Like many of you, I was shocked and deeply saddened by the announcement that Dutton's Brentwood Books will close its doors on April 30, 2008.  I think of Doug and Dutton's as the heart and soul of literary Los Angeles and can't quite imagine the book world without them.  Back in 1997, when I had the half-brained idea of quitting my law firm and opening a bookstore (what! are you NUTS!!), I went to talk to Doug about the idea.  Like every other person I spoke to, he tried to talk me out of it, but after seeing my determination, he gave me some solid advice and sent me off in the right direction to educate myself and figure out how to actually try to pull this off.

I remember a day not long after the store was open when Doug suddenly appeared in Village Books.  He quietly took his time and walked slowly through the store, examining the bookshelves.  My heart was pounding and I broke out in a sweat - what would he think of my endeavor?  Before he left, Doug walked over to me and said "Congratulations.  You have a real bookstore."  I'm sure he had no idea how much those words meant to me.  They boosted my confidence and morale and encouraged me to keep going forward in this crazy business.

Over the years, many authors, booksellers and booklovers have turned to him for advice and conversation about books, music and life in general.  I've heard many stories of how generous he was to his employees and just about everyone he met.

Charlie Munger and others in the business world may think that Doug "is an old-fashioned businessman who is out of touch with reality"*, but I, for one, think there are too few people like Doug in this world and am grateful to him for all he has done for our community.

But hey!  Doug is alive and well and once he gets through the difficult process ahead of him in closing the store, I'm sure he will reappear in some other wonderful way and continue to nurture our literary community.  I look forward to that day and hope you will join me in sending good thoughts his way during the next few months.

*Los Angeles Times, Feb. 26, 2008, pg A12