I, of course, feel I have to weigh in here, too
I do miss the Hungry Mind, and the Ruminator. I miss the wonderfully engaged employees that helped without condescension. I miss Table of Contents. It seemed weird at first, but eventually became what I feel all other bookstores were lacking. I appreciated the efforts to keep it going, despite the dark green spectre tapping his foot impatiently. I feel that it speaks well of a community that makes an effort like that. It is just too bloody bad that the community buys its books elsewhere.
You can buy books online, and cheaply. But you won't get personal experience guiding your choices from a live human. Much like the Electric Fetus for music. Where else can you talk about the jazz that you want, or the jazz that you don't know, and leave with not only a good CD, but a good deal more knowledge than you went in with? How about McCawber's? Ever go in there and discuss poetry with Brian? Not gonna happen at Costco or B&N, I betcha.
I am so horribly ADD, my booklist just sits there, laughing at me. I don't know if even Bart Simpson's Focusin could help the likes of me. But I still want to say how incredible the renovated downtown library is. I am so pleased that the city did this, and did it so well. It's beautiful. The James J. Hill library is like reference-world Shangri-la. The librarians are not only helpful, but seemingly omniscient. And, of course, it's free!!
Chicago had a wonderful library downtown. I think it's office condos now. The Hungry Mind/ Ruminator is gone. Let's appreciate what we have, before it's gone, too.
Bob Parker Dayton's Bluff ------------------------------------------------- JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- POST MESSAGES HERE: [email protected]
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