Paperback Alley

Guess who is back again! Its been a looong time since I made an update here and yesterday I felt this desperate need to pour out my feelings. I was coming back from a visit to the bank and was stuck midway with the next bus scheduled a good half an hour away. I was in Old Town Goleta - there are many old shops, eateries and restaurants here. I was strolling mindlessly when I saw this store named "Paperback Alley" and a lot of old books on display. The store pulled me to it like a magnet! I went inside and found myself browsing through an amazing collection of second hand paperbacks! I didn't know such things existed here- what with Borders/Barnes'n'nobles everywhere...it took me back to the numerous times I visited Flora Fountain in Bombay to buy second hand books from the roadside- something I used to do atleast once a year. I was so completely mesmerized by the store that I spent a whole hour there (missing two buses in the process) and staring in awe at all the books like a villager who stares at tall buildings. Let me get things straight - this store is a tiny store, with probably one-tenth of the number of books available in any of those big chains. But the atmosphere was totally different - somehow, old books give you this feeling of awe and inspiration - you wanna read them all!

I always read a lot, but since I have been stuck with my laptop, my reading habit has gradually been decreasing over the years. Two of my friends have even accused me of having given up books all together(how could they?!). So yesterday I decided, The show must go on! I cannot and will not give up books, and however hectic my life may be I shall always find time to curl up in a cosy corner and read a book!

So, anyway, I bought 3 books yesterday - all by authors I haven't read yet. I phoned up a friend (one of the two that I referred to above) to ask for suggestions. I now have on my table Carl Sagan's Contact, Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Terry Pratchett's The Color of Magic. I have started reading "Contact" now as I saw the movie a long time back and I love comparing movies to books that they are based on (and bitching about how bad the rendition is)

So well, I am planning to visit the store once every month, starting yesterday! Its upto you guys (my readers, does anyone read this blog) to ensure that I do not abandon my books! Expect a review of what I read soon!