I saw in the paper recently that our local Red Bluff book store was for sale. I remember spotting it during my first trip to the old library downtown. I thought, “What a great location for a book store. The readers can’t miss this place.” Of course, the library has since moved.
I had to go to town this morning, and after seeing the “50% off” ad in the paper, I thought a farewell visit to The Book Barn was in order. I even treated myself to an apple fritter on the way. I was “living large.” And “large” would be the right word if I made a habit of eating these things.
Upon entering the store, I began perusing the various categories of books – biographies, history, the classics – seeing if there was something I had to have. A few titles piqued my interest, but I have been successful in steeling my heart against buying books too readily. A lifetime of book-buying resulted in having to part with thousands of tomes at various times in my life. Therefore, I seldom buy books any more. I use the library. Besides, I don’t have enough time left to buy all the books I hope to read “someday.” “Someday” is already here. But I’m pretty free with my book-buying at the Shasta and Tehama County library bookstores though. After all, its for a good cause, and when they’re only 25 cents or a buck a piece, I usually donate them back when I’m finished.
There were no Hemingway books to tempt me at The Book Barn, as I also make an exception for those. I did look long and hard at a little book about “time,” and now think I should have bought it.
There was a “sale pending” sign in the window, so apparently it happened relatively quickly. I overheard the owner tell a customer that they had sold only the property, and not the business. So, who knows what’s going in there? I remember getting excited (for a nanosecond) when I saw the business listing in the paper – after all, what bibliophile doesn’t dream about owning his or her own book store?
But I quickly realized this was a pipe dream in today’s world. It would end up as more of a hobby than a real business, as I fear the days of the used book store (except those specializing in rare books) are coming to an end. Everyone can just buy either a corporeal book or its digital counterpart online. I shared this opinion with the owner, as well as the fact of my own unlikely conversion to eBooks.
But for some folks they’re just not an option, as they have difficulty reading text on a screen. And many still prefer having that solid book in their hands, but I feel those folks are falling into the minority. However, my 18-year-old grand-nephew prefers physical books, but he still buys them online.
I recently bought a used copy of The Crook Factory online. It’s a fact-based fictional novel about Hemingway’s exploits in Cuba. It’s the book that got me hooked on Papa, so it has sentimental value. I realized there was no reason not to get it – especially since it was cheap. So, we still have a need for physical books. And heavily illustrated books, those about design, art, travel etc. will never be replaced digitally. At least not until they can be read like a real book with a headset or something. But we’re not there yet.
In closing, farewell Book Barn – after 27 years I know you will be missed.
Corky Pickering and his wife relocated from the Bay Area to Cottonwood in 2014. He recently retired from the federal government as an attorney advising law enforcement. He has been a rock and roll bass player and a Marine JAG. He can be reached at thecork6@gmail.com.
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May 13, 2021 at 08:13AM
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Farewell to Red Bluff’s Book Barn - Red Bluff Daily News
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