BoOkS

Can I just say how much I adore books? I am excited to say that this week I am expecting an arrival of books from Amazon! Why Amazon? Well, sometimes it’s fun (in and of itself) to shop for books in different ways.

There is of course, shopping for books in Chapters or Indigo (or the like). Shopping in this way involves other fun experiences such as looking at unique gifts and sipping on a Starbucks latte. You can find a chair (sometimes) to sink into and skim read the book you think about purchasing. You can take your Tim with you and make it a date! It’s super fun to separate in the store; each with a latte in hand, and then arrange to meet up in 20 minutes to a half an hour to see what treasures each has unearthed. Some would say it’s a hoot! (points to self).You can enhance your book experience looking at journals, magazines, and music. It’s a good experience for sure.

Second-hand bookstores are a most charming way to shop! If you hit it just right, you can end up involved in more than just a bookstore. You may step into a piece of history like finding it tucked into an old, historic building; finding a long run bookstore which is family owned and been around for a century; or a bookstore that has it’s own famous character, entertaining world-renowned authors to visit for signings. Within second-hand bookstores you may find a resident cat or two. And that soft, purring charm is just so inviting to wanting the body to slow down and savor the experience. You may notice out of print books, books with inscriptions, books with torn covers, books with immaculate ones (that may have been owned but never read!). Finding a second-hand bookstore can be more of an experience than a single destination… for something happens after you’ve been in one; you end up wanting to find more. If you’re treasure hunting, second hand bookstores are the best way to do it.

That is… unless you find books at yard sales or garage sales. I have located some real gems tucked into plastic grocery store bags, handles hanging from a discarded exercise bike on the lawn of a neighbour. The $0.25 price is a steal for out of print books or something you’ve always wanted to read, but had never gotten around to it. $0.25 makes the ‘never got around to it’, happen; at least…getting into the house to the reading pile.

Books purchased while waiting have a different flavour altogether. Standing in lines at grocery stores (viewing the rack), a book found at an airport magazine shop, or one at the gas station in ‘out-of-the-way-somewhere’ when Tim buys gas… all have a uniqueness all their own. I can show you in my library which ones I bought where and what I felt when I bought it. One time I recall being at a bible camp (as a counsellor). The kids were driving me bonkers!!! I needed some alone time. We had to go get supplies so a few of us went to the lake store (those are so fun!) to pick up stuff for the group. While there I saw a rotating metal bookcase filled with paperbacks. For some reason, I just needed a mystery right then!! For $7.99, I brought back a slice of quiet repose. Once the kids had settled into watch a movie, I slipped off to a side room with a light and started my book. I read it off and on through the weekend (in the bathroom, once the kids had fallen asleep, and while we had those few alone times we were granted while the kids did their gratis (chores). De-light-ful!

Now these days I am also into searching for and purchasing books on my iphone / ipad. I have discovered that having a book around at all times, in my hand, is just more delight than I can say. I have read a number of books, in a short while, from my phone. There are always waiting times when you say, ‘ahhh, wish I would have brought a book!’. Well friends… I did. And I just click and read away. Doctor’s offices, restaurants, movie theatres, the dentist. And if Tim goes into the bank, or is gassing up the car… I can get a few pages done. Love it! I have a number of different apps on my phone for books and it’s fun to compare-shop for best prices. Also, sometimes the selection for different genres is better with one or the other. I have a number of tomes on the go!

There’s the borrowing of books too as a type of ‘shopping for books’. I have stumbled on some amazing books, fun books, interesting books, and even some remarkably horrible books in this way. I love looking at the suggested titles they have out. One time, in the spring/winter when I lived in Edmonton, the public library had a bunch of romance books out (maybe it was around February; not sure). Anyway, I came across one by an Edmonton author titled, ‘The 52nd Poem’. It intrigued me; guess I was in the mood for it… and I checked it out. I tucked it into my library bag and walked into a coffee shop. I sat there for much of the afternoon and devoured it like a piece of chocolate cake. Couldn’t get enough. In fact, it was so enjoyable; I bought the book the next week! The experience of stumbling across it, having a day to just read in a coffee shop, and it being a local author were all the exacting pieces of making that particular book, “buy worthy” (my term – sticks out tongue).

There’s a thing that the Calgary library does (for kids mostly) and to which I find most interesting. They have grab bags which contain books and often related materials like videos and audio. In some ways I wish I had a kid so that I could grab a bag and enjoy it as a full library experience. (reader note: I said some ways; which in fact is such a small measurement, it barely registers – this wasn’t a hint I wanted any children or are having any… make no inquiries please).

One thing I love to do to ‘shop’ at the library is see what other people are sitting behind and staring into. Okay, I do this a lot, everywhere. If I see someone’s face with a book over it, I take special note of the title and make sure to check it out (if it looks interesting to me) next time I am in a bookstore, online, or at the library. I must look ridiculous sometimes bending down or craning my neck to see the title when it’s skewed from my immediate view. I can’t help myself. I need to know what’s got their attention and why the book mark is half the way through… it must be good, so therefore I must want to read it.

Recommendations are a great way to shop for a book. Why just this week I got a book based on someone else’s love of it. I found that recommendation via a facebook status. But I’ve also had them come from chats during my book club, a candidate on the courses I was teaching, a friend, my mother, a lady in line for the checkout while I was shopping, a librarian, etc. Recommendations often send me running with my wallet to purchase the book. Tell me it’s good and it may end up on my bookcase. Be warned though, if it’s not good… I’ll always hold a grudge. (haha).

I shop for audio books on my phone as well. I love these too for a different sort of reason. I have a very long commute so it’s nice to have the option to listen to a story, get caught up on a current event, or do some self-help (like a therapist in the passenger seat!!). Tim is into this too and it’s fun for us to discuss what each other is reading…’er listening to. We’ve read a great many books this way.

But what started this whole diatribe was telling you I’ve got books from Amazon coming this week. And shopping online for books is a different sort of delightful. I love searching topics, then seeing what other people ‘bought’ and having the computer suggest what I might like based on what I put in my shopping cart. I enjoy coming across a gem by accident. I like the option of buying new, buying used, or adding something to a wish cart (not buying right now, just looking and remembering the next time you sign in). I like that I can share my wish list (like a gift registry). I like that the package arrives later… joy deferred (as I like to say; Tim will tell ‘ya).

This past week was stressful for a number of reasons. I worked very, very hard this past week… and still am. It’s month end, year end, quarterly end. At one point I think I had 7 reports due in a month. I think I still do… ahhhh. Anyway, I won’t get into all the details, suffice to say that I needed some quiet time to put my feet up, stretch my neck, wiggle my fingers and then type wishes into Amazon. Ohhh, I found some wonderful things! All while sitting in my flannel pj’s, the cold chill of winter outside and me al tucked in my cozy den to read.  I drank a few cups of coffee, arranged the sleeping cat around the keyboard as I typed, and every so often found something new for my shopping cart. Opening the box is going to be a happy time!