The Malaysian Insider

OCT 18 – Most people probably have this idea that bookworms are generally a nerdy and quiet bunch. After all, how noisy or boisterous an activity can reading be?

While it is true that reading is best enjoyed in solitude and in a relatively serene environment, the buying of books can be quite the opposite. Last week, my colleague asked me if I had been to the Penguin warehouse sale.

I replied, “I’m not allowed.”

He asked, “By whom?”

And I said, “By myself. I just have too many unread books and I have been very indulgent ... not even waiting for sales to buy whatever catches my fancy in the last few months.”

We book addicts recognise each other and he said he knew exactly what I meant. But the very last day of the sale, he had succumbed and gone along with some friends. The result? Thirty-four books. Yes, you read right – 34!

You might think that is excessive but the truth is, one gets sucked in. As he described it, he was tempted by re-issues of classics -- they have such great new covers -- which were going for really cheap ... and books he thought he might read another time but since they are on sale now, why not get them?

But the incident he recounted which had me laughing out loud was the one where he found a beautiful edition of Alain de Botton’s “The Architecture of Happiness” and his friend also wanted a copy ... but there were none left.

So the friend offered to trade a copy of Daniyal Mueenuddin “In Other Rooms, Other Pleasures” for the de Botton ... but my colleague already had a copy of Mueenuddin so it was a no go! Who knew that the purchasing of books could be so full of dramatics?

This reminded me of the time I used to help out in a friend’s bookshop. Skoob’s was full of all sorts of gems. Each time a new shipment arrived from London, all of us “working” at the bookshop would volunteer to help price books. The motive, of course, was completely selfish; we wanted first dibs of authors we were “collecting.”

One time, Gerry (who actually worked at the shop) and I fought over a new hardcover copy of a Carl Hiaasen novel. We were literally trying to prise the book away from each other.

Until I resorted to something rather underhanded: I licked the cover of the book! Gerry was so shocked she dropped it immediately and the book was mine. Am I ashamed of what I did? Not at all. I got the book, didn’t I?

Mind you, we are not talking about first editions here or copies of rare books. If we were patient, we’d probably be able to get another copy of “The Architecture of Happiness” or the latest Carl Hiaasen somewhere else ... but no, it was the thrill of the now that motivated us.

Maybe that is why I do not allow myself to go to book sales anymore? These days, I try to buy a book I know I will read soon. I do not buy it so I can have everything the author has written ... or so I can read him/her later.

Which reminds me, I think I will look for a copy of Mueenuddin the next time I go to Kinokuniya. His short stories are highly recommended and really, I don’t want to have to trade anybody for a copy.

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