Bemoaning the State of Chapters Book

Recently paid a visit to Chapters Book in Oakville. Can I be forgiven
for thinking that books should be front and centre in a bookstore rather
than a pile of gift crap. I don't go to a bookstore to buy candles and
cookware. As a serious reader I arrive with a list in hand of the books
I wish to find. I do not come principally to browse book covers and the
latest best-sellers though I may glance at them in passing. I do
appreciate finding books in alphabetical order by author and I deplore
the Blockbuster Video approach to placing books they wish to highlight
in favourable positions on the shelf out of order so they show up
better. We all know what happened to Blockbuster. It would seem by the
books featured on the back wall that Young Adult books are a priority.
Most of the titles don't interest me. Didn't know what Manga is and not
sure I needed to learn that it's Japanese Graphic Novels.

The coffeeshop is long gone as are the comfortable chairs where one
could sit and get acquainted with a book. Gone too are the tables. The
computers for accessing the catalogue are new but the interface is as
slow as ever. I stopped visiting here regularly when Heather took over
and banned EYE and NOW along with the Montreal Review of Books from her
stores. I used to drop in weekly to pick them up and buy a book or two
while I was there but no longer. When she banned Mein Kampf from her
stores I decided to download and read it just to see what the fuss was
about. By this action I was introduced to Gutenberg Books.

I suppose my main complaint is the fact that the place is no longer
inviting to bibliophiles. I realize that a bookstore has to make money
to survive but I find this crass commercialism repellant rather than
welcoming and inviting. When I enter a bookstore I want to smell paper
and ink not scented candles, bath salts, and kitchen spice.