Buying Books

As a rule, I dont like to buy books. I work in a library for a reason. I also belong to almost every library system in the State of Georgia (its easy because the PINES card is the library card for all but 5 systems in Georgia) I love libraries, I love the fact that when I am finished with the book, it has a place to go. And that place is not under my bed-or on a shelf in my house. When I get ready to move-as I often do, no boxes full of books to move to the next place. No back breaking labor(books are heavy). Once I read a book-i am usually finished with it. And I know that if I ever need to read it again, I can go to my library/my job, and check it out again.

Once in a blue moon a book is so transformative that I simply must buy it. This is very rare. Very rare. Not that books dont touch me, but for the most part, when im done with that temporary relationship- then its time for someone else to enjoy the experience. Besides, I work in a giant bookshelf, why bring work home? Back in the day/When I was a child- they (the 'library people') used to stamp the due date on the book itself. I could see how many people before me had checked it out and i felt part of something bigger than myself. Now that damn receipt prints, which no one reads.I miss the card catalogue by the way. There was an art to finding books then. The reference librarian had to actually look through indexes and other reference material to find out you spelled the authors name wrong. Google didnt ask Did you mean
...but back to my point.

But yes, one such book has got me looking add to my small permanent collection. The Essential Dykes to Look Out for by Alison Bechdel (and spelled correctly with one L). Its a thick book (yes size matters, remember the moving truck) but its just that good. I didnt think it would take me so long to read but it was well worth it. The characters are straight out of my life (or my old life when I dated a womens studies phd student and interated with 'the feminists' on a daily basis.) And Bechdels little black girl hair styles are cute. I've worn about half of them myself. THis is a terrible review by the way and my hope is that this doesnt come up on someones google search. Maybe i shouldnt have typed thw word review. But yeah I love the book. I just do. And thats the best I can do right now.

So now its on to Charis, the feminist bookstore, to purchase. The feminist bookstore. I wonder how many people who go to theses bookstores actually want to but a book? Or even read in the first place? I get the impression that a good number of them just want to fuck the salesbian at the counter. Trying to impress her by buying a book....

Or maybe its just me. but no- i uh go to read.