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US Bookstores: A Novel Resurgence
- mdp2021 4y ago> Bookstores, having struggled for years to compete against Amazon and ereaders, are enjoying a revival // Barnes & Noble ... opened 16 new outposts last year and has plans to add an additional 30(opens a new window) in 2023 // Hundreds of new independent bookstores have opened in recent years > Barnes & Noble ... has thrived by acting more like independent shops[: s]tore managers are given the freedom to stock what they want to tailor to local tastes ... Stores have also been reorganised to make it easier for customers to browse and discover new titles and authors > Like film studios, the publishing industry has become increasingly reliant on blockbusters to drive sales, leaving publishers and booksellers exposed to feast or famine sales volatility The good news are not fully solid: that shops resist is reassuring; the increase in their number suggests increased freedom - but the point about «relian[ce] on blockbusters» does not. The purpose of increasing literacy is not represented by that same last point, that reveals a strong amount of noise if the interest is the (quantitative) cultural trend.