There are three bookstores we go to regularly — Powerbooks, Fully Booked and A Different Bookstore. What about National Bookstore? Oh, we go there for school, office and art supplies but when we want books, we go to real bookstores. Rarely do we go to Eastwood City without passing by A Different Bookstore although Sam doesn’t like it there very much because they don’t have books on photography. But that was where I found The Silver Spoon which, whether Speedy liked it or not, became his Mother’s Day gift to me.
Yesterday, while waiting for the 5.10 p.m. screening of The Taking of Pelham 123, we found our feet (okay, probably dictated by our heads) taking us to A Different Bookstore. Almost as soon as we entered, Sam saw the Martha Stewart Cupcake cookbook but I said her dad would never pay for it because the last book he bought for me, The Silver Spoon, cost quite a lot. Sam said of course he’d buy it for you because he wants you to bake everything in this cupcake cookbook. I thought about it, moved to the shelf where there were even more cookbooks when the resident salesman asked me if I had cooked all the recipes in The Silver Spoon. I said, oh you remember… but no, I hadn’t cooked all of them yet.
Remembrance is a curious thing. This salesman, very friendly and helpful but never pushy, likes to point out new arrivals and other books that the girls and I might like. He’s good, really. He notices the books we look at then suggests other titles in the same genres. But he never pushes, he merely suggests. Now, Alex and I… we’re very suggestible when it comes to books. And it gives Speedy a sensation that starts with the numbing of the head that spreads to a contraction in the chest. You know, Alex and I, we have this idea of having so many books at home that the house would look like a bookstore. BUT we really prefer that Speedy paid for everything. So, that day when I wouldn’t let up until Speedy paid for The Silver Spoon, he threatened the friendly salesman to move away, or else, because his suggestions would make me want to buy more books. It sent everyone laughing especially this salesman who probably told and retold the incident to his co-workers long after we had left that day.
So, yesterday, the moment we came in, he remembered us. Apparently, Speedy remembered the last time too because, like before, he told the salesman to move away AND, if he had a roll of TAPE somewhere, to please tape his lips while we were there. Which, of course, had everyone giggling — but undeterred. Sam took a book from a shelf, started with her standard, “Oh, Mommy, look!” then she sat next to me with the book on house and garden decorating. Alex was going back and forth showing me one book after another. And the salesman was suggesting this and that. Speedy stood up and said he was going out to check out something. Whatever that something was, we never found out. Suffice to say that he didn’t come back until I had already paid for all the books we’d chosen. Talk about learning from lessons past, eh?
But we didn’t really buy ALL the books we browsed through. We would have if somebody else was paying but since no one was, we had to limit our purchases to the ones we liked most. Next time, I’ll call A Different Bookstore in advance and have them prepare a length of rope so Speedy won’t be able to escape until he has paid for all the books we like. I’m sure the friendly salesman will cooperate. Oh, and lest you think we females in the family have a habit of ganging up on the only male in the house, we never use force. Just, you know, our own brand of persuasion. hehehe
Books make the best companion anywhere and everywhere!
Oh, true! No moment is boring or lonely when you have books.
naku, ganyang ganyan style ng mister ko pag di niya feel bayaran ang pinagdadadampot ko. pero pag feel naman nya at naiinip lang, lalabas yan at magpapatawag na lang sa cellphone pag bayaran na. ok na rin, we can’t have our way all the time =)
Yah, having our way half the time is okay na rin. hahahaha
Ms. Connie, maybe next time, Speedy would think of calling the bookstore and asking when the salesman’s day off is. And then he would schedule the trip on that day. teehee.
HAHAHAHA I wouldn’t be surprised!
that was one unique/rare book salesman you had there.
i love books too and buying/collecting them. kung mapera nga lang ako e i would love them in hardbound editions pa. he he. my most recent purchases (from jarir bookstore, which is akin to our national bookstore) include the martha stewart encyclopedia of crafts and junot diaz’ the brief wondrous life of oscar wao (which i have yet to read).
bookstores na kagaya ng a different bookstore and fully booked are what we miss hereabouts.
“…we have this idea of having so many books at home that the house would look like a bookstore…”
me too! i’d love to have a living room with wall to wall bookshelves.
Robin, re hardbound editions. Haaayyy, me too. “Oscar Wao” is a very nice read. Sentimental, inspiring, deep without being preachy.
Karen, re “wall to wall bookshelves”. Now that is my idea of wall treatment. Mismo!
It’s great to have a local Barnes and Noble bookstore with
a Starbucks coffee shop inside it,complete with comfortable,cushioned chairs.I can spend 3 hrs on a lazy afternoon reading magazines and browsing around.
Speedy is clever.Pa-simp-le pa s’ya.I don’t blame him!!
Same setup in Powerbooks at SM Megamall. Dome Coffee inside the bookstore. Hay, heaven. hehehe
How I wish more bookstores, other than National Bookstore, would open shop in Cavite, then we from down south wouldn’t have to travel that far just to get a richer selection of titles.
Jhay,
I recommend the bookstore located at the 2nd floor of Star Mall-Las Pinas. Sorry, I forgot the name.
When asked why I wouldn’t want to retire in the Phils.,I always respond “Walang Barnes & Noble sa Cavite,eh”.
It’s good to know that there is Powerbooks.Wow!!
Jhay and EmyM, I think that’s true of most suburban areas. We only have National Bookstore here in Antipolo and there aren’t even many books there — mostly school and office supplies.
I’m also a book lover,currently collecting grace chapel inn series and other inspirational and fiction books. I prefer BOOKSALE above all, it sells affordable secondhand books from abroad some were still in good condition and looks brand new. Those who were in a budget and yet can’t resist on buying books I highly recommend it,it’s located in all SM malls I think you can search their website for complete info.
Well the bookstore I go to buy affordable books is Chapters, Books and Pages. (I think that’s the name of the store, LOL! I am not very familiar with that store anymore, coz I don’t want to buy more books yet, since I’m struggling to read all the books I’ve purchased.)Another good bookstore is OMFLit, I don’t know if anyone’s familiar with that bookstore, since their store in Metro Manila can only be found in Boni, Mandaluyong. It sells inspirational books and it is just like powerbooks, it has a cosy feel to its environment.
I’ve got a mini library in my room but our house has its own library so I’m like saying to myself, I need to read those books first before I buy any more books. LOL! But every time I go to malls I just can’t stop myself from going to a bookstore, even if it is just looking for new books that’s out in the market.
Re “I need to read those books first before I buy any more books”
I know the feeling hahahaha