Controversial SK Opinions/Confessions

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niro

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2013
2,434
14,206
But Joyland is on kindle now.... So what if the ereader have to wait a year or two. thats not an unreasonable way to support local bookstores.

Joyland was a special book and it wasn't too pricy but other novels cost 25€ in hardcover the ebook only costs about 16€ and you do not have to carry a huge novel with you.
 

Owenk

Well-Known Member
Nov 13, 2014
351
2,060
62
But Joyland is on kindle now.... So what if the ereader have to wait a year or two. thats not an unreasonable way to support local bookstores.

Slightly off-topic (sorry) but I'm not sure it is the e-book that is killing local book shops, I suspect it may have more to do with Amaz** (other internet retailers are available but I can't readily think of one.)

Having been broguht up in the centre of Oxford I grew up surrounded by bookshops, in fact within 200 yards of where I lived there was the huge Blackwells, Blackwells Music shop (which was a seperate bookshop for books about/to do with music), Blackwells Children's Bookshop, The Paperback Bookshop, Blackwells Art and Poster shop (books abouot art) another one selling Travel books and maps and possibly even more. I used to spend hours browsing in these, but sadly I think even in the middel of Oxford these have now contracted down to maybe just the 1 or possibly 2.

I am not sure I can see a way of fending off internet sales. The little town I now lvie in used to have two or three book shops and a weekly book stall on the market, but I think these have pretty much gone.

I think to survive bookshops are going to have to have a niche, run events and maybe have a second string to their bow, like the one below which also runs as a cafe and seems to be thriving, but is a 40 minute drive away for me:

Jaffé and Neale – Bookshop - Cafe
 

Blake

Deleted User
Feb 18, 2013
4,191
17,479
I've haven't really noticed him say too much that isn't common sense. The only thing I'd suggest to him is to stop doing Twitter as I think it's a lot of crap and I always think it makes people that use it look like 'try-hards'.
 

niro

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2013
2,434
14,206
I've haven't really noticed him say too much that isn't common sense. The only thing I'd suggest to him is to stop doing Twitter as I think it's a lot of crap and I always think it makes people that use it look like 'try-hards'.

I like his tweets. But I respect your opinion.
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
52,243
157,324
Maine
I don't like talking as if someone is going to cark it tomorrow but seeing it was brought up: obviously his first responsibility would be to make sure his kids are set up so they don't have to become dependent on this unforgiving capitalist system. Obviously that house he lives in will become the 'King Museum' where fans in 100 years time can go and look so he'd have to set aside some money in a trust for that. He could also put a 'King scholarship' thing for kids from disadvantaged families to go to university. Maybe something in the conservation area as well.
The Kings already have a trust fund for higher education scholarships which are granted annually but it is limited to Maine residents. They have a separate trust for grants to needy organizations in Maine but I don't know how/if that will continue after his and Tabitha's deaths. I could be wrong but I really doubt they will set up a trust to preserve his house/s as a museum. He is a private person and opening his home, even after his and his immediate family's deaths, isn't something I'd think he'd want to do. He has been donating much of his work through the years to the Fogler Library, Special Collections, at the University of Maine, Orono, though.
 

amaunder

Abby
Feb 19, 2016
156
591
Slightly off-topic (sorry) but I'm not sure it is the e-book that is killing local book shops, I suspect it may have more to do with Amaz** (other internet retailers are available but I can't readily think of one.)

Having been broguht up in the centre of Oxford I grew up surrounded by bookshops, in fact within 200 yards of where I lived there was the huge Blackwells, Blackwells Music shop (which was a seperate bookshop for books about/to do with music), Blackwells Children's Bookshop, The Paperback Bookshop, Blackwells Art and Poster shop (books abouot art) another one selling Travel books and maps and possibly even more. I used to spend hours browsing in these, but sadly I think even in the middel of Oxford these have now contracted down to maybe just the 1 or possibly 2.

I am not sure I can see a way of fending off internet sales. The little town I now lvie in used to have two or three book shops and a weekly book stall on the market, but I think these have pretty much gone.

I think to survive bookshops are going to have to have a niche, run events and maybe have a second string to their bow, like the one below which also runs as a cafe and seems to be thriving, but is a 40 minute drive away for me:

Jaffé and Neale – Bookshop - Cafe

I am one of those guilty for buying off Amazon, but last week I decided to sign up for the library although not in this town...it's as big as my bedroom and situated in the small town hall...but the biggest town in these parts has a decent one and I only had to pay a twenty buck fee. They have a huge SK section plus a bunch of other authors I want to read. Oh and I got 11/22/63 for four bucks cheaper than Amazon's price at Walmart where I hate buying anything. (I despise the greedy Waltons). But, perhaps because I am old school...I like the feel of a paper book in my hands. Someone gave me an e-reader for Christmas a couple of years ago. I hate to sound so unappreciative, but they may as well had given me a fruitcake that had been re-gifted a dozen times.
:pudency:
 

amaunder

Abby
Feb 19, 2016
156
591
The Kings already have a trust fund for higher education scholarships which are granted annually but it is limited to Maine residents. They have a separate trust for grants to needy organizations in Maine but I don't know how/if that will continue after his and Tabitha's deaths. I could be wrong but I really doubt they will set up a trust to preserve his house/s as a museum. He is a private person and opening his home, even after his and his immediate family's deaths, isn't something I'd think he'd want to do. He has been donating much of his work through the years to the Fogler Library, Special Collections, at the University of Maine, Orono, though.

I know I wouldn't want people traipsing around my house after my death. NFW. It's probably that Yankee reticence.
 

DiO'Bolic

Not completely obtuse
Nov 14, 2013
22,864
129,998
Poconos, PA
The Kings already have a trust fund for higher education scholarships which are granted annually but it is limited to Maine residents. They have a separate trust for grants to needy organizations in Maine but I don't know how/if that will continue after his and Tabitha's deaths. I could be wrong but I really doubt they will set up a trust to preserve his house/s as a museum. He is a private person and opening his home, even after his and his immediate family's deaths, isn't something I'd think he'd want to do. He has been donating much of his work through the years to the Fogler Library, Special Collections, at the University of Maine, Orono, though.
Perhaps I’ll buy the house and turn it into the Maine GOP headquarters. Hey, it already is kinda considered a house of horrors, right? :)