I spent my birthday at the bookstore and this is what I got.
In the 90s, our library didn't carry the chaptered English books I wanted to read and purchasing books can be costly.
There was, however, a little store called "Rent A Book" which is what it was: you can rent the books. It was marginally cheaper I suppose because my dad would take me there every Saturday and as a voracious reader, I would finish all 10 books by Thursday. As a kid, he had taught himself English from Beatles lyrics and whatever scarce books he could find. So, he loved this habit of mine because they were English books and to him it was an achievement of sorts.
When my dad passed during pre-vaccine Covid, I found out about it while I was in the middle of reading Emily Henry's Beach Read. The book was meant to be a lockdown distraction because the cover was cute. It was actually not cute. I ended up grieving along with the main character who had also lost her dad. The dynamic of the relationship was different, the MC was finding out secrets about her dad that made her realise she didn't know him at all. However, I had always known my dad and how he was always proud of me even at my silliest times. But what’s special about reading is finding the echo of your own grief in someone else’s story, even when the details are nothing alike, even when it’s fictional.
My dad had once gifted me an Enid Blyton book and signed it with a message that translates to "Always Love Reading".
30 years later, I still have that book and I do still love reading. I have lived through so many lives and adventures with these books.
I also got lucky with a husband who loves books as well but I do read more than him. Much like my dad, he understands and has upgraded my Kindles twice as gifts. Last year, he pulled the smoothest birthday prank to surprise me with a Kindle Colorsoft. I use it every day.
The "Rent A Book" place is gone(probably because of copyright issues) and the libraries are still lacking books. As much as ebooks are relatively cheaper, especially during deals, I still love reading physical books and it is an experience on it's own. My ratio of ebooks and books is generally 60:40.
So for my most recent birthday weekend, I visited two Kinokuniya outlets for hours just to browse the books and move between shelves. That alone is satisfying in a way a digital catalogue could never. Here's the thing: online browsing is easy but they're still shaped by algorithms or certain marketing allocations. If you really want to have a diverse reading log, browse the bookstore aisle and just let yourself wander. You will find gems or pick up a book you wouldn't even look twice at in a Bookbub newsletter.
With my adult money, these are the books I got for myself:
Never Any End To Paris by Enrique Vila-Matas
I was intrigued by the concept of it being told like a lecture and the narcissistic main character vibe of him thinking he looks like Hemingway. I have started reading this book and it made me laugh out loud at a cafe.
I love you don't die by Jade Song
The cover is beautiful. It's about a girl who is obsessed with death and finds herself in a throuple. I am always in for non-monogamous relationships with messy characters.
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
It's described as a romantic comedy with a 35yo Male MC who just broke up. I have had this on my TBR for so long and I always loved a heartbroken story.
All Four by Marinda July
I was sold on the synopsis "The novel follows a 45-year-old perimenopausal woman who, after having an extramarital affair during a road trip" because I am also not far behind from a potential perimenopausal.
Evening and Weekends by Oisin McKenna
I was drawn to the bright pink and orange cover and as it's about multiple characters at once, I do hope the stories are as colourful as the cover.
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
This is about a mother of a bride navigating her daughter's pre-wedding while also dealing with her ex-husband. I don't normally like Family drama but this author has won a Pulitzer before so I am intrigued to try.
Flesh by David Svalakay
This was also on my TBR for a year now since the book was announced by the Booker Prize. I was told this was a male version of My Dark Venessa, which I enjoy the psychological warfare behind it, I am looking forward to dissecting this one.
But it didn't end there.
Today, I also picked up these Indonesian books at a local event. There were translated versions of Indonesian books but I decided to get the original. It had been awhile since I had read anything in Bahasa Indonesia.
Seporsi Mie Ayam Sebelum Mati by Brian Khrisna
About a man having existential reflection and something chicken noodles. This was a blind purchase at best.
Koloni by Patih Kumala
This is the most unique book as it's written from the POV of two queen ants from different colonies fighting for survival.
We also ended up at Kino again at which I lost my husband somewhere between the history aisle and Dua Lipa's biography display. When I found him, he was holding an Ocean Voung book that I had read before but did not own the physical copy. He does not read ebooks so that is how we bagged:
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
This is actually a really beautiful epistolary. It's written in letter form to his mother.
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
I am just intrigued by the supposed non-linear storytelling, which I guess is Ocean Vuong's signature blend.
In conclusion: Yes, these were more books that I planned on buying and I am set up for months. It was, however, a time well spent. I feel like that kid again, walking out with a stack of stories that will change me even in the smallest way.
So be right back, I need to do a quick eenie meenie miney moe to figure out which one to read next.
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Currently Listening: Gold Guns Girls by Metric