Reply #15: Unfortunately most people don't want real literature

[NMMNG]

Except when they are required to read it, such as teens who have reading lists. Then they come in droves for the classics. I worked in bookstores for years and the classics we had would sit and grow dusty until the reading lists came out. Then we'd have to stock up on them because they'd start flying off the shelves.

I myself enjoy the classics and can't understand the type of people who go drooling over the NYT bestsellers. I'm not saying there is never anything good on that list, but there are those people who shop from that list as if nothing of quality exists elsewhere. :eyes: Those are the people that really get to me. Often times things end up on that list just because of promotion and word-of-mouth rather than actual quality. Just because a bunch of lemmings are buying something doesn't mean it's good stuff.

And of course, the stuff in the book departments of Wal-mart and other stores is just bestsellers and other fluff, not real quality stuff. If they do sell a few classics it won't be a good selection, and they'll probably be watered down kids versions at that. The average Wal-mart shopper is not the type to sit down and read Anna Karenina after all.

What are you going to do? :shrug: