Cheapskate alert: Indy Reads Books opens

July 12, 2012
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As a published author and long-time book lover, I'm a bit ashamed to admit that I rarely buy new books unless I'm buying a gift.

Instead, I'm more likely to troll the aisles at Half-Price Books, raid the Central Library book sale, and liberate volumes from garage sales.

So, yes, I'm part of the problem as to why there aren't bookstores in downtown Indy. And why, when it comes to places dedicated to new books, Big Hat Books in Broad Ripple stands nearly alone (and long may it be with us).

Then again, maybe I'm being hard on myself. I just checked an inflation calculator and found out that the equivalent of the new $.95 paperbacks that got me hooked on reading in the mid-'70s now should cost under $4 today.

However, the latest paperback edition of Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" has an $11.99 list price. A new paperback of "Catcher in the Rye" is now $13.99.

Yes, these are mass market paperbacks rather than traditional ones, but does that matter if they are the only copies available in full-price bookstores?

If I were a 12-year-old reader, I'm not sure if I'd make the investment.

Whatever the case, I'm thrilled about the opening of Indy Reads Books on Mass. Ave. I love hanging out in bookstores, and Indy Reads promises a slate of author-related activities.

And now, when shopping for used (and, occasionally, new) books, I have a new way to be a cheapskate and help a good cause at the same time.

Your thoughts?

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  • John Greene
    John Greene (The Fault in Our Stars) will be at the grand opening tomorrow evening!!!
  • even Lou's books
    Lou, now if we can just get your readers to donate their copies of your books, we could even carry "used Lou Harry" at the store (and at a reasonsable price). Thanks for the shout out!
  • intrigued
    I would like to attend, but can one even find parking on Mass Ave on a Friday night?
  • parking
    Babs, I've never had any problem finding parking within a few blocks of anything on the Northeast end of Mass. Ave.--and I go to the Phoenix, the Indy Fringe Building, etc. very often. Fear not. --Lou
  • Black Dog Books
    My favorite Used Book store is Black Dog Books in Zionsville. Great selection in charming environment. Check it out.
  • Used book shops
    I have a small used book shop in Louisville. Many charities of course accept donations of used books and sell them at rock bottom prices. Half Price books, Amazon books, other Internet sites, e-readers, and print-on demand books are additional competition. Traditonal owner-operator used book shops have a long and distinguished heritage but are losing ground on all sides. They are small outposts of literary culture that link present and past and, done right, can take the shopper on a world-wide odyssey just by strolling around the shelves. Neither charity nor corporate, they are a bastion of independence in a world flattened by conformity. Used book shops need your support.
  • Copied? Partial citation? Really?!?
    Okay, I am delighted that there is now a used book store on Mass Ave. Every time I go to a QArtistry or Eclectic Pond theatre performance at the Irvington Lodge I remember that I have been meaning to check out Bookmamas right around the corner from there, but I never seem to remember to get there early enough to do so. I am on Mass Ave much more frequently, and it will be HEAVEN to be able to check out a book store in between shows during the upcoming Indy Fringe theatre festival. I have long admired the Indy Reads organization and I wish their new book store well. However. When I go to the IndyReadsBooks website and click on the first article under "Indy Reads Books in the News," it takes me to a copy of a whole Nuvo article, including the accompanying photo, with no mention of who wrote the article (David Hoppe) or who took the photo (Stephen Simonetto.) There is a link from IndyReadsBooks to the original article on Nuvo's website but I doubt that most people would click that link since the whole article is right there on the IndyReadsBooks website. IndyReadsBooks wants me to support their bookstore but they can't be bothered to support the people that wrote about them by a)linking to the article after an excerpt instead of copying the whole thing so that Nuvo gets some "love" for its website, too, or, if Nuvo gave them permission to copy the whole article, then b) giving the author and photographer credit for their work by naming them as well as the publication. Just because something is on the Internet does not mean anyone can copy it and use it willy nilly. I know that using a phrase such as "willy nilly" makes me sound prissy but darn it, words matter! Citations matter! Courtesy matters! If caring about this makes me prissy, then so be it. "Prissy" can be a synonym for "passionate" and I am that, too. In any case, I am tired of people acting as if writers, photographers, and other artists don't need to be asked or acknowledged when their work is used. 'Sorry for this hijacking rant on your blog, Lou. If you need to delete it, I'll understand. And I do wish Indy Reads Books well. Hope Baugh Indy Theatre Habit
    • Time to get off the computer for now
      AAGGHH!! Have you stopped allowing paragraph breaks on your blog, Lou? What a frustrating evening this is turning out to be. (lol) Hope Baugh Indy Theatre Habit

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