By Henry Rosenfeld
There will be no books? Has this become no country for old readers?
Dutton’s is closing in Brentwood April 30 — No, No, No. Say it ain’t so. (Kurt) Vonnegut said, “A book is a practical joke or it doesn’t work.” Please say this is a practical joke and they must keep bringing on books.
How can this be true when the statistics at the LA Times Festival of Books last year said, “Southern California buys more books than New York by $50 million?” We’re the number one book market in the country. So, at the end of April, will the LA Times Festival be dedicated to Doug Dutton now?
Victor Frankl wrote, “What is to give light must endure burning!” Please keep them burning, burning, burning — like that starry dynamo they is! First school cuts and now this? What is to be done?
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 11, 2008. Read the original PDF.