Books, Needles, Haystacks

Lewis Farr from Ipswich writes, in a letter to The Times (UK):

"Recently, you have reviewed paperbacks from small publishers which the big chain bookstores seem disinclined to stock. I have complained on several occasions, but they seem more interested in promotional offers and prizewinning titles. I now order 'obscure' titles from my local, small, friendly bookshop. Don’t the behemoth bookstores read reviews?"

Good man. In India, of course, newspapers have better things to do with scarce newsprint than to devote more than a token page to trivial pursuits such as books and reading. In any case, books by smaller publishers and those outside the pale of bestsellerdom are like needles in haystacks.

O tempora, o mores.