My Source

I have a few books to be blogged about, though not much, but my mind just does not want to cooperate with me. I have succumbed to my greatest enemy: TV. Yeah, I have been neglecting my blog because I am so occupied with watching TV. Well, I cannot be blamed though because I missed watching my favorite TV shows. But I know also that I will get over this "bawi" stage. I will evidently tire of watching shows and movies that they replay over and over anyway. So right now, I will blog about one of my sources for books instead. I have been meaning to do this but I guess I was so caught up with my reading that I needed to blog about the books I read first. So now, here it is.

When I buy books, I examine each and every copy closely, making sure that the book that I am going to buy is free of dent, fold, dirt, and the glue in its binding perfectly intact. I might have been looking for a book for the longest time only to find it in a bookstore, pages yellowed, or cover corner folded, and I will heart-breakingly put it back to the shelf. I also have a penchant for book covers. I mean admit it, the first thing that will attract you, in everything, is the packaging. Now that more and more books are being adapted into movies, I hate how they change the "original" covers into "movie poster" look-alike covers. I mean, yes, it is okay if they use this kind of book covers but at least only until after the movie was shown. You may want to use it for whatever marketing purpose it serves you but I do not understand why they have to continue doing that after years and years more. 

I have been buying my books from National Bookstore (only the decent copies) and Powerbooks. Occasionally, especially for hard-to-get titles, I would source them from Fullybooked. Buying books, lots of books can really be expensive. And although I buy from Booksale once in a while, you would have to have a lot of patience and determination to scour their shelves in all fours. Quite tiring, if I may say. Not to mention too time-consuming. Enter Julie's Sari-sari store. 

I discovered this life-saving multiply store from Chronicles of Vanity. At first, I was afraid of purchasing anything from a multiply account for fear of fraud (my online purchases are only from Belledejour and Human Nature). And, as Julie's sells pre-loved books, I, as you know, am a wee bit OC so convincing myself is quite hard. So I read first the comments from the buyers and then after browsing their catalogue, I made up my mind. My first purchase went smooth. Ms. Julie has been accommodating, fast in replying to texts, and when the books were delivered, Gawd, I died. I expected the books to be quite yellowed, with a rip or two here and there, folded pages, well basically, everything that I forbid my books to possess. BUT.. the books are pristine, almost new. Each books are individually cling wrapped, and they even threw in about three pieces of bookmarks. No fancy ones, mind you. But ordinary bookmarks that surely function as how they should. They also deliver within the specified time they told you. A couple of times, they are even earlier than expected. A perfect surprise for book lovers like me. After that first purchase, I got hook. I have been saving a lot of bucks because of Julie's. Imagine getting trade paperbacks less than half of their original prices, hardbounds priced ridiculously cheap (pls Ms. Julie, when you read this, pls do not increase your prices *wink*). I mean, for books in such good condition, Julie's sari-sari is a haven. Even my boss, who saw my books purchased from Julie's cannot believe that those are pre-loved books. He said they are "like new". I smiled broadly and said "yeah, its from a trusted seller". And indeed it is, Ms. Julie have "instantly earned" my trust from the very first purchase. It was strengthened with the second purchase, and now, it is only to her, and Ms. Roselle that I entrust my books, my "mini library". And, those movie edition covers that I hate? Julie's give you the original covers. Those without Mandy Moore, or Channing Tatum on the covers that I love. 

Thank you Ms. Julie and Ms. Roselle. Keep it up! I wish you would not get tired of pawing through boxes and boxes of books for us!

Papers and Glue

I love gadgets. I may not be that well-versed when it comes to these nifty, amazing bundles of screws and lights, but I still know my gadgets. Perhaps one of the most popular produce of breathtaking technology nowadays is the e-reader. The craze started when Amazon released its first generation of Kindles. Book lovers gasped in excitement when learned that they can now carry their whole library wherever they go and will never run out of books to read everytime there's a mood change. I got excited too, I admit. At first. Now that the Kindle has evolved into a very much capable and "modernized" tablet from the humble e-reader it was before, I am still amazed, but also very, very worried. 

You see, I also share the same sentiment of not being able to carry as much books as I want with me. I have never imagined to bring my whole library of facts and fictions when I go to a mall nor have I thought of bringing more than one book with me (of course, textbooks during my school years are exemptions). Who would like to be known as the "walking library", literally, right? Owning a Kindle will make this easier. Imagine reading Holly's Inbox in your morning-rush-ride to your work, to perk up your mood, then switching to I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti during your lunch break to, you know, spice up a bit your simple fish and rice of a lunch. Then while sipping your post-work coffee in some al fresco cafe, you might want to know the reasons behind some things by seeking company from Super Freakonomics. You also found out that The Help keeps your mind away from the home-bound traffic, and you want to be lullabied by Pride and Prejudice by the time you hit the sack. Fab idea, right? Of course it is. But, and there's a big BUT here. 

I saw this post from a tumblr user (reblogged by http://lovelydreamms.tumblr.com) and it hit me with a loud smack. 

http://0rdinaryme.tumblr.com/post/10677000216

I cannot imagine life without books typed in a bundle of papers and glue. I love the feel of paper when I touch it. I love the smell of new books. I love unwrapping a new book. And I love to be able to read in PUV's without worrying if someone will just grab my "book" from somewhere. I love my books, and not the technical one. That is why I resolve to NOT to buy an e-reader, at least until I cannot find books that I want in non-electronic form anymore. I know technology is hard to resist but I will do my best.