I remember when Barnes and Noble books finally opened in Tyler almost twenty years ago. I remember so clearly because to this point, Tyler had lacked the kind of meeting place / bookstore that I had enjoyed in larger cities; so of course, when the giant bookseller set up shop, I was among the first to sign on. I worked there a couple of years, putting a good chunk of my paycheck back into the business. I remember working a lot of late hours and the occasional early morning, and while there where ups and downs to working at the retail store, my memories are largely good ones. Barnes and Noble did a lot for Tyler. The bookstore / Starbucks Cafe became the place to be on Friday nights, when the store featured live music, specifically the Celtic music group “Beyond the Pale.” I don’t know what happened to the band, but I know every time they played, it was to a packed house. These and other music and cultural events made Barnes and Noble a great Tyler business, and meet up location.
About the same time that Tyler was getting its first large bookstore, an oddly named online bookseller was just starting out. Amazon.com (which is located primarily in Seattle as opposed to its namesake in South America) was a cool new way to locate books that were otherwise hard to find. And it let the customer search its database for himself. However, it didn’t offer the immediate gratification or the social venue, of its more conventional competitor.
How things have changed! Amazon is of course a household name, and with the advent and availability of the “Kindle” e-readers, gratification can be instantaneous. A few years ago, I read an article predicting that the next generation would grow up without book stores, at least as a location. It predicted that conventional booksellers wouldn’t last another ten years. Sadly, the article may be correct. Barnes and Noble has obviously recognized the trend and has tried to stem the profit loss by introducing their own online store and e-reader in the “Nook,” which seems to be a fine product but lacks the broad success of the Kindle.
All of this is of course old news but it begs the question: What does it mean for Barnes and Noble in Tyler? I’ve visited the store in recent weeks and have been forced to recognize that it’s changing fast. The store is becoming an odd mixture of electronic device, and high end toy and game retailer. Of course they still have books! But clearly more and more of the store’s real estate is being taken up by puzzles and stuffed toys. And honestly, I’m part of the problem. I love my Kindle. More often than not I opt for the download option, rather than the drive to the bookstore. Ultimately, I think Tyler’s B&N will be around for a few more years at least. But I’m afraid it will become more and more like a large Starbucks / study hall, than the great old bookstore I remember.
Marcus Luttrell Comes to Tyler
September 9th, 2010Marcus Luttrell
The Book Lone Survivor was a number one New York Times bestseller in the non-fiction section. It tells the story of Seal Team Ten’s battle with a Taliban warlord and his army of around two hundred fighters. For days the four man seal team bled the enemy of men and resources before being killed themselves, all but one that is. After watching each of his comrades literally fight to the death, author Marcus Luttrell evaded and killed the enemy over incredibly hostile terrain all the while nursing wounds that threatened to kill him as well. The book is an excellent read. It gives the reader a much better understanding of the conflict in Afghanistan, as well as the rules of engagement our soldiers have been saddled with the last few years. On top of it all, the story proves the maxim that the truth is stranger, (or at least more amazing), than fiction.
Why the little book report? Because the book’s author Mr. Luttrell will be visiting Tyler tomorrow night, September, the tenth, for a dinner and book signing sponsored by Barnes and Noble. The former petty officer, himself a proud East Texan, has started the Lone Survivor Foundation to help returning wounded veterans. Tomorrow night’s event will be held at Holly Tree Country Club, and runs about one hundred dollars a ticket. While the price is high proceeds go to benefit the troops. So if you’ve got the money to drop, you can’t ask for better cause.
Mr. Luttrell’s visit precedes the Country for our Country concert where he will also be appearing, by a day. That event will be held on September eleventh, and features a whole list of country western artists, in addition to Mr. Luttrell. Again, all proceeds go the support wounded soldiers. For more information on the Barnes and Noble book signing event, click on the following link http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/3060745. To learn more about the Country for our Country concert follow the link listed below: http://countryforourcountry.org/.
Tags: Barnes and Noble, Book Report, Book Signing, Click On The Following Link, Fiction Section, Holly Tree, Hostile Terrain, Lone Survivor, Marcus Luttrell, Marcus Luttrell Book, New York Times, New York Times Bestseller, One Hundred Dollars, Petty Officer, Rules Of Engagement, Seal Team Ten, The Book Lone Survivor, Truth Is Stranger, tyler texas events, Tyler Texas Marcus Lutrell, Tyler TX Events, Warlord, Western Artists, Wounded Soldiers, York Times Bestseller
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