Icelebrated my 25th Birthday at *drumroll* Barnes and Noble J My family and friends were far from shocked by my decision to visit the nearest bookstore on my birthday.

I’ve always loved the rustic smell of books and the soothing calm they create. But, Barnes and Noble, like so many other bookstores, has changed and not for the better.

Had I not been surrounded by books, the atmosphere would have depressed me.

I remember when I would visit the overcrowded bookstores in my neighborhood (there...