It's A Small World After All(Or: I Hope The Russians Love Their Bookstores Too)

A recent report from Russia's Institute for Globalization and Social Movements tried to put a positive spin on its country's current economic crises, claiming, "The crisis has forced millions of Russians to search for a new meaning of life, and the discussion of social problems, as well as radical political and philosophical literature are very likely to cause an intensive interests on the part of readers now."
This was, of course, total chush' sobach'ya.
According to the Itar-Tass News Agency, "Experts who deal with the book publishing industry do not share this viewpoint. They claim that, on the contrary, the readers will now turn their eyes massively to the easy and entertaining genre. One way or another, the crisis has already affected the bookstores, and 30% to 45% of them are now facing the prospect of a shutdown."
Sound familiar, comrades?
For a sobering summary of Russia's bookselling woes, click here.