I was thinking of buying a decent brand of loose face powder after work today, in an effort to cover up somehow the havoc that sleep deprivation has wrought on my poor face. I got sidetracked, though, thanks to the gloomy Helen-induced weather.
It’s been pretty cold and overcast outside these past few days — sort of like pre-Christmas, only a lot gloomier. There’s something about the current weather that reminds me of the characters in Murakami’s Sputnik Sweetheart, their loneliness and isolation apparent even in the midst of the maddening crowd.
Like empty shells hurtling through space, the only thing that matters is the brief connection between satellites; the moment when individuals collide. Brief and fleeting, we find ourselves floating away again. Nothing is permanent. At the end of the day, we all go home and find solace in our cold, hard selves.
So I sat there, thinking of Sumire, Miu and “K”.
I forgot all about the face powder and started salivating over books.
I’d read Sputnik Sweetheart once, lent by my cousin who still has my Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman. I didn’t have my own copy, though, and it sort of saddened me. I resolved, therefore, to go straight to a bookstore after work so I can buy my own.
I checked out Glorietta’s Fully Booked and immediately found Sputnik Sweetheart.
Right beside it, unfortunately, were a host of other books by Murakami, not to mention tons of other interesting tomes.
There’s something about bookstores that never fails to turn me on.
I swear, you can me leave in a book store for an entire day and I won’t complain. I’ll probably come out grinning and unbelievably happy. Broke, yes, but happy.
In nearly every city I’ve visited, I never fail to find a bookstore I can visit. Bookstores in Beijing, in particular, made me want to kiss the ground and weep. Imagine the biggest bookstore in the Philippines possible, then multiply it by three. It’s that big.
So there I was, standing like an idiot in that aisle. I couldn’t let go of Sputnik Sweetheart, but I yearned for other books, too, like The Elephant Vanishes and After Dark. I also saw a copy of Norwegian Wood, which I’ve read but currently don’t own. You know the drill.
There were tons of other books that caught my eye, too. I saw a rather interesting title: History for the Pessimist. Sounds like me. I also saw 1434, the sequel to Gavin Menzies’ controversial 1421: this one spoke of China’s influence in the European Renaissance. A set of books on my beloved moptops sent me to near tears, though. More than 2000 bucks for a set of four books, but that’s totally worth it right? After all, you get four books that focus solely on The Beatles. It’s like my One Ring, darling.
I did see a number of “best-sellers”, too — Fully Booked’s recommendations for the uninitiated. Among the so-called “choice picks” were the Shoppaholic books, Dan Brown and *gasp* Jostein Gaardner’s Sophie’s World. Seriously now, people are still reading that piece of pretentious crap?
There are two kinds of people who bother to tote that book around: hard core philosophy geeks who have nothing better to do (and need light reading after dealing with tons of Nietzsche and Derrida); and people who want to appear intelligent. It’s not an interesting read. Masquerading as some sort of fantasy/child’s tale-ish tome, Sophie’s World is an unimaginative run-through of every philosophical school known to man.
To be blunt about it, it’s boring.
Back in college, I had this less-than-sterling classmate who lugged her copy of this book around but barely read it. One of my friends (who majored in Philosophy) cattily remarked, “naiintindihan naman kaya nya yan?” Erm, honestly, I doubt it.
Enough with pretentious twits and their cheap gimmicks then.
So I stood their like some sort of transfixed moron for a good ten minutes, agonizing over my purchase. It would’ve been easier if I could buy what I really wanted, which was pretty much everything. Unfortunately, I’m no freaking billionaire and books are starting to cost a fortune. I had to make a choice.
Grudgingly (and with a consoling promise to purchase my next book after I finish this one), I decided to buy just one book for now: Murakami’s The Elephant Vanishes.
I already have a long list of books to read at home. I have The Golden Compass (which bores me), and my friend Joel lent me the beautiful Unbearable Lightness of Being, which I really should have read years ago except I spent all my time reading Mario Puzo novels. I’ve got wuxia novels to deal with, too.
But I will be back, and those books will be mine. I’ll get horrible eyesight, end up with even less sleep and drive myself broke, but its fine.
I love this book-induced high.
July 18th, 2008 at 7:13 am
I love bookstores too. I can stay there for hours and not be bored.
I didn’t like Sophie’s World either, although I did like Gaardner’s other works, which for some reason where easier to read and understand for me.
It strikes me funny that there’s a lot of people who say, “Oh, I’ve read that and it’s…” just because the book is on the bestseller’s list or recommended by Oprah. Often, I pay no attention to the bestseller’s list. I’m a bit leery when something comes recommended by the public, knowing that their taste may not be the same as mine. I prefer discovering for myself what is and what is not a good read… or, I take a person who’s opinion I value and try out something s/he suggests.
July 18th, 2008 at 8:52 am
wow, i envy the both of you. bookstores are not really my thing, besides buying school supplies, comics and magazines… maybe i was not exposed to this type of media (books) when i was growing up… but maybe i can start now (it’s not to late, right?)…
July 18th, 2008 at 9:08 am
@potsquared - yep, I don’t think it’s too late.
