No Treasure Hunt At Chapters
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Thursday I had lunch with my friend Ian
Bateson at the Vancouver Art Gallery Café. From there we spent over an hour browsing three floors of books at
the big box Chapters. That first floor has fewer books as they compete with all
sort of non-reading matter like Teddy bears, Christmas ornaments and barbecue
tools for the man of your life.
Bateson who is now
becoming a full-fledged artist spent most of his time in the arts books while I
was in the nearby remainders corners. At one time I would have spent at least
$100 in cheap books but now those exciting moments are in my past. I have not
really purchased new books now for about three years except when I want to give
a book as a gift. Not a few minutes ago from writing this I put a hold on
Martin Cruz Smith’s latest Tatiana. Several copies will soon arrive and I will
be notified via email that mine is waiting for me at my Oakridge Branch.
I could not explain to
Bateson the paradox of thinking that books are obsolete while being surrounded
by them at Chapters. But that feeling remains.
Last night (a
Saturday) after reading the Sunday NY Times (the Book Review Magazine and the
section called Sunday Review) that comes crashing at the door at around 9pm I
opened with delight the latest Andrea Camilleri, Treasure Hunt. It is the 16th,
translated into English, Inspector Montalbano. This book was not available at
Chapters (too esoteric for the mass consumption store, perhaps?). Getting it so
soon (delivered to my nearby branch) is very definitely one of the many advantages
of living in Vancouver and in Canada.
Not by coincidence
Rosemary and I watched the tenth in the series Montalbano made by the Italians
to prove that Morse isn’t the only one out there that can feature a police
officer with feelings, intelligence and with reluctance to fire a gun.
The Italians
The Palest Ink
The exquisite melancholy and lethargy of Fiacca
The Italians
The Palest Ink
The exquisite melancholy and lethargy of Fiacca
The Exquisite Lethargy & Melancholy Of Fiacca