I always felt sorry for them. Did you?
By Amber
@AmbiePam (122094)
United States
July 2, 2026 5:51am CST
It has to be years since I’ve been in an actual bookstore. The last one was probably the used bookstore I used to frequent called The Book Nook. But I’m thinking back to when I went to Borders or Waldenbooks (now defunct chain bookstores). Do you guys remember them? Anyway, I remember several times going into the store, sometimes the mall, and at the front of the store would be an author with a lot of copies of the book they so obviously released, and were there for a book signing. So many times I’d enter the store, and they’d sit there, just waiting for some interest. I always felt so bad for them!
Sure, there could have been ten people there before me that I didn’t see, or they could have just sat down and many would show up after I left the bookstore. However, all I could think was how I wished I could afford to buy their book and ask for it to be autographed. I wanted them to know someone cared.
Which brings me to the question if I am the only one who felt that way. What about you?
7 people like this
7 responses
@NJChicaa (127280)
• United States
3h
I remember Waldenbooks. We had another book store at the mall too--B. Dalton? I don't remember exactly what the name was.
I never really bought many books because I could read them in a day and it just seemed like a waste of money. My library card got a workout though.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (209968)
• United States
3h
I don't honestly remember there being any authors in them when I went to the stores. Maybe I went at the wrong times. There were authors with books for signing at the Boozy Book fair I went to in May, which was fun..I participated in the book exchange, but I didn't go to the sellers tents. I wasn't going to buy any books..and it could have Given false hope. In the other hand, it might have been nice to chat..but it was a little warm that day.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (91389)
• United States
41m
I always loved those bookstores but never had the opportunity to be at one when an author was there for a booksigning. I probably would have felt like you did if I saw an author sitting there with no one buying his book and looking to have it signed.
2 people like this
@Fleura (35463)
• United Kingdom
3h
Bookshops are still doing pretty well here. People still like to buy actual physical books and there seems to be a thriving market for specialist issues, especially among younger readers.
But as for book signings, they seem to be much less common here. Sometimes an author will give a talk at some kind of event, and then have books available if people want, and they generally get a good amount of interest. Otherwise I rarely see them.
1 person likes this
@Shivram59 (50677)
• India
3h
I visit the bookstores in my town frequently. The owners of the shops have become my friends.All the book stores are doing well here
I feel sorry about the poor who sell small plastic toys
along the road. Only a few people buy them. We don't have small children in our family. A few people buy their toys I feel sorry for them.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (136767)
• Marion, Ohio
38m
I think it was a Waldenbooks that our mall had. But I don't remember seeing any authors at ours
1 person likes this
