It seems that the trend among some bookstores these days is to remove their comfortable chairs.

McNally Robinson has a history with comfortable chairs and, yes, from time to time I have to tell people to take their feet off the upholstery. What I love is how they respond (a bit like guilty children), because even the occasional ne'er-do-well hanging out in our stores sort of gets it: there is a certain respect due to a place dedicated to books.

Maybe it's an atavistic cultural memory of librarians hissing for silence. Or maybe an independent store has a pride of ownership that subtly permeates the space and reminds people that they are guests.

Whatever. Sitting and reading go together. I've tried every kind of standing/walking/leaning and reading; and of course we've all stretched out with a book, only to fall asleep. Sitting is best. We'll keep our chairs.