I had an appointment this morning in Cherry Creek and I was early. By a full thirty minutes. This never happens. I am early for almost nothing and late for pretty much everything. Although in my defense, I am occasionally on time. Anyway. We’re not talking about me being differently-abled in the timeliness department.
What we’re talking about is what I DID when I was early. I went to the bookstore. This is not just some chain store – not Borders or Barnes & Noble. This is the kind of bookstore that when you walk in, you want to sigh because all of the sudden? You feel peaceful. Three floors of books, books and more books. I could have spent an hour on the stairs alone, because they have books all along the staircase. There are people to help you who love books. There are couches and chairs to sit on because you can’t possibly buy every book you might WANT to buy.
I TRIED to buy every book I might want to buy. At least the ones I could find in only a half an hour. I went in for one specific book (which they were out of) and came out with this book and this book and this book and two other books that I hadn’t intended to buy. Do I regret the purchase? Hell no. Everyone knows I love words and I love books equally as much. That’s where I LEARNED the words. And their context. And most importantly, their spelling.
I wish I could explain how I felt and why I felt that way. Yes, I love books. I love words. But maybe it’s because I’ve spent so much time with books my entire life. I loved going to the library as a kid. My mom used to take me for story time every week, and then as I got older, I begged to go. All the time. I loved the library at my school. I loved that once a year, my dad would come home with a box FULL of books he’d picked out for me at the annual used book sale at the library. He’d cart this huge box up the stairs and you wouldn’t see me for the next few hours as I went through and looked at all of them. I always got books on Christmas Eve, because I was the kid that would wake up at 2 a.m. and couldn’t go back to sleep from the sheer excitement of ohmygodit’sCHRISTMAS!!! And so I’d read until I was allowed to get up at 7. I read on train trips, on plane trips and basically any car trip, whether it was to the grocery store or to Illinois. I would stay in the car and read while my mom shopped. I got in trouble for reading at the table – all the time. I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture.
So that’s how I feel about books. They make me remember all the good things from when I was a kid. They make me learn stuff and think and even cry. They let me escape. Books are friendly and books are comfort. Books are ME.
15 comments:
I too love the books and the bookstore.
I think they may be two-timing us.
Now I want the consumer letters book. And the Lincoln book.
If you watch "The Good Girl" right after you've read Catcher in the Rye, it makes a LOT more sense.
Books. *sigh* I have sooooo many to read, and I just keep getting more and more. And when someone says, "Here, read this, you'll LOVE it" I take it anyway, even if I KNOW I already have WAYYYY too much to read!!! But that's ok, because I love reading pretty much as much as it sounds like you do!! BTW - the box of books your dad used to bring home?? I could ship you a box of some I've finished, if you like!!
i've noticed a correlation between smart people and those who read books. my sister is really really smart...and she reads alot of books. you seem to be the same way. i on the other hand am just starting to enjoy reading. yeah, i know...its a little late.
I probably don't have to tell you, but I love books too. That's part of what makes us word nerds!
If you like that book, you'll love this book too.
Grrr. I totally left you this really long comment the other day about how you should look for a job in Houston but i did it from my blackberry and it didn't post. Yeah yeah - if i read the instructions that might help. Whatever.
I love books too! They are all over the house and Sir H is always asking me to 'get rid of some of them' - can you believe that?
Me too. Books! Swoon.
It would be a sweet gig for you, but I bet they don't get paid jack. It might be worth it, though. Ya know, to work in a nice quiet place where you could read blogs all day.
OMG!!! The Tattered Cover is moving! And the new local is not even that close to where it is now. I'm in shock!
What's going to happen to the 4th Story restaurant?
I am a voracious reader. I absolutely can not go to sleep unless I read. Do I smell a book swap meeting of fellow Denver bloggers in the air? :)
Peace
Oh, to chime in on the librarian thing, there is going to be a librarian shortage so that means opportunity!
Just last week, I wrote a post about being a biblophile. Oh how I love books.
Oh, and I love special bookstores. Especially if they take plastic!
I love Tattered Cover... I knew exactly what you were talking about the minute you started describing it. It's one of the few things I long for in Denver. The hours of getting lost in shelves that are twice as tall as me. The smell of the new pages, not yet crinkled and sticky from my inevitable coffee spill. Favorite section: Armchair travel (I believe it's on the 3rd floor close to the language section) - full of historical novels and travel companions that are more interesting and cultural than simply browsing through the Lonely Planet guides. For kicks: go to the reference section... my Dad's book(s) are there. They were one of the first bookstores to actively stock them. They have readings and signings all the time (and a pretty good e-newsletter with events and recommended reading etc). They also have this Tattered Cover Club thing that donates 5% of your purchase to charity (and it's free-go figure). It's the largest independent bookseller between the Mississippi River and Powell's books in Oregon. And yep, it's moving in June to an old theater they are restoring. 4th Story Restaurant will unfortunately close permanently. If you have time to go there before June... do it... it's one of THE BEST restaurants in the city... and Monday nights are Jazz night. It looks like the new digs will be pretty cool though... but I'll still miss it's Cherry Creek feel. I feel like I'm sounding like an obsessed Tattered Cover weirdo, crazed fan, and potential stalker. But, it's where I go to buy my Harry Potter at the midnight releases. It's where I check out hot intellectual men. It's where I Christmas shop. It's where Mom took us to pick out our birthday and Christmas presents growing up. It's where I stretch my brain. It's where my soul belongs.
I knew there was something I liked about you :-)
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