BarryHutchison

Apologies for the pun in the title of this post. It was rubbish, I know.

Just a quick post to say that I am in the process of stripping away any and all links to Amazon from the site. I’ve already removed the links from the My Books page and will be going through all the posts over the next few days, stripping out the links from in there, too. I’ve also hidden the “Now Reading” widget thing until such times as I can remove the built-in Amazon links.

So why am I doing this? If someone clicks a link from this site to Amazon and then buys a book, I make money, so removing them removes a potential source of income, doesn’t it?

Yes, it does, but I believe that Amazon and sites like it are killing the British bookselling industry. Small, independent bookshops are going out of business every week, and most of them because of Amazon. Now, I have nothing against Amazon – they are a business after all, and out to make money – but I don’t believe they are booksellers. Not properly, at least.

The booksellers I have met in local bookshops have never failed to be among the friendliest people I’ve met. Their knowledge of books is usually astounding, and they provide a much more personalised service than any website can ever hope to do.

Many bookshops also run regular events for children. When I lived in Ireland, my son and I would visit The Wexford Book Centre every Saturday without fail, taking part in the face-painting, story events, themed parties, or whatever else they happened to be doing that week. These events were fun, free and the perfect way to pass an afternoon. They got children excited about books and reading – again in a way that no website could ever hope to do.

Up and down the country there are hundreds of independent bookshops. Many of them run similar events. Some of them have regular visits from authors. All of them need your support.

So next time you’re looking for a book, don’t automatically head to Amazon. Take a walk or a drive to your nearest indie, and find out what a bookshop should really be like.

Don’t know where your nearest independent bookshop is? Then check out LocalBookShops.co.uk