[John Cole]

MidGe,

I agree with your assessment about the big chain mentality, but I think it has more to do with the current state of writing, especially in fiction. One of my favorite novels, Genoa: A Telling of Wonders by Paul Metcalf, is probably out of print, and, if not, unavailable in any bookstore. I love Gilbert Sorrentino, and I'm sure City Lights may have a better selection than my local Borders. Fortunately, I can run into Boston and Providence easily for good bookstores--although they are still, in some sense, dominated by best sellers; however, occasionally the unexpected does turn up.

Of course, I mostly forgo fiction these days anyway.