Perhaps it’s true what people say; positive energy does attract good things. I was happily roaming my favorite mall this afternoon and I must say malling at 2 pm on a working day beats the hell out of shopping on weekends. For one, during weekends there’s always that thought at the back of your mind that the day is soon to end and you’ll have to go back to work the following day. Weekday afternoon shopping however, has that nostalgic feeling of cutting classes in high school that makes one all giddy and excited.
I was in this state of mind when I decided to step into Booksale. As usual I don’t really have any book in mind. I just like the feeling of being surrounded by all these secondhand books. Once in a while when a book calls out to me, I consider buying it but only if they promise to be compelling reads.
One of the books that I have always wanted to have is “The Blind Assassin” by Margaret Atwood. A blogger I follow has highly recommended this book and has even listed it as one of her all-time favorites. I’ve contemplated buying it in several occasions whenever I am in Powerbooks but the price tag is really not to my liking. I don’t know, perhaps it’s the cheapskate in me.
I lingered longer inside Booksale because they have changed their display racks making the books they have more accessible to the browser. Around 10 minutes into my title skimming excercise, I saw it; standing nonchalantly at the end of a book row. I’ve never seen a book with such self-confidence before. Some books can be desperate, really reaching out to you, begging you to take them home. But this one, it was just there– indifferent to all the browsers. My heart skipped a beat when I held it in my hands– Margaret Atwood’s The Blind Assassin priced only at P110. What are the odds?
I have already read a few pages; and from the few phrases that I’ve read, looks like it’s living up to its billing. I’ll probably read this one slower than my usual pace. Sink my teeth in it, so to speak.
Looks like the timezone change has significantly altered the course of my karma.
{ 8 comments }
hmmm… haven’t read atwood yet. might as well look for that book, too, heheh. i spend a lot of time in terminals heheh.
omg fence, i’ve been looking for this book too!
Anyway, it’s listed in Time Magazine’s Top 100 Novels.
Mik, you should. Pait kaayo maghulat sa terminal unya wa kay basabasahon.
Kris, I was very lucky today i think. Maybe theres another copy in another Booksale somewhere.
i have two Atwood books. i like her, but i have to be in a certain mood to appreciate her,or else i’d feel that she is simply being pretentious.
but yeah, she writes well. not gut-bustingly well, but well.
Oh wow!:D That’s great, Fence.:D
Since I’m a total metaphor-whore, I have always appreciated Atwood’s writing style. I believe that there are other writers who might be better than her, but that’s really beside the point. After reading that book (which I personally think is one of her best works), you will prove that she, like most celebrated writers, is pretentious. If you think about it, writing is a very self-serving, essentially public art form. And I think that is why I prefer her over other contemporary women writers. In her writing, one can sense that she is honest only to herself. And I think if you’re someone who repects people who hold this particular principle dear, you’ll eventually become a real fan.:D
And another thing: Atwood is a FICTION WRITER. People can’t seem to tell the difference anymore.
And, err, the Time’s Top 100 Novels from 1923 to present can be found here:
http://www.time.com/time/2005/100books/index.html
I found my copy today. Yay!
Let me know when you’re done reading it, and we’ll compare notes. Heck, I might even review it. I wanna be the book version of fence hahaha.
But then again, I still have to finish Odyssey and Ulysses before I even consider reading this one, and Ulysses runs about 900 pages.
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