful years for both bookstores and booklovers. We certainly enjoyed them.
Rating: 4
Summary: Felt like a Books and Co. regular customer
Comment: I bought this book thinking I would save it to read during one of those rare times that I didn't have anything else to read. That time came sooner than expected, but as I started reading Bookstore, I found that I hadn't given it the credit it deserved. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the twenty year account of Jeannette Watson's bookstore ownership from the time it was just an idea until the day the doors closed forever.
Although, the lack of chapters or any sort of division in content was foreign to me, I loved the way it was put together with words that seemed to come from Jeannette Watson's personal journal (written by Lynne Tillman) as well as quotes from famous authors and regular customers.
By the time I got to the end of the book, I felt like I'd visited the store regularly even though I've never even been to New York City where the store was located. I could almost smell the atmosphere as it was described and as it was decided to close the store, I grieved right along with other customers who saw the closing of the store not only as a personal loss, but a loss for community as well.
Although, I don't condemn the bookstore chains in any way, it's very unfortunate that there isn't room for the independently owned bookstores to survive alongside them. I've always felt that to be true...but even more so after reading Lynne Tillman's Bookstore.
If you've ever dreamed of owning a bookstore, you will love this book as you live vicariously through Jeannette Watson's own dream come true!
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Title: Independent Bookstore Planning & Design by Frank White, Ken White ISBN: 0962545716 Publisher: St. Francis Press Pub. Date: 01 February, 1993 List Price(USD): $60.00 |
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Title: A Manual on Bookselling: How to Open and Run a Bookstore by Robert D. Hale, Allan Marshall, Ginger Curwen ISBN: 0517566486 Publisher: Harmony Books Pub. Date: 01 March, 1988 List Price(USD): $34.50 |
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Title: Operating a Bookstore : Practical Details for Improving Profit by Eliot Leonard ISBN: 1879923041 Publisher: Booksellers House Pub. Date: 01 May, 1992 List Price(USD): $17.27 |
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Title: Specialty Shop Retailing: How to Run Your Own Store Revised by Carol L. Schroeder, Carol L. Schroeder ISBN: 0471212644 Publisher: Wiley Pub. Date: 15 August, 2002 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
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