ESTATES LARGE AND SMALL By Ray Robertson

I’m a sucker for books about book stores and the people who run them. Estates Large and Small revolves around Phil Cooper has reluctantly closed his used bookstore and moved his business online. The Pandemic and the rise of ebooks forced Cooper to pack up his books and lug them to his home. And, this turn of events sends this 55-year-old book lover into an existential crisis.

Cooper smokes too much pot and listens to too much Grateful Dead music as he tries to plan his Future and deal with his fears. Obviously he’s confused about the looming financial mess and how he’s going to survive it. So, like any other intelligent book lover, Cooper turns to the Philosophy section of his books to explore 2,500 years of Western philosophy.

Luckily, Cooper meets Caroline, a postal worker and fellow book lover, who is passionate about philosophy…and sex. Caroline and Cooper explore the history of thought and the techniques of making love when you’re in your 50s. 

Estates Large and Small resembles a Hallmark movie spiced with philosophy and middle-age amour. GRADE: B

19 thoughts on “ESTATES LARGE AND SMALL By Ray Robertson

  1. wolfi7777

    That kind of tragic story happened more often. I remember several German bookstores in my hometown having to close down – even in a university city selling books became complicated and no longer worth it.And I remember several cases from London:
    In the 70s there was a very good SF bookstore “Dark they were and golden eyed”. The owner got into drug troubles and the store had to close.
    After that I did my shopping at Forbidden Planet which developed into a chain of stores worldwide (even New York City had two stores for a time) but I haven’t been there in the last 20 years, don’t know how they’re doing now.
    There also were two smaller stores, very good!
    Murder One which closed down in 2009
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_One_(bookshop)
    Fantasy Centre which was my favourite – I often went for a beer with the two proprietors after closing hour. It also closed in 2009 but maybe still exists as mail order.
    https://london.randomness.org.uk/wiki.cgi?Fantasy_Centre
    Those were the days …
    Fond memories!

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Wolf, it’s been sad to see so many bookstores close in the last 20 years. Western NY used to have a couple dozen. Now, we just down to a handful…and they’re struggling. I do what I can to help them. I, of course, buy their books. As I’m weeding my collection, I’ll just donate a box or two of books to them. But between the Internet and the Pandemic, bookstores are an endangered species.

      Reply
      1. Todd Mason

        Certainly B&N, Books-A-Million and even some independents are seeing an uptick in brick and mortar business, and people (perhaps too hurriedly) are trying to shake off the isolation and making their way back to them. May it be sustained (and may immunity express itself sooner rather than later).

    1. george Post author

      Dan, this book about a bookstore rings true. I can’t imagine the dedication it would take to run a bookstore today with all the hassles.

      Reply
  2. Jeff Meyerson

    It does sound like a Hallmark movie! It’s true, the internet pretty much destroyed the used bookstore business in this country and England (the ones I know about). Why would you drive around hundreds and hundreds of miles when you can go online and find the book you want in a couple of minute,s and probably a lot cheaper? I’m glad we retired when we did. I’m sure the pandemic put the final nail in the coffin of stores that were still hanging on. Now, personally, I’d much rather browse through a secondhand bookshop than not, but too few people feel that way these days, it seems. Sad.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Jeff, I totally agree with you. I try to visit the few remaining used bookstores in my area and support them with money and book donations. But, I can see they’re struggling. The Pandemic closed a few and the survivors are just hanging on.

      Reply
  3. maggie mason

    We have lost many used book stores in San Diego. Most libraries have sales carts, and what I’ve found there makes me keep going back. I scored big on music CDs over the last year, but no screamers, and the last “screamer” book was several years ago, and a mild scream was all.

    Reply
  4. Todd Mason

    After some of my favorites closed on me, usually due to death of owners (such as Gene’s Books in the Philly ‘burbs in King of Prussia, or Moonstone Bookcellars in DC) and some simply went under for various pre-web-vendor/Covid reasons (Common Concerns in DC), I learned that such things can always be fleeting. (I worked in Crown, Borders and Tower Books stores, as well…chains should fear me. However, the Brookings Institution and George Mason U bookstores are still functioning last I checked…)

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Bob, Diane had about 40 HALLMARK movies recorded on our DVR. She’s slowly working her way through them on these cold winter nights. I, on the other hand, am all caught up on my TV watching.

      Reply

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