Phil and his wife Barbara, with no children of their own, are helping their niece to attend Mount Holyoke in Massachusetts. Such gestures are important because the real world seems to be a planet or two away. Rumors of bankruptcies and closings are rampant, holding steady in the grim economy a feat.
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I didn’t go to Vegas with any expectation but came away with an impression that biting adversity has sharpened the wits of these booksellers. If Noah said there was only room for a few I’d nominate this group. They are toughened by their experience, their eyes narrowing into a natural, well-earned skepticism that says “I’m listening and “now what.” They are interesting people; even a throwback to an era I thought was gone. But no, old ideas and approaches were responses to problems then and similar problems now evoke similar responses. Today, with times tough, the bones in their vertebrae are fixed and firm and they, if they live long enough, will see the present turmoil through to that moment when the planets once again align.
In the mean time, if you can break free of the casinos and are in thrall of the printed word, give yourself a positive experience. Visit these folks. They carry a precious piece of the old world into the new, a piece that is needed if not often enough appreciated.
Amber Unicorn Books
Myrna & Lou Donato
2101 S. Decatur Boulevard, Suite 14
Las Vegas, Nevada 89102
702 648-9303
http://www.amberunicornbooks.com/
Greyhound’s Books
Phil and Barbara DeFlumear
4704 West Sahara
Las Vegas, Nevada 89102
702 444-9415
http://www.greyhoundsbooks.com/
Bauman Rare Books
3317 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Suite 2856
Las Vegas, Nevada
702 948-1617
