Book Hunting

It was after lunch and I was looking forward to a lazy afternoon of lying catatonic in bed when an urge struck me. I gotta buy a book. I really had to get one as my book tower (the stack of unread books) was already demolished in the few weeks that have passed. So I hauled my ass off to the mall to indulge in some book hunting.

First stop: Powerbooks. I immediately went to the Philippine publication section of the store and ogled all the books here. The new Twisted 8 by the charming Jessica Zafra caught my eye. I grabbed the copy and held it tight, for it was the last copy with it’s plastic cover on and there are reports from fellow Zafra fans that finding a copy of Twisted is becoming a more and more difficult. Fortunately, I think that I am the only Zafra devotee in my 50 meter radius so my picking up of the last copy did not start any fistfights.

Next, I went to Booksale, located near the foodcourt of the mall. Sadly, there were no interesting titles here although it is worth noting that I have spotted a rare Tom Robbins book here. Damn, I still get shivers when I remember not buying that copy. This goes to show that you should grab opportunity whenever it comes along, even if you would have to walk home (as I had no money that time).

Third stop: Diplomat. Because of this, you should have noticed by now that I have no funds as I look for cheap second hand books. Well, this is a really expensive activity and I believe that money should not hinder you from doing what you really want. What difference is a brand new P650 book from a same title which is in mint condition in Booksale which costs only P95? You would say that it is the condition of the book and it is second hand, which means that it was already held by someone (Aaaaaargh! The germs!), but second hand books is really not that different from brand new books, at least for me. There is a thrill in peeling off that protective plastic from the book and smelling the paper (yes, I am a book junkie), but a serious reader will care more about what is printed on the book. But there is also some kind of communal joy in knowing that another reader had enjoyed (or repulsed) the book that you hold in your hands.

Moving on, I found a book which evoked the same feelings in me when I saw a copy of Umberto Eco’s Foucault’s Pendulum marked down to a mere P95. It was The Portable Nietzsche! I imagine myself walking into the cramped little stall and the heavens opening up with the brightest of lights shining on the book. It contained the complete books of Nietzsche such as Zarathustra, Twilight of the Idols, Ecce Homo and the Antichrist. Without regard to morality and decency, I slipped past two females in a manner that I would rather not discuss (haha) and got the book. Without further hesitations, I slapped a P200 bill on the counter with the book. When the book was finally wrapped with the receipt and change handed to me, I finally caught my breath. The realization of having found a book on Nietzsche was staggering as I had some difficulty in the past finding books by Nietzsche much more finding his compiled works and very much more finding a low cost one.

Having no time to hang around and waste precious time, I parked my ass in a jeep and went back home to get started on Zafra and Nietzsche.

I am happily anticipating sleepless nights.