Since I have an interest in the book industry (on account of liking books and writing my own), I've been following the news about Borders lately, and found the news that Borders filed Chapter 11 just a few minutes ago as I came back to the surface of the internet after a large push on MOROCCO.

Overall, I'm fairly sad about the whole thing.  I never like to see a business close, though I know it's part of the law of the (consumer) jungle:  you eat or get eaten.  I mostly feel sorry for the employees who will have to go elsewhere for their work.  I'm sure the higher-ups will be fine.  Seems like they always are.

I've always liked going to their store–it felt the friendliest and calmest of places here on my side of town.  Yet as I think back, I haven't bought anything from there in quite a while.  Part of the reason is due to finances. Part of it is catching up on a massive tbr pile that I already have, and yet a third part is no longer feeling like I need to own a copy of every single book I've ever read (thus borrowing or library-ing).

So I feel like I have a hand in their closing.  But I know it's not my fault.  It's a changing industry, is it not?

Yet that doesn't really help the little flicker of guilt.  Plus, hey, I like books, so any excuse to buy some, right?

On the other hand, I've been meaning to go spend some time (and money) at my indie bookshop just a few blocks away, too, and haven't.  So then it would become a choice: who to support?  While I'd love to have the cash on hand to do it, I can't support both.

I need to stop by the store later today, buy something, and mention how much I appreciate the booksellers themselves.

Maybe today needs to be "Hug a Border's Bookseller day."

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