What a well-written letter but not surprising from an author! Thanks to the Australian Government handing out $A1400 to seniors and exhorting us to spend it to save the economy, I have bought a lot of books this year for gifts.
Like the man said, some are books for the future. One is a tuition manual for a grandson who got a guitar for his recent birthday so he got that Christmas gift already as it would be useful now.
I am also hoping for book tokens, after downsizing my home, I don't need a lot of "stuff".

He is right-but when you know someone needs a grocery store gift certificate it is hard to hand them a book. Especially if you live in an area with a good library system. I don't know what the answer is.

Some of us have been subsidizing the book store industry for many years now and could easily open our own lending libraries. I, for one, have far, far too many books and am trying to get rid of as many as I can part with. When one gets to a certain age, the tendancy is to want to down-size. I just finished giving away some of my old favorites to 3 close friends.

As cece wrote, so long as there are good libraries and, I might add, great used book stores, I don't have an answer.

And as someone pointed out on bookmooch...every new book printed is a tree cut down.
But I really don't want a Kindle, either.
Maybe if we planted a tree everytime we bought a book.

I've done my part this month. I've bought a B&N gift certificate for my niece's husband whom I find hard to buy for and three books for another niece, both of whose names I have for Christmas, as well as a gift certificate for a great-nephew whose birthday is the 30th. That's aside from what I have "given" to myself. Some of them did come from Amazon, though.

I'm trying to cut down on everything in a sensible fashion, but I'm sure I'll still buy books. It won't be as many but I won't stop altogether.

Actually, I find that as money get tight, I am reading more books, and doing less of the more expensive things like dining out, movies and such.
Regards,
Bob

It is a difficult situation. But in an economic crisis like this everyone is going to suffer, and that includes writers and book sellers.

All I can say is that writers will survive, because our love of literature will keep them alive. The best consolation is that the Great Depression did not keep writers from writing. The Depression produced many great authors (just think of Steinbeck!). Some of the best works of literature have come from times of great trouble.
CMK

I'm working a Christmas season job this year in a large chain bookstore and we are extremely busy. I don't know if this is a universal experience for bookstores; or how busy they were last year, but we have long lines and busy cashiers (me). Some people come in and make carefully considered small purchases while others buy expensive items or gift cards in large denominations. However I can say with certainty that at least some bookstores are doing well.

I also went to a small independent (local chain, really) and made some purchases there as well, putting my money where my mouth is. While they were not as busy as the national chain, they seemed to be doing a steady business. The staff seemed to be quite cheerful about the Christmas season this year.

Rosefolly

I don't have an answer, either. I was saddened to read an article in the local paper a couple of months ago, which pointed out that publishers can less and less afford to put out books that are of such quality that they might one day join the ranks of great literature, but which, right now, are unlikely to become best-sellers and bring in a lot of money.

We are doing quite well in the bookshop I work in (Australian chain local franchise of Dymocks). People seem to be thinking that a book makes a good enduring sort of present. I think we are selling more actual books and fewer gift cards than last year though.

From Book World in today's Washington Post is this essay written by a former publisher of Harcourt on his view of the mood in the book publishing industry. The last few paragraphs of the essay make me want to cry.

Here is a link that might be useful: Making Books

Good books, never die, they are exchanged with friends. My daugher has a book club meeting once a month, they all read the same book and discuss it. If it has a British theme, she makes a British dinner, if Japanese an Japanese dinner will you get the idea, this year they all exchanged books that they have already read. She encourged them to pack up the extra books on their shelves, and donate them to their library. Take them to the fire station or senior home, yes old folks still read. Books should never die. Norma

Oh, my, Frances. Time for tears, indeed.