The Pink Book Sale

We have a book sale here which is held every second Friday of the month in a shopping mall.  It is called ‘The Pink Book Sale’ and I try to attend it as much as I can, as early as possible. This is one place where I can spend money without a speck of guilt because the proceedings go to Breast cancer awareness and treatment for those who cannot afford.

I think book sales are amazing. It is like a treasure hunt. If you got sharp eyes and mind with quick hands and reflexes, you get away at the end with so many wonderful books that you consider the body ache and tired feet blissful. Not to mention the price, that is slashed to one tenth of the original prices, which makes the effort worthwhile. I got Hemingway, Coetzee, Gibran, Murakami McCourt and others in just under 90 bucks! Getting the Murakami was a bit of a tussle between the newly red haired me and the giant Irish redhead woman. It was like they show on tv shows. One book and two women fighting over it, a good humored fight though. They had a book of DH Lawrence but I am waiting for the price to go even more down (I know that no one will buy it for sure with the condition of the cover). Next sale will be the right time to snatch it.

Among those hundreds of book there was this one thin, sleek looking book in glamorous black shiny cover, standing out, calling my name. I thought it was some book on design and picked it up. When I saw the title, I had a big laugh. It was ‘Art of Seduction’ by some guy writer whose snapshot looked like that of someone caught in middle of swooning, frozen forever in that expression of 'come hither' look and an almost pout! Almost with a look of a desperation.

'Jesus, man with a pout!’was my first thought. But I bought it for the fun it and it was so cheap! Been through half of it already and it’s so informative! I never really imagined people had ways of thinking as mentioned in the book but when I come to think of my interaction with the opposite sex, everything matches! Well almost everything... Their blowing hot and cold, their acting mysterious, their giving out mixed signals... I was howling with aching belly and lungs with realization of all this little games! Now I have a tool to understand the male psychology! I am empowered! Hence, it proves again, ' Never judge a book by it's cover' or the snapshot of the writer on the cover..

There is also another reason for which I love book sales, leaving the prices and the rush of ‘treasure hunt’. Each book has two stories to tell: one that is written by the author and the other of the reader/ readers. The dog eared book that has been handed down and around families and friends, the books in almost perfect condition which was given as gift and you wonder why would you ever let it go. Personally I am someone who can keep even the wrappers of chocolates and presents. I am sentimental, emotional, very much.

I found a handmade greeting in one of the books. It is lovely, a family history.  The small piece of paper holds so much of a story in it. Though I myself do not write on my books, I love discovering messages, quotes and even the words underlined amongst the pages. It is always heart touching to come across small bits of personal history of unknown people accidently.

Don’t you think so?

- The Warrior Princess