No Treasure Hunt At Chapters

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 16^th, 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 Exquisite Lethargy & Melancholy Of Fiacca