There are a number of online bookstores out there trading, and doing very well at their business, but there is something else going on too.  What happened to the time when an online bookstore sold only books?  These days you seem to be able to get everything from a camera to a pair of shoes from the bookstore!  This can’t be right surely?

Traditionalism

I am one of the old school that has a problem (a huge problem) with this phenomenon.   If I go to the newsagent I expect to be able to buy my newspaper and maybe a packet of cigarettes, when I go to the barber I expect to buy a haircut, and when I go to the bookstore I expect to buy a book, or perhaps (at a stretch) a magazine.  Now tell me, why should online bookstores be any different than a bookstore I walk into on the street?

Its capitalism gone mad I tell you.  Karl Marx saw it coming, and he’d have had a field day with them these days.  When you go to some of these online bookstores and type in an author’s name you’re lucky to find a book at all; you’re more likely to find a set of steak knives if you type in Raymond Carver for goodness sake!

This isn’t just a joke either.  When you type in the name of a book you’ll often come up with the movie version, or even worse the video game version of what you’re after.  You try these online bookstore search engines with a title such as Dracula and see what you get.  I guarantee you that you’ll get movies, toys, video games and books; what you get first will usually depend on the popularity of the item, and in this case it’s more than likely going to the movie version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula; not a bad movie, but none the less, not the novel you’re after.

What’s to be done?

Well you simply have to turn your attention to the more classic and traditional online bookstores that cater for all genres of fiction books and non fiction books, but do not have movies and all that other nonsense to go at; they do exist, and in fact Skoobebooks is one of them!

When I want a book I go to a bookstore, whether that is an online bookstore or one on the high street.  You wouldn’t expect to walk into Waterstones and pick up a DVD and a game for your child’s Nintendo DS would you?  And the same goes for a shoe shop.  You wouldn’t walk into a shoe store and expect to be able to buy a book would you?

Bookstores should remain bookstores, and department stores should remain department stores, and if they can’t then they should change their name!  I’m done ranting and raving, but if you do have a comment then please do leave one for me.

Ok after blathering on about not going veggie I figured out that I may as well get on with it and stop pretending.

So out I went and bought two steaks for supper.

I cooked them plain with a little salad and some home made dressing (3 measures of good olive oil, to 1 of acidity be that lemon, orange or whatever, shake well, voila a fresh dressing).

Now the steaks themselves were delicious. But when I came to cut them with my worn out cutlery, what a disaster. We ended up more or less tearing them with the cutlery rather than cutting them.

So I’m on the lookout either for a whole new set or just some steak knives. Any suggestions?

I don’t mind paying for good quality knives and these look to fit the bill Wusthof Steak Knives the best

✰✰✰✰ Discount price :$39.97 First EVER! Hardwood block Guide Gear 13 – Pc. Forged Steel Cutlery Set with built – in sharpener. PRICED LESS! Sharp gift! For the first time ever, we put together a Cutlery Set with everything you need! Razor-sharp forged steel blades in a variety of must-have sizes. Knives are organized in a stylish, hardwood block. 8 steak knives fit in their own detachable block, so you can take them right to the dining or picnic table. No middleman means a whopping SAVINGS! Details: Wooden handles secured by 3 rivets for long life; Full-tang, drop-forged steel blades; Gorgeous, natural-grain hardwood block with built-in sharpener and detachable steak knife block. Knives: 13″l. bread; 11 3/4″l. santoku; 13″l. slicing; 9″l. utility; 8 1/4″l. paring; Heavy-duty 10″l. poultry shears; Six 8 3/4″l. steak knives. Give a useful gift this year! Order Now! WARNING: You must be 18 or older to purchase Cutlery. Cutlery cannot be shipped to D.C.; MA or Puerto Rico. Please check your State, County and City laws for restrictions before ordering Cutlery. Guide Gear 13-Pc. Forged Steel Cutlery Set

Amazon Deal by Jenna Nuzzi 1 week ago

If you have been looking for a great knife set, check out this large set at a rock bottom price. The Shappu 2000 Stainless Steel Professional Cutlery Set by Gourmet Trends is on sale on Amazon for only $7.99, a savings of 60% off the regular price of $19.99. This amazing set is made of Japanese stainless steel and includes (6) steak knives, (1) cleaver, (1) fillet knife, (1) utility knife, and (1) paring knife. This incredible 10 piece set has cutting edges that were scientifically designed for all your different cutting tasks.

J.A. Henckels S.O.S. High Carbon Stainless Steel Steak Knives, Set of 4 Product Description

A percentage from each sale of the steak knives will be donated to Share Our Strength anti-hunger program in the United States.

Details

• 4-inch stainless steel blades easily cut through any steak
• Friodur ice-hardening process strengthens blade and prevents staining
• Comfortable, ergonomically designed handles
• Optimum grades of metal welded into each part of the knife
• Dishwasher-safe; lifetime warranty

Chicago Cutlery Insignia Steel 12-Piece Set includes 1-Each 3-1/2-Inch paring knife, 1-Each 5-Inch utility knife, 1-Each 8-Inch chef knife, 1-Each 8-Inch slicer knife, 6-Each 4-1/2-Inch steak knives, 1-Each 8-Inch steel, and 1-Each 11 slot block. Chicago Cutlery Insignia Matte collection is constructed of high-carbon stainless steel blades featuring our exclusive Taper Grind edge which is extremely sharp and enables precision cutting. The forged bolster provides balance and safety while ergonomically designed stainless steel handles combine comfort and safety with sleek, contemporary styling.