The Bookstore of the Universe
Little satisfies me more than holding a bound book, a pleasure since I borrowed from the Children's Room of my local Carnegie-endowed public library, a ten-minute walk from home. I can still smell the bouquet of books, floor wax, and mineral water that flowed from the terrazzo bubbler.
The Library was deeply local. Until the late '60s, the Hemingway short stories known as "the Nick Adams stories" which were set in the area and contained unflattering characterizations of not-hard-to-guess residents, were absent from its shelves. The librarian called my mother when I was in high school and wanted to check out John O'Hara's "Butterfield8", which was kept on the lone "Adults Only" shelf. (Mom said, "Give her any book she wants." Mrs. McCune said, "But she goes to a Catholic school!" Mom repeated her request.)
Bookstores are a favourite haunt, but with the resurgence of my thrift-store habit when our grandson was born, I started to pick up donated children's books, and found a bonus for myself: hardcovers or quality paperbacks priced below a café au lait.
The Universe gave me Madeleine Thien's haunting "Do Not Say We Have Nothing"; Elena Ferrante's "Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay", and Julian Barnes' "Nothing to Be Frightened Of". I like to find clues left by the past owners; one of my purchases was inscribed "To James, With All the Love and Kisses".
I encouraged Le Duc, who has a ferocious book-buying habit, to try; on one trip, he scored a Frank Zappa biography and "The Road".
Bookstores are a favourite haunt, but with the resurgence of my thrift-store habit when our grandson was born, I started to pick up donated children's books, and found a bonus for myself: hardcovers or quality paperbacks priced below a café au lait.
I especially enjoy the role of chance. Since March 2020, "chance" carries an ominous overtone, but not all fates are furies. I stand in front of shelves and wish, "Give me a good read, O Goddess of the Written Word."
The Universe gave me Madeleine Thien's haunting "Do Not Say We Have Nothing"; Elena Ferrante's "Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay", and Julian Barnes' "Nothing to Be Frightened Of". I like to find clues left by the past owners; one of my purchases was inscribed "To James, With All the Love and Kisses".
I encouraged Le Duc, who has a ferocious book-buying habit, to try; on one trip, he scored a Frank Zappa biography and "The Road".
There are genres I don't read (romance, sci-fi, military history) but every time, I spot classics or no-longer-current novels for three dollars. Used bookstores are great too, but I especially like the mission of non-profit thrifts who operate extensive job-training programs.
The Universe has contracted in another thrift-store area: the level of casual clothes donated has taken a dive: good sweaters, tops and athletic wear. The thrift is where acrylic spends eternity.
I'm betting that women aren't donating good clothes because there's hardly anywhere to go, so wear what they have. The as-new quality (or if super-lucky designer) sportswear that made thrifting a treasure hunt now stays in their closets.
The Thrift Universe still shimmers beneficently for dressier business clothes. Recently, I spotted drop-dead blazers: an impeccable ecru Stella McCartney, a leopard-print Lafayette148, for only $12 each. But I don't need more jackets and it seems few women do. When the fashion-show proxy known as "the office" returns, will those be desirable again?
And when bins are stuffed with masks because we don't need them anymore, will that be a happy day!
Comments
As the nights draw still further in, what joy to lose oneself in the madness and machinations of the 'Daily Beast' and Boot's progress as an innocent abroad.
Seeing it has made me want to re-read it! We have a wonderful Oxfam book shop nearby; perhaps I should take the serendipity plunge once it reopens after our current lockdown.
Jane in London
Laura H: Used bookstores are good too and often the staff make recommendations, and there is the book sale at U of T (which I. realize might be suspended now) and thrifts with book sections not that far away if you are so inclined.
royleen: Yay, Mom! The librarians who acted as censors in my small town seemed to think it was a professional duty.
Anon@ 6:00 p.m. Oh no, that sounds awful and what a way to discourage donations! Remaindered books are an excellent strategy, thanks for the idea. Thanks for your comment but please sign it with your nom de plume even if you choose the Anonymous setting.
Jane in London: Somehow Waugh fits these crazy times.
annie: I love this story, and still have great affection for libraries. I mourn the quality of the early 20th century public libraries with their brass and polish. I liked the relaxed modern libraries where we took our children, but the grandeur of a reading room with those beautiful wooden poles that held newspapers...! There is nothing like an old public library.
Susan: What a sweet memory, and of the days when leaving a small child in a library was normal and accepted by all. Ours was near a drug store with a real soda fountain, remember those? My sister would sometimes take me there after the library closed. One of her girlfriends worked there and if we bought two Brown Cows, we somehow were charged only for one.
Wizelliott: Snipp Snapp Sunurr: What a buried trove of joy you unearthed with those words. Those Classical Revival Carnegie Libraries were architecturally consistent and much statelier than the later styles. Often, a gem in a small town.
Sam: And an ambitious book for a young reader.
Jane in London: Waugh feels appropriate for these crazy times. The thrift a short walk from my apartment is lavishly stocked and it's fun to see all kinds of people browsing. Also a fantastic source for cook books.
As far as the Thrifts, I haven't seen decent clothing in them in a long time and I love to thrift! My theory is people are living in fast fashion and turning it over just as fast and that's what we are finding in the big Goodwills and Sallie Maes. My best option is a small church affiliated shop only open two days a week in a wealthy neighborhood. Seems that as the older parishioners pass on, this is where their closets are laid to rest and you can still get a great cashmere sweater or coat. Being one who will take apart a garment made of a fine textile, I love these finds and this place still gives me opportunities. For the most part, I have given up on finding anything worth wearing or remaking in the bigger thrift stores. There is just no quality any more, just re-used fast fashion.
I've been giving 80% of my extra bookiage to the New Orleans Friends of the Library and 20% as trade-in to the wonderful Blue Cypress Books of New Orleans. My daughter is using the credit to build her own library. It's hard for me to give away books, but I like seeing them go to a great organization that provides books to schools and to help keep a small biz going.
Years ago, I found the book Embers at the thrift. I had never heard of it. It is wonderful and became my son's favorite book. Totally fortuitous. READ IT!
Also fortuitous--though creepy. I bought a literary theory book at the thrift. Inside was an email from a teacher (name and school address) to a former student. She had evidently asked him for grad school recommendations and said "I had a crush on you." Now she should not have done that (students do a lot of dumb things--it's ok). His 2 page single-spaced response began with some good professional advice and went into descriptions of the skin peeking out of the top of her jeans and so on into R-rated territory. It was obviously a practiced response. EWWW. You know TOM didn't write this but he would say HI!
Beth: Well, gone now as we'd expect but I will keep my eye out for someone wearing it ;) On the same trip I also spotted a blush pink ça va de soie cashmere cardi, size small (and cropped) that was only missing its sole button. Easy fix.
E. (Tom): I always cite you as my inspiration to go back to the thrifting I did in my 20s to early 30s. Thank you for the book recommendation. So you finally found a new home for your books! As for the prof/student exchange, double EWWW. And do young women •naively• write that? Not to say he should have responded even if she intended to see where her admission would lead. This sounds like a short story idea, imagine what Joyce Carol Oates would do with it.