Day 61: In pursuit of a book

Between You, me and the Lamp Post

Day 61: In pursuit of a book

Many of us, readers/writers are familiar with ‘A Women of Substance’ by Barbara Taylor Bradford. It is generally agreed that this is Bradford's masterpiece. I tend to agree. I read this book many years ago and found it riveting start to finish.

Then a few days ago I picked up ‘Hold the Dream’, the sequel to ‘A Women of Substance’. In general, apart from the Harry Potter series, I tend to avoid sequels as they are never as good as the original work.

This proved to be the case with ‘Hold the Dream’. The story failed to capture my attention and I was actually rather bothered by the subject of the book. In short ... Emma Hart is nearly 80 years old and leaves her empire to her favorite grandchild. Hm, this seems grossly unfair to me. Emma Hart has several children and a multitude of grandchildren, yet she leaves everything to her favorite grandchild. What about the others?

After a few pages I abandoned the book and went in search for something else to read.

The security guard of the company where I currently work told me that there is a mini library on the 5^th floor. I didn’t let the grass grow under my feet and went in search of that mini library. The guard didn’t exaggerate when he called the library mini ... just two shelves with a few books. 

Some were computer manuals, others were financial investment publications and there were a few self-help books. None were of any interest to me. I don’t understand computer manuals, I don’t have enough money to consider investments and as for self help books ... I’m doing just fine.

Back at my desk I looked up if there were any bookstores in my neighborhood and found one that was very close. According to Google it was a four-minute walk. Between my lunchtime I set off.

First of all, let me say that Google can’t be trusted. A four minute walk my foot, perhaps a pigeon can get there in four minutes, but it took me the better half of ten minutes. When I finally got at the bookstore address, I stared at a boarded-up shop window. According to the shop owner next door, the bookstore had closed some three years ago.

The man had good news for me though, he knew of another bookstore. Okay, where was that one located? It turned out that bookstore would require a fairly long walk, but fortunately, I could hop on a streetcar.

When I got off the streetcar I looked around me and ... there wasn’t a bookstore to be seen. I saw clothing stores, coffee shops, and restaurants, but no bookstore. Never mind, I would pop into the drugstore and see what kind of books they had. As it turned out, none. The drugstore still had magazines, but since there was little or no interest in books the drugstore no longer carried books. Again a piece of good news though, the salesclerk told me where I could find a book store.

To cut a long story short, I found the store. Not a chain store like Chapters Indigo, but an old- fashioned mom and pop store with books on tables, books on shelves, little home improvement items, kids toys as well as a counter serving coffee and baked goods.

The choice was limited, but after all I had been trough, I was gonna walk out with a book come hell or high water.

My book of choice ... ‘The Turn of the Key’ by Ruth Ware. If ‘The Turn of the Key’ is anything like Ware’s other books I’m in for a treat.

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