I returned two really nice books to a large chain bookstore using their included gift receipts. It is my intention to buy these same books in their electronic form for my Kindle. I felt especially bad about this when, as I was driving my car today–with the soon-to-be-returned books in the passenger seat beside me, I heard on the radio that two Barnes and Noble stores are closing down in towns surrounding L.A. I know my own buying habits are contributing to the demise of the brick-and-mortar bookstores I love. But then I reasoned that A gift return isn’t cash, it is a gift card. I spent my gift card right away, on magazines, and a half-sweet green tea latte. It was really fun, because I never buy magazines. So really, the bookstore still got my money, and now I’ll buy two books for my Kindle I might not have thought to buy previously, so I like to believe that everybody wins, but I have trouble believing that someday, when there are only virtual bookstores, that don’t sell green tea lattes, I won’t feel somehow complicit.
