hello aini

to be honest, I’m not a really good chooser. I’m bad at choosing, especially concerning books. I always spend hours trying to figure out which book I really want to buy. don’t get me wrong, I know what I want. problem is, there are a hell lot of books viewing my passions. when I go to a bookstore I go straight in to novels and literatures, sometimes science and computers, and get stuck right in the narrow way between shelves. I can spend forever going through each pieces shelf to shelf. -_-"

                                                      

today I went to trimedia bookstore in SPI. this place is my heaven on surabaya, hahaha. it has a large variety of books from science to fashion magazine. as usual, I went straight to novels/philosophy.

                                                               

after almost an hour of scanning trough each row, I finally deliberated and fell for this book called "The Diamond of Drury Lane" by Julie Golding.

hmm.. after reading the first 40 pages, I think it’s a book worthwhile scanning a bookstore an hour long. but then again, what if I didn’t fall for that book and took something less indulgent? that’s why I think I really need to start organizing myself when coming to buying books.

                                                             

According to previous experiences when entering bookstores with an enormous range of books like kinokuniya, aksara, or trimedia, there are a few steps that might come handy for selecting the right books:

1. Know what I want/need

this is obvious. Books are like a miniature of the world. each piece you’re reading might take you so far and deep into its intriguing detail. and so it’s really important to know what you want, or what you need. DON’T distract yourself by turning into other sections no matter how interesting they seem to be. Go right up to your destination, whether it’s a textbook with heavy hardcover to protect it from the coffees you might spill when reading it in the middle of the night, or just a simple novel to serenade your tired eyes into dream.

                                                         

2. Scan scan scan!

this is the most ecxiting part of the whole thing. so you’re in the right section. what are you waiting for? start scanning! start scanning each books from one side of the bookshelf to the other.

                                                             

3. DO judge the book by its cover

for me, cover says everything. hell yeah. I won’t expect a book to be containing things about fish when its cover is entitled "The little black book of fashion" by Nina Garcia. -_-" . pick up book with the right title and book that looks interesting. I know, I know. cover doesn’t show anything. but then, how do you expect to know about the book when you’re not even interested by the look of it?? that’s absurd. take a good look at the cover, and flip to the back part of the book to see the review. some books don’t contain review nor synopsis on their back cover, they contain praises instead. this kind of books is a bit risky. I don’t get convinced easily just by reading those praises, so I put it back to the bookshelf rightaway. but remember, don’t stop! keep scanning.

                                                         

4. Go with your insting

since most Indonesian bookstores don’t let their customer read their books [they do this by covering them in plastic sheets that's not allowed to be torn open], you can only judge a book by three factors: book reviews [on the internet/tv/a friend/etc.], its cover, and last but not least…your feeling towards the book. whether it’s right for you or not. it’s true! on this process, I often feel like harry potter when shopping for his first ever wand: "the wand chooses the wizard" . hahaha. same thing here. the book chooses the reader. a quick scan through its cover gives you a brief explanation about the book, a friend’s review often come very subjective, but your feeling should well tell you whether it’s worth buying or not.

                                                         

5. Stay open-minded

sounds a kind of contradictory to the first step, but this is also important. once you get to the right section, there are still hundreds of books meeting your demand. after you’ve figured the right kind of book, options are available. you CAN’T stop at one book that you think already is "the one". open your eyes and mind! those other hundreds might also well be! if you find a book that ‘tickles’ you but doesn’t exactly cope with everything you were looking for, try to remember the identity of the book so that you can search for any handy information about the book. maybe you can come back next time for another piece?

                                                            

6. Book on a Budget

Oh puh-lease.-_-" this is the root of all problem: MONEY. money should be your big concern when buying books. Indonesian bookstores import books all over the globe, causing them to raise its price way above local books. when you feel like it’s the right book but the price is killing you, just put it back. knowledge shouldn’t be expensive. there are always alternatives. maybe you’ll find other book relating similar problems but instead of a hard cover, it’s wrapped in paperbacks. or maybe..the place is just not right for you. you can always try other shop. that’s okay.

                                                            

7. Alternatives!

this is the 21st century, people.. the world of digital invention. I’m talking about the internet -_-". e-books are also a great alternative if you can’t find it in the real world. or..you can also try shopping books online!

                                                   

hmm… I think that’s almost all. I’m pretty sure these steps should come handy [at least for me, haha.]

FYI, I’m now reading my "diamond" that I’ve just got earlier and really, it’s hard to stop reading it..>.< bye folks…! I need to start reading agaiinn…hohohohooo