The list of independent bookstore deaths continues to grow. This past week, Quill and Quire reported the closure of This Ain't the Rosedale Library in Toronto (31 years old), and Book and Briar Patch in Regina (33). I was going to launch a rant on supporting what you say you love, but the fact is I'm guilty of it too. How about the diplomatic we? If we like the idea of these stores, we have to shop at them. They can't pay the rent with our fond thoughts.
Meanwhile, dedicated books sections in newspapers are themselves few and far between. Though it did away with its Saturday Books section about a year and a half ago (it's now combined with the Focus section), the Globe and Mail is currently running a series on the future of the book. The first was (sigh, of course) on e-readers, the second on cover design, and this week's will discuss rare and antiquarian books in the mighty digital age. They've not been especially in-depth so far, but relevant overviews of each situation anyway.
A few posts back I pondered a poetry subscription club, and look, The Rumpus has it all in hand! I'll be surprised if any Canadian titles make their list, but I'm pleased to see they've recognized the genre as worthy of its own gig. I also recommend The Rumpus site generally. Their Books section has some good stuff in terms of reviews and interviews. They pack a lot into each week and do a special feature on Sundays.
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