We spend a lot of time labelling our books, categorizing them, and putting them on the shelves in order. Is it time wasted? It is according to the owner of Shanghai's Dukou bookstore. In an article in today's China Daily, Xiao Gao throws cold water on the whole organization thing: "Unlike most bookstores, books here are not categorized. Instead they are randomly shelved. According to Xiao, there is a bond between the reader and the book, and categorizing the books would jeopardize this relationship."
Beyond that puzzling idea, China Daily's review of four "concept bookstores" in China gives an interesting glimpse of bookselling in the Middle Kingdom. It's worth a read.--David E
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