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i read nabokov
Nov. 30th, 2006 12:33 amIf no one can tell, I love Nabokov a lot. And now, at BooskActually, I am known as the NabokovKid. Not the NabokovGirl because Karen (the co-owner of BooksActually) is my 'senior' in NabokovLoving.
I loved today, despite the aching feet and the feat that it was for me to walk all over town in painful (fake) Birks.
Although it started off on a bad start (Clare being late for nearly an hour :\), I thoroughly enjoyed myself at BooksActually.
BooksActually? Yeah, that bookstore that I've been pimping for the last half year!
(Side note here: I AM 18 YEARS OLD AS OF NOW!)
Aside from that interruption, I love BooksActually a great deal. Nevermind that it stocks brilliant and sometimes rarely found titles that can't be found in Kinokuniya and Borders, what I appreciate and am thankful for is the service. Buying Joy Ogawa's Obaasan and Nabokov's Cloud Castle Lake is one thing but having the storeowners (Kenny and Karen) smile and greet you and remember who you are is wonderful. You don't get that in large chain bookstores.
It's just like today, I felt that I just had to go down and wish the store a Happy Birthday because of the immense hold it has on me. Even if I've only been there 3 times so far, I feel the need to support it so much that I must buy something, anything. It's like tacit collusion, my own way of saying "I want and need you guys to continue operating BooksActually. I need this bookstore to go to." They provide me with (good) books, a wonderful atmosphere to relax in, great music and I desperately purcahse typewritten poems and handmade notebooks to keep them going.
Today I stepped into the bookstore, adrenaline already rushing because of the white balloons hanging around the entrance, perched on stair-rails. And whoosh! The door opens and lo and behold, the bookstore is full. Brimming with people! Overflowing with human beings! Churning with life! I was shocked for a moment. Stark contrast from the usual quiet and comfortably empty (a person or two speckled the white walls) room. Then I felt really happy. I mean, this isn't my bookstore, and I didn't feel as though my space (what space!) was being invade (like the private bookstore Rachel and I frequent) - I was just thinking "No more 3 books a day! It's going to be a ton of books a day!" Then Kenny waves, I wave back and Clare and I plunge into the depths of Rhodia notebooks, Murakami, Orwell and printed postcards.
At the cashier, my illicit love for Nabokov is finally found out. "Ahhh, so you like Nabokov alot!" he exclaims, looking at my Cloud, Castle, Lake and the Nabokov postcard and stickers I got. Evidently, he also rememberd last time when I let loose my innerNabokov by requesting for Lolita as my favourite book for this photo-exhibition. Kenny presents me with a book he gave to Karen for her birthday. The elusive Nabokov's Butterflies all in its thick, smooth-covered glory in my hands. It was evidently well-read and my heart wept for I found another NabokovLover. I mean, I knew that Karen loved Nabokov - it screamed so on her namecard, it bellowed through the bookstore with its thorough collection of his works, the little stickers, the surprising amount of postcards, notepaper dedicated to him; but Nabokov's Butterflies sealed the deal.
I solemnly swearthat I am up to no good that BooksActually is my new favourite haunt. Aside from extremely expensive books and graphic novels and manga which only and should only be bought from Kinokuniya, exploiting my member's card, I will buy my books from BooksActually. They deserve so.
So guys, if you feel tempted, give me a ring (by that I mean, a message) and I'll see when I can bring you down there to have a look see, and hopefully hook you on. I'm scheduled to drag Mindy down soon, hopefully before hte Rhodia exhibition ends, so that she can share the joy of BooksActually with me and Rachel. Because I'm sure she appreciates the so called 'useless' things such as typewritten poems and Alphabet postcards.
Alas, I didn't get to eat the waffles because of the severely understaffed storeHIRE ME HIRE ME. We were there at about 2pm and the waffles would only arrive at 3pm. D: WAFFLES!! Nevermind, the Les Mistons notebooks (hi, I like gave up my Alice in Wonderland Les Mistons notebook for a Arabian Nights one) made up for the lost waffles.
Departing from the most awesome place in Singapore (okay, maybe I exagerrate a little), Clare and I headed to Orchard to hover around magazines and books at Kinokuniya and then I joined Yen, Meryl and Vince (OMG WITH LONG HAIR AND HOT BOD) at Takashimaya for Yen was looking for a bag and some jewellery.
I miss GMUFC. We had great times back in our heyday. Haha, I make myself sound like I'm 81, instead of 18.
Here's to a good year ahead, and an awesome time with books :D.
As of now, I thank Rachel Koh, Ketty (for wishing me to be the 1st Flying "Indian"), Manda and Wenseng, Doris (who scared me slightly when she called me :D ), Ah boi, AlexPaul, Amesoh, Eileen, Weiling, Ah Pong, Tsu, Gomes and my lovely brother for wishing me a happy birthday. [This list will be updated! Do not fret!]
