Upset

I was in Glasgow yesterday and went into Borders for the last time.

I've always enjoyed going into the store on Buchanan Street, a haven of books surrounded by a wilderness of other shops. But yesterday was awful: half empty shelves, books lying uncared for in piles, 'Store Closing' and '30% off' signs everywhere - it was like a bad jumble sale.

Our society is already retail sick, it is a catastrophic failure within our community that we cannot keep open book shops. Can nothing save us from the hegemony of M&S and John Lewis? Are we doomed to having city centres and shopping malls devoid of any soul, or sense of value (i.e. bookshops)?