Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Endangered spieces?


These two guys are "bouquinistes", that is shopkeepers that have been granted the right to own a little box by the Seine banks to store and sell old books to the passers-by. Problem: people buy less and less books from little shop owners, they prefer to go on line or to larger stores... Consequently the bouquinistes started selling other stuff than books, souvenirs for instance, to make the ends meet. The problem is that their contract specifies that they must sell books and nothing else and the Paris town hall has started chasing those who don't play by the rules. It is also trying to find a solution to boost their income, like a Fête des bouquinistes, for instance. I doubt this will be enough.... How about selling kindles?! Update: here is an interesting point of view by Nicholas Negroponte (not about Bouquinistes, but the book industry)

25 comments:

  1. Yeah, that's a shame. But times do change. I'd like to see their contracts change rather than chucking them out altogether.

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  2. Oh, no. Paris wouldn't be the same without the bouquinistes. I hope they can save their businesses.

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  3. Yes - we saw them when I was visiting in Sept. but didn't have the "lowdown"/scoop on their situation. Yes, Kindles are a great idea - now, if they could only sell them for bargain prices! When we passed by them in Paris, a woman I was with bought some souvenirs from one of the booksellers. She bought a little compact with a mirror, the type they sell in the souvenir shops but it was the first time she saw that item for sale.

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  4. It would be such a shame to lose this "institution" along the banks of the Seine. I always try to buy something from one of them each time I am in Paris. They make a beautiful picture along the Seine and Paris would not be the same without them.

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  5. I agree with Suzy: why not allow them to sell souvenirs, post cards, or other goods? This is a time when governments should seek solutions for workers and merchants, not look for ways to shut them down.

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  6. i do love those stalls dotting the banks of the Seine and hope they're not shut down.

    also i think you mean 'species' :)

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  7. Endangered? Oh, no—say it isn't so, Eric! J'adore les bouquinistes! The last thing I bought from them was an Asterix to add to my collection. Now I have a Kindle—so should I feel guilty?

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  8. I love the bouquinistes and had a lovely time perusing their wares when I was in Paris. I did purchase a book but was the only one who did when I was there. I wish more people saw the value in vintage books. I too have a kindle, but will never give up my actual books!

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  9. I am falling love with your blog sometimes are warm sometimes unique. Sometimes just like this one so simple

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  10. I loved looking at all the books when I was there in September and would have loved to purchase a few, but they were really expensive. Maybe if they brought down the prices they might sell. I hope they stay though, it's such a part of Paris!
    Bernadette

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  11. Sadly, technology destroys some of the beautiful things that humanity created. Are we going in the right direction? I love to touch, smell, watch, and finally read a book.

    Regards

    Valery

    [Barcelona Daily Photo]

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  12. I'm a lover of books. I don't think I would want a Kindle, although I have friends who say they're handy. I love going to the bookstore, although I don't purchase a whole lot of books (they're expensive!) I do enjoy spending time among the stacks. This "avenue" looks like my kind of place!

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  13. I agree, they must stay! I haven't bought books but found some nice nude prints there in June that were a marvelous price. It must be a hard life for them. Maybe that's why they aren't so friendly! :)
    V

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  14. Why not close them down, tidy the place up, put a few smartly painted replicas of the stalls manned by actors dressed in typical Parisian garb to recreate a Paris scene now disappeared but not forgotten. Street theatre, theme park style, with fast food concessions dotted about to feed the idiots who like that kind of thing.

    -Or let them sell other stuff (like Virginia's nude prints and my new range of lovelocks). Problem solved.

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  15. Maybe they can revise their contracts to allow them to sell love locks. In many sizes. And waterproof wraps that go around the locks to protect them from liquids and...rust?

    But seriously, folks, les bouquinestes are a centuries-old Paris institution. Surely, the contracts will be revised. Be careful, though, some of the wares are indeed cheesy.

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  16. Jeff, now what was that saying...'Great minds think alike'...mm....can't recall the rest of it. :)

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  17. I aggree with Irredento and Suzy, they are part of Paris atmosphere and taste, smell and touch of a real book is not comparable with ebooks...and it's nice to find some valuable old books and magazines there. I hope they could survive longer and longer! Thanks for emphasizing them...!
    Sibel.

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  18. @Jeff (and Drummond!) "Maybe they can revise their contracts to allow them to sell love locks. In many sizes. And waterproof wraps that go around the locks to protect them from liquids and...rust?" LOLLLLLLLLL

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  19. I hope they'll find out some way to survive!
    They are like part of the landscape

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  20. Sad, sad, story...an example of why people cannot speak to each other any longer; they don't read!!! On the other hand...LOVE the photo....another "slice of life"...my favorite!

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  21. Thank you for adding the Nicholas Negroponte interview. He argues his case beautifully, which makes it worth seeing.

    Jacques

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  22. it is quite sad that booksellers have to stock up other materials to sell to make their ends meet. In my hometown, Mumbai, booksellers on the roadside are just growing by the day. I guess the profits are quite a lot here.

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  23. These guys are totally scr...wed if you ask me.

    No one wants books anymore and their contracts obligate them to continue selling someting nobody wants. Hmmm... you do the math!

    At least let them sell some "brocante" or something.

    I remember there were so many of them along the banks when I was a kid. But that was a long time ago.

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  24. Funny because I just ordered from Amazon a used copy of a book I read when I was a kid "Le Pays ou l'on n'arrive jamais" and it came to me.. all yellow, some pages still bound on top, printing date ... 1956!

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  25. Negroponte makes a good point that Kindles and iPads can put more books in the hands of more people very easily.
    BUT lots of the most interesting books are not available on Kindle - or they are out of print - so we order used copies from Amazon!
    Taking the time to browse a used bookstore or a bouquiniste can mean wonderful off-the-beaten track discoveries...
    But the pace of life has quickened so how many people will still take time in several years?

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