For many
retirees, the presence of a great bookstore is a necessary factor in finding the best place to retire.
For
some retirees, the presence of a quality book store in the community they chose for their retirement destination is just as
important as the availability of affordable housing, a mild climate, excellent health care facilities or the existence of
cultural and art events. While today’s changing technology and the convenience of online merchandising
makes it relatively easy for anyone to stay abreast of new best sellers and order them from the comfort of his or her computer
desk, virtual shopping, for many bibliophiles, is not the same as the experience of browsing through row after row of murder
mysteries, romance novels, science fiction, classic literature and other examples of the written word.
If you are one of those individuals who delights in finding a independent bookstore
owner or clerk who knows the names and reading preferences of his customers and can converse authoritatively on the merits
of the latest Pat Conway novel or can sympathize with you about the fact that we have enjoyed the last of Jim Leaphorn’s
exploits from Tony Hillerman or that Robert
Parker’s Spencer no longer roams the streets of Boston.
And while shopping malls or strip centers in most mid-sized cities do indeed boast a representative
of one of the larger national or regional book retailers, these are poor substitutes for a local and knowledgeable independent
book seller who provides the degree of personal service cherished by most true book lovers.
