While everyone now believes that Linda Bovee is dead, no one is saying that a single conclusion should be drawn. Her husband said the most difficult part was explaining Linda's disappearance to his daughters. But the bewilderment, the shock, the sadness and the perplexity about Linda's disappearance affect everyone. For one thing, whenever her depression is mentioned, it is always linked to the financial problems of her bookstore. We know that Linda Bovee was not alone in worrying about the financial health of her store.
Many independents know that worry well.
Insomnia, overwork, anxiety, panic attacks, exhaustion and burn-out are frequent side effects. Critics like me, with the luxury of standing on the sidelines watching all this, often ponder how amazing it is that the very people who are saving good books from falling through the cracks are the ones who must live with the threat of seeing their livelihood go bankrupt every day. When they stand up to fight, when they bring lawsuits, when they speak of a level playing field, they are accused of whining and complaining. When they remain silent and go under, people wonder why they didn't show some pluck, or a better business sense, or the gumption to fight. But I think that if Linda Bovee did take her own life, the message she left behind gives us much to thank about independent bookselling.