I like to think myself as a person who practices Don't judge a book by its cover down to the bone. But, like I say, it is what I think. Doing it is another story. Not easy, I am telling you.
The other day, I was walking my bike down Washington Street in when my internal booklust radar alerted me that I was a few feet away from West Street where Brattle Book Store is located. As any booklust, bookworms, booklovers, bookwhores, booksluts or any fancy names they like to refer themselves to normally do, take a turn and head to the books!!!
After I locked bike at the nearest coral I could find, I lengthened my steps toward the bookshelves
outside the store first. It is the best place to get the cheapest book with only $1.00. Certain books will get downgraded within two weeks from $5:00 cases down to $3:00. And finally down to $1:00 case. time.
There were a few times (hmmm...actually many times) I got duped by my penchant to fall for the bookcovers. This time it happened again. I pulled out a softcover book from a $3:00 bookcase. As soon as I held the book in my hand I already had the feeling that the book would be mine. I gently slide my hand over the cover. Looked at magnificent pictures of the fish on the cover. With the fish alone on the cover the book already fetched 80% selling power. Pictures of fish, frogs, mushrooms, mermaids and seashells on the book cover have always hypnotized me.
I turned on the back page to read the blurb of the book. Aahhhh... characters seeking their palce in the world.
I was right about the book. It was enjoyable reading. Surprises and mystery that kept me turning back the pages trying to put things together. Nikolski held its power over me like some books I had read in the past. I found myself slowing the pace I got the last two chapters. I did not want to finish the book. I wanted to find out who was Joyce's mother? Did Noah, Joyce and the bookstore owner ever learned that they are distantly related?
Half way of the book, it struck me the pictures of fish on the cover was also about three misfits characters who wondered long enough and finally ended in the same city were 'fishing' their identity and place in the world. No wonder I fell in love with the story.
Comments