EDT: I forgot to mention what a dork I am. As we're about to leave, Kenny mentions that we can grab a balloon. So I get all excited and 8D!!! and try and jump for one. I grab the ribbon and go teeter-tottering around the bookstore like a clown because I lost my balance and I turn around sheepishly - one of the co-owners? She was giggling at my dorkiness. XD ANYWAY I HAVE A BALLOON AND YOU ALL DON'T.
I loved today, despite the aching feet and the feat that it was for me to walk all over town in painful (fake) Birks.
Although it started off on a bad start (Clare being late for nearly an hour :\), I thoroughly enjoyed myself at BooksActually.
BooksActually? Yeah, that bookstore that I've been pimping for the last half year!
(Side note here: I AM 18 YEARS OLD AS OF NOW!)
Aside from that interruption, I love BooksActually a great deal. Nevermind that it stocks brilliant and sometimes rarely found titles that can't be found in Kinokuniya and Borders, what I appreciate and am thankful for is the service. Buying Joy Ogawa's Obaasan and Nabokov's Cloud Castle Lake is one thing but having the storeowners (Kenny and Karen) smile and greet you and remember who you are is wonderful. You don't get that in large chain bookstores.
It's just like today, I felt that I just had to go down and wish the store a Happy Birthday because of the immense hold it has on me. Even if I've only been there 3 times so far, I feel the need to support it so much that I must buy something, anything. It's like tacit collusion, my own way of saying "I want and need you guys to continue operating BooksActually. I need this bookstore to go to." They provide me with (good) books, a wonderful atmosphere to relax in, great music and I desperately purcahse typewritten poems and handmade notebooks to keep them going.
Today I stepped into the bookstore, adrenaline already rushing because of the white balloons hanging around the entrance, perched on stair-rails. And whoosh! The door opens and lo and behold, the bookstore is full. Brimming with people! Overflowing with human beings! Churning with life! I was shocked for a moment. Stark contrast from the usual quiet and comfortably empty (a person or two speckled the white walls) room. Then I felt really happy. I mean, this isn't my bookstore, and I didn't feel as though my space (what space!) was being invade (like the private bookstore Rachel and I frequent) - I was just thinking "No more 3 books a day! It's going to be a ton of books a day!" Then Kenny waves, I wave back and Clare and I plunge into the depths of Rhodia notebooks, Murakami, Orwell and printed postcards.
At the cashier, my illicit love for Nabokov is finally found out. "Ahhh, so you like Nabokov alot!" he exclaims, looking at my Cloud, Castle, Lake and the Nabokov postcard and stickers I got. Evidently, he also rememberd last time when I let loose my innerNabokov by requesting for Lolita as my favourite book for this photo-exhibition. Kenny presents me with a book he gave to Karen for her birthday. The elusive Nabokov's Butterflies all in its thick, smooth-covered glory in my hands. It was evidently well-read and my heart wept for I found another NabokovLover. I mean, I knew that Karen loved Nabokov - it screamed so on her namecard, it bellowed through the bookstore with its thorough collection of his works, the little stickers, the surprising amount of postcards, notepaper dedicated to him; but Nabokov's Butterflies sealed the deal.
I solemnly swear
So guys, if you feel tempted, give me a ring (by that I mean, a message) and I'll see when I can bring you down there to have a look see, and hopefully hook you on. I'm scheduled to drag Mindy down soon, hopefully before hte Rhodia exhibition ends, so that she can share the joy of BooksActually with me and Rachel. Because I'm sure she appreciates the so called 'useless' things such as typewritten poems and Alphabet postcards.
Alas, I didn't get to eat the waffles because of the severely understaffed store
Departing from the most awesome place in Singapore (okay, maybe I exagerrate a little), Clare and I headed to Orchard to hover around magazines and books at Kinokuniya and then I joined Yen, Meryl and Vince (OMG WITH LONG HAIR AND HOT BOD) at Takashimaya for Yen was looking for a bag and some jewellery.
I miss GMUFC. We had great times back in our heyday. Haha, I make myself sound like I'm 81, instead of 18.
Here's to a good year ahead, and an awesome time with books :D.
As of now, I thank Rachel Koh, Ketty (for wishing me to be the 1st Flying "Indian"), Manda and Wenseng, Doris (who scared me slightly when she called me :D ), Ah boi, AlexPaul, Amesoh, Eileen, Weiling, Ah Pong, Tsu, Gomes and my lovely brother for wishing me a happy birthday. [This list will be updated! Do not fret!]
EDT: I forgot to mention what a dork I am. As we're about to leave, Kenny mentions that we can grab a balloon. So I get all excited and 8D!!! and try and jump for one. I grab the ribbon and go teeter-tottering around the bookstore like a clown because I lost my balance and I turn around sheepishly - one of the co-owners? She was giggling at my dorkiness. XD ANYWAY I HAVE A BALLOON AND YOU ALL DON'T.
