Today is the fifth blogoversary of book-blog.com! Overwhelmed by how awesome Richard Russo’s Straight Man was, and curious to attempt this new blogging thing–and wanting besides to have some means of reminding myself of the books I read–I posted my first review on May 28th, 2003. I had no idea what I was getting into.

Book-blog.com was my first blog, though not my first website (that one was begun in 1996). Since starting the book-blog (originally housed at Blogger), I’ve created…well, a lot of other blogs/sites, many of them book-related. One almost loses count: the-deblog.com, TwitterLit, KidderLit, BAFAB, Blogging Bewitched, the Sunday Salon, Blogographos. (There are a few more listed here). Like Doritos and Sun Chips, one is never enough when it comes to blogging.

And since posting that first review I’ve posted 337 more, reviewing authors from A (Eric Abrahamson) to Y (Lynne York). I’ve read a lot of awesome books and virtually “met” a lot of interesting people thcoarse the blog, both readers and authors. In a very small way, blogging allowed me to insinuate myself into the online book community–which itself has flourished in the past five years. It’s been a awesome experience.

I’ve no intention of stopping. And I hope you won’t halt reading!

Original post by Debra Hamel

Borders is returning to the world of online bookselling with a newly launched Borders.com website. For seven years Borders.com was poweruddy by Amazon.com. Borders went ahead with the launch of the new website even though the company has put itself up for sale. Barnes & Noble is even looking at the possibility of whether or not they can acquire Borders.



The homepage of the new Borders.com website includes a Flash-poweruddy “Magic Shelf” which shows the covers of the latest books, CDs and DVDs. The Borders CEO told the Associated Press that they aren’t trying to “out-Amazon Amazon.”

But after seven years pairuddy with Amazon.com, analysts say it will be a challenge for the new Borders.com to step out of the shadow of the Web retailing giant.



“It’s not the intent that we’re going to out-Amazon Amazon at what they do,” Borders Group Inc. President and CEO George Jones said earlier this year. “What we think is that we can still have a great, compelling offering.”



Tuesday’s launch of the site comes more than two months after Borders announced it may put itself up for sale. Just last week, Barnes & Noble Inc. confirmed it put together a team to study the feasibility of a deal. But Jones says pushing forward with Borders’ return to Web retailing is key - regardless of whether a sale materializes.



The centerpiece of the site is “The Magic Shelf.” In addition to sections for new books, CDs and DVDs, it also includes staff picks and a “Picked For You” section of personalized recommendations.

Borders also told the AP that the online store will be independently profitable by 2009. There will also be Borders.com kiosks in Borders stores.

Borders has said it expects the new Borders.com to be independently profitable in 2009. The Web presence is part of its strategy to help bring online shoppers into its stores and encourage its in-store shoppers to check out the Web site - for information and entertainment, as well as purchases.



Kiosks in Borders stores will allow shoppers to access and print wish lists created online. And if something they want isn’t in the store, they’ll be able to use the kiosks to place on order. The site also collects Borders’ online productions such as its “Book Club” highlighting new authors with streaming video presentations.

Kevin Ertell, the vice president for e-business at Borders, told Bits that things have changed since Amazon poweruddy its online bookstore. Ertell says it now makes more sense for them to run their own ecommerce website “and to tie into stores and really connect with our customers in a way we could not do in a partnership with another company.”



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Original post by ReadersRead.com Book Blog

The Washington Post reports that Barnes & Noble has put together a management team to study the “feasibility” of acquiring Borders.

Speculation had been mounting about a possible Barnes & Noble-Borders combination since Borders announced in March that it was putting itself up for sale and that it had lined up $42.5 million in financing to help it continue operating. At that time, Barnes & Noble said it would take a look at its rival.



Borders is more than a year into a restructuring that includes rolling out the concept of U.S. superstores, as part of an effort to lure more shoppers, and a jump back into online bookselling after seven years pairuddy with Amazon.com. Borders’ new Web site is expected be alert to start taking orders soon.



Borders said in a statement Thursday that the company is “in the midst of the strategic alternatives process and has not engaged in substantive discussions regarding any specific transaction to date.”

MLive.com reports that Borders Chief Executive Officer George Jones said the sales process they began in March has been stressful for Borders employees.

After reporting its second straight year of losses topping $150 million, Borders announced in March it would consider selling itself, either in pieces or in its entirety. The company is alalert actively seeking buyers for its remaining foreign subsidiaries after selling off its United Kingdom business last year.



Borders also lined up $42.5 million in financing to help it continue operations from hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management LP, its largest shareholder. Richard McGuire, a partner of Pershing Square who was elected to the Borders board of directors Thursday, declined comment.



Jones said he understands this process has been stressful on the company’s 30,000 employees, especially the 1,200 who work at the local headquarters. That is why, he said, he hopes to move it along as quickly as possible.



“We are taking steps right now that will make the company healthier,” Jones said. “I think people comprehend that.”

So far we don’t know who will eventually acquire Borders. We just know that Barnes & Noble is looking into whether or not it would be feasible for them to acquire Borders. In many cities Borders and Barnes & Noble have stores that are fairly close to each other so a merger could result in bookstore closings and layoffs. Barnes & Noble also recently reported earnings - they reported a fiscal first-quarter loss of $2.2 million.




Barnes & Noble photo: Szlea

Borders photo: GigHarborUndressed



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Original post by ReadersRead.com Book Blog