Books

National Bookstore Paseo opened about 2 weeks ago and I never really had the chance to stop by. With all the projects lined up, I never really had the time to just sit back and read a good book. The last novel I read was “Blood of Angels” by Reed Arvin and I’m still in page 39 (hehe). When I have nothing to do it would usually take just 5-6 hours for me to finish a 400-page hardbound.

Yesterday, with Paeng and Deanne, I devoured over the books. I haven’t done this in ages! I miss the smell of book paper! I miss flipping through the first few pages! I miss inspecting every aisle looking for the classics, the banned, a new author of a different race, a new book by Paulo Coelho or Haruki Murakami, or a new Filipino author.

There’s something about the experience of being on the bookstore than browsing Amazon.com. I guess it’s the physical presence of the books that move me. When I grab a book from the shelf and read the synopsis at the back, there are no pesky pop ups. I am not bombarded with critics’ reviews, readers’ ratings or information about other books of the same genre. I know I chose a book not because I’m cajoled by the ads, nor influenced by the readers’ comments. I chose the book because of what I felt when I held it and when read through the first pages.

I cannot imagine a time when bookstores will be closed down and books will only be available online. The experience of gong through the aisles, smelling the book paper, holding it and feeling the hardbound or paperback is something I would not trade for the instant gratification/ information- on- a -click that online bookstores offer. (I’m relieved that in our country, online bookstores are not popular. National and Powerbooks do have websites and sell books online but it doesn’t have the full catalog)

Reading and finishing it is just part of the real experience with a book.