Lockdown - and where to buy books that is more ethical than Amazon

[watervole]

 I'm writing so little here during the epidemic.  I'm reading and commenting, but rarely seem to have much to say.

Probably a combination of lethargy and similar. My voice has been bad for ages, so I'm missing out on phone and Zoom calls.

Now we're getting another lockdown, I won't even see my sword dance team - we'd been trying out maypole for 4 as a way of keeping a safe distance during practices indoors.

You couldn't do maypole with four children, wouldn't be safe, but with adults who understand the need for correct ribbon tension, it does actually work.

A shout out here for bookshop.org who offer a more ethical alternative to Amazon for book buying. They're a B corporation - and that means a lot of good practice. If you don't know what a B corp is then see here.

Bookshop.org work to help local bookshops, giving them a combined web presence.  You can search for a book you want, or you can search for a bookshop close to you and see what their staff recommend.  Bookshop.org handle the sale and postage, but the profit margin goes to the local bookshop.  

For more about their business model - see here

It's a very browsable site.  I've already found a book I want for Xmas - Edward James' study of Lois McMaster Bujold. (from  a bookshop in Salisbury)

 

The site only opened today, but it looks like they're doing good business for  the shops they're supporting.

 

So, if you're buying a new book, look at bookshop.org

 

If you want second-hand, visit World of Books

 

 

 

 

Comments

[kerk_hiraeth]

Thanks very much for the information; one of things I have been very much missing is the ability to buy books. Mostly I favour browsing in places like Oxfam, but getting hold of some second hand books might help ameliorate my sense of loneliness and isolation.

kerk

[watervole]

I've found World of Books, to be quick, reliable, and often cheaper than Amazon to boot.

They source a fair bit of their stock from charity shops, which I regard as another plus.

I've already bought several Xmas gifts for this year there. (Our family have a rule of 'Xmas gifts should be second-hand where ever possible)

I hope they can help you feel a little better.

[kerk_hiraeth]

I don't celebrate xmas, but I approve your message there. One of my most wonderful convention experience was when I attended Santacon in York once; must've passed more than a dozen secondhand bookshops between the rail station and the hotel :-) Probably all gone now of course, and I regret not being able to go back more often just to buy books.

Btw; recently I found a long-thought lost version of my first-ever fanfic ~ Blake's Seven of course; from the POV of a very elderly Dayna and set over a century after the TV series; at least the POV part was, since it's in the form of memoirs and reminiscences. The first couple of episodes following are still lost though I have a lot of draft material to wiork with if I decide to try and re-write the series.

kerk

[bugshaw]

Another book site that passes proceeds to indie bookshops is hive.co.uk, not used them yet but they're more established and have good reviews.

[watervole]

I'll take a look at that one as well.

[vera_j]

Sorry to read that your voice is still tormenting you.
We have had problems here in CR and currently have a partial lockdown. Schools closed totally, culture stopped. Chaotic government, president with dementia and corrupted PM. Oh yes.

[watervole]

We're back into lockdown on Thursday...

[vera_j]

I know. Good luck to you and yours! ---------- Původní e-mail ----------