Susan Hill's piece on this blog (also in the Guardian newspaper

http://books.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1685920,00.html)

has certainly stirred up the British book-loving and book-selling population. Last Friday the British Publishers Association were invited by the Competition Commission committee investigating the proposed takeover of the Ottakars bookshop chain by HMV who also own the Waterstones chain. The committee was extraordinarily well-informed and perceptive in their questioning but I had the impression that they found the whole book business overcomplicated and slightly apart from normal economic principles. What was not in doubt was the importance of books to the cultural and educational environment and that diversity of choice in the type of book and the type of retailer is vital. Somehow we have to ensure that diversity through sustainable unsubsidised economic models. Susan's argument is about how to improve the independent sector through better bookselling. My argument would be how do we make the independent sector more economically viable without publishers sacrificing their and their authors' viability.

PS This blog has now had its 5000th visitor in less than a month. No big deal compared with my favourite site (www.cricinfo.com) but I am pleased. I've been hurt by one remark that I write and look like Michael Winner (http://www.waitrose.com/food_drink/wfi/foodpeople

 but by and large people have been remarkably kind. Thanks.