The movie is based around an old fashioned book store complete with story time for the children, an old bell that rings everytime the door opens, and family owned and operated for many generations - the twist of the story is that the old bookstore is now forced to become competitive to the brand new commercialized book store called Fox Books - that is opening right down the street!
The moral of the story is the question of "is it ethical for a commercial Fox book store to open right down the road - forcing a small family owned store - that has been there for years - to have to close their doors - due to commercial competitiveness"?
In this movie - it has a fairy tale ending. Meg Ryan, the small book owner is forced to close her doors. This is a very sad ending to a store that her family has owned for many years - a closure of her childhood is forced to end - and the doors close with only memories to hold. Although - she falls in love with her competitor - Tom Hanks - and they run Fox books together - her becoming wealthy and in charge of the children's section.
For many small family owned book stores though - there is no fairy tale ending. I experienced the sadness today of an elderly woman who has owned and operated a lovely american book store with her husband for many, years. They are forced to close their doors in October because of many reasons - the cost of living is higher - the cost of rent has sky rocketed. The profits from old, worn, but treasured books, no longer cover the cost of living.
As I walked through the store called, "The Hard-To-Find Bookstore" - I drew in the scent of the old books - my eyes took in the amazement of all that surrounded me - I captured the sight of the old iron stair case leading to a second level of books - an inner smile reached my soul as I noticed the worn chairs in the children's section and thought of the many children that have sat there over the years enjoying the wonderment of a book. I felt the disappointing sinking in my heart and observed the sadness in the eyes of the graying elderly owner as she stated that they would be closing their doors soon.
Book stores such as these - are an american gem! Years of collecting numerous subjected books from learning Italian, history, and romantic novels, cookbooks, memoirs, concerto piano sheets, and sweet children's books of authors like Beatrix Potter - all waiting on dusty shelves to be loved and held by a book lover.
My blog today is about finding a place in your mind - and just remembering - that many old American favorites are old book stores such as the one I came across today - and that they are to be cherished and supported whenever possible because they were and still are a dream of someone that opened their doors to share with everyone the gem of an old book.
If you would like to support the store I mentioned - please visit their website at
www.hrd2find@hic.net. They are beginning to post books online as a way to continue their dream of selling and have already posted 12,000 books online and have thousands more yet to come. Also, if you are in the Humble Texas area - you can stop in their store at 1307 E. First Street., ste. 101, Humble Texas - phone # 281-446-9663. Visit before their doors close, give a hug, purchase a book, for no longer will the stair case be used, nor the children's chairs sat upon, nor the doorbell rung.
