Of Books and Bookstores, Used and Old

So I had this great idea for a blog post about books today...

And then my mother had to go and blog books first.

But I'm a free spirit. So I'm going to go with my idea anyway. That's what free spirits do.

Here is a tale of two bookstores.

The other day I went into Chapters to drop off a resume. I figured, I like books. I can work at Chapters, wear the silly little uniform, weather the Christmas shopping storm...make a little money.
If you've ever been there, which you probably have, you know that Chapters is large. And its a chain company. And its affiliated with Starbucks. What was I thinking...

The lady at the desk peered over her glasses at me when I asked to speak with the manager, and crisply told me that "we don't accept resumes here." She told me to go online and apply there. Since I'd already checked out their site and hadn't seen anything about applying online, I asked, "at Chapters.ca?", and she answered peevishly, "yes, go to our website."
Bad customer service reeeeally turns me off. You have no idea.
I didn't bother going online to look.
That's just the way I am.

I went into Second Glance Used Books today.
On a mission.
Not to drop off a resume, but to find a rather obscure book that I have wanted for a very long time.

There is something about used bookstores that are so much more lovable than new ones, I think. They are so inviting. Its not like when you walk into a new bookstore and everything is displayed perfectly, and arranged just so. You don't feel slightly awed, scared to touch anything for fear of bending a corner, or tearing a page. It is the difference between entering an immaculate show house, and the home of an old friend.

Second glance had a box of freebies at the door, and as I entered, I was pleased to see it was filled to bursting with all kinds of books...books stacked on the floor, piled on shelves, stuffed in boxes...every book imaginable. Mystery, Horror, Romance, Children's, Fantasy, Self-Help, Plays, Poetry...on and on.

I couldn't help but grin as I made my way through the maze of books and shelves, occasionally tugging one book out from under a pile, like a game of Jenga, or finding an interesting title wedged between two larger books.

There were a couple of friends gathered in the back on couches, hanging out, and there were a few wanders who had just come to browse. Then there was me, trying to find that elusive novel.

I was sidetracked for a while by a pile of retro-looking Tolkien books. Then by an old book of poetry. Finally I found my way into the children's section, and spied a box of Anne of Green Gables books. Aha!

There were old cloth-bound versions of "The Golden Road", and newer shiny editions of the Anne series, with pictures from the movies. And lots and lots of the typical paperbacks by Seal Books publishing.

I trailed my finger down the titles frantically. Was this all there was? Would I never find my book?

Then there it was. Right there, amidst a sea of "Anne of Avonlea"s...

A Tangled Web
By L.M. Montgomery

I snatched it up, as though some stranger would nab it before I got to the till. It was $2.

There were a total of 8 books stuffed under my arm when I unloaded them onto the counter with a beaming smile. I happily handed over the $30 it cost me. One was like new, and the others were old enough to be collectors items, or so I'd like to think.

I really can't help myself when it comes to used bookstores. They are just so awesome.

The girls at the counter were nice and helpful, and I'm definitely going back...with a resume.