I think most mentality of Pinoys is [bookstores = National = school], hence the not-so-fond of reading and browsing bookstore thing. Try going to bookstores that do not have school supplies (Fully Booked or Powerbooks) and you’ll find it more enjoyable.
I really wish the Philippines had a better public library system.
July 18th, 2008 at 9:54 am
thanks kat, maybe i will do that (i sure hope i will not be pulled in the graphic novel section..)
July 19th, 2008 at 9:08 am
I’m very found of books, however I have a very short attention span. 10 pages and my mind drift somewhere, but I am gifted with Homer’s persistence so I never tire of trying (the other Homer not the philosopher) so it all works out. I like to be in-tune with conventional wisdom so the bestseller list is pretty much my guide. That is unless there is a particular subject I am interested in then I do a bit of digging before I commit to a book. If you haven’t heard of GoodReads.com its a great web service for book lovers.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I got halfway through ‘Sophie’s World’ and gave up when I realized any book that puts me to sleep can’t be that good, no matter what the blurbs say.
The last two books I bought: essays on Bob Dylan, and a collection of short stories called ‘The Worst Years of Your Life’. I haven’t finished both. I need to get through my backlog before I make any new purchases.
I’m also worried about my decreasing attention span. I made a promise to read at least one book a week; I’m lucky if I manage to finish one in a month.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
@kat - yeh Fully Booked kicks ass
And yes, the best-seller list can be trite. You have to focus on what you want, not what other people say you want. Especially if it’s Oprah talking.
@potsquared - never too late man
@marman - As you see I have an issue with best-seller lists
@kris - You remember Annie? She’s the one I’m talking about. And it was Mitch who doubted Annie’s ability to actually finish and make sense of Sophie’s World. I have so much to read, my God. I need like 72-hour days.
July 19th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
[...] Among the so-called “choice picks” were the Shoppaholic books, Dan Brown and *gasp* Jostein Gaardner’s Sophie’s World…. Source: Bibliorgasmic [...]
July 19th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
i love bookstores too! i never fail to visit a bookstore every time im in a mall. pero sobrang mahal na nga talaga ng books ngayon, kalungkot.
July 19th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
love bookstores too. Time goes into hyperdrive when im in one. Fully book and Powerbook are the best bookstores for me,but it drains you financially. i enjoy looking in “booksale” and “books for less” as well, you just have to scavenge really hard and know what you like.
i also have a slight aversion to all books that are in the best-sellers list. i’ve never read an oprah-ed book in my life. i did buy white oleander(hardbound and new-looking) for 250, but only because i liked the movie. haven’t read it though
July 20th, 2008 at 8:48 am
@baboyita - ok lang. sabi nga ng teacher ko, kung luho din lang, libro na wag na kung ano-anong wala namang silbi
@selina - i’ve never gone for the bestsellers, because I think they’re often self-help books or trite “moral of the story” types. although of course sometimes there are genuinely good ones there, too.
July 20th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
pretty much the same reason. i like Paolo coelho though, would that be considered “moral of the story” type?
July 20th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
pretty much the same reason.
would you consider Paolo Coelho a “moral of the story” type?
July 20th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
paolo coelho? i haven’t read him but I have good reason to think he isn’t entirely in the tuesdays with morrie category, so he’s probably okay.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:52 am
me fully booked sa glorietta? san dun?!?! ang powerbooks kasi sa glo ngayon ang liit na lang e. sa greenbelt naman walang maupuan. hahaha.. suggestion ko sau punta ka sa fully booked high street di ba baboyita? dun ka magstay ng buong araw. panalo! hahaha! murakami fan ka rin pala? pahiram naman ako nun kasi mahal na nga ang mga libro ngayon e. hahaha!
July 21st, 2008 at 10:53 am
eto naman di mo alam nagbabasa akong murakami? yung bookstore dun sa kanto, yung sa nakita mo ko, dun yun. fully booked yun pero iba yung name. di ko maexplain yun lugar lam mo naman tanga ko eh. basta yung tapat nun yung nagbebenta ng music cds
July 21st, 2008 at 5:04 pm
gets ko na wag na explain baka manosebleed. hahaha! bibliarch ang ibig mu sabihin. akalain mong fully booked pala un. nyways, d ko alam na nagbabasa ka ng murakami. ngayon lang. kaya sana makahiram ako sa yo. wala akong book allowance dito e. hahaha! sayo rin ako dapat hihiram ng anne rice di ba? o nananaginip na naman ako? hehehe
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:57 am
punta ka dito sa office
oo ata, pero nawawala yung anne rice ko. hmm.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:37 am
PS:
“Like empty shells hurtling through space, the only thing that matters is the brief connection between satellites; the moment when individuals collide. Brief and fleeting, we find ourselves floating away again. Nothing is permanent. At the end of the day, we all go home and find solace in our cold, hard selves.”
Can I quote you on this? This is why I love Murakami.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:50 am
@kris - suuure