Hooked and Booked

Books are my first love.

I'm the sort of person who thinks that a good book is great company.

I always wander into bookstores and flip through magazines, fiction, non-fiction, kids books, self help books, cook books, poetry books, large glossy art coffee books and even the tiny bible on a key chain or 50 great cocktail books.

So when a new friend. who has also recently moved back from the US - remarked over coffee that he was having a hard time finding books he wanted to read, I almost didnt believe him.

I thought about it more frequently as the week turned older by a day and then by two until Sunday was here.

I realized that on none of my previous visits to the brand new two storied Crossword right outside my house - which is one of the few big book retailers here - had I actually gone with a list of sorts. I had always wandered in and ended up buying a few books - some of them that turned out to be amazing - like Keep of the Grass or Q&A .. but never with a list.

So I made a list bright and early Sunday morning and went to the bright yellow Crossword as soon as the Rafa -Fed showdown was over.

Like Water for Chocolate : Laura Esquivel

Liars Poker: Micheal Lewis

One hundred years of solitude: Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Six Suspects: Vikas Swarup

I came back empty handed. They had not a single book in my list.

And I was thinking on the way back home what other bookstores could I go to in the area.

In Gainesville - I lived nears a Barnes and Noble, The fabulous UF library, Book Lovers Cafe on 13th ..all short bus rides away.

For 41/2 years in Atl I lived within a 1 mile radius of a Borders, Barnes and Noble, Target and Walmart. All of which stock books. While the latter two definately wont have any literary pearls - just the bestseller and oprah's club variety ..atleast they do.

In Delhi - I lived across from a coffee shop with a small cluttered but fab book store.

In Hyderabad - The ISB library was pretty exhaustive - and I could always carry a CCD takeaway or a cup of chai in there.

My options last evening - were None.

I know theres Landmark - but 45 -60 minutes away.

I could try some vendors on the road by Andheri Station or Parle Station - but wasnt particularly motivated.

The only other option was another Crossword in Juhu. Which did not have my books either.

I'm pretty sure that the books business in India is particularly hard thanks to the widespread piracy that prevails.
Which makes the lack of a coffee store inside the bookshops - even more surprising.
I would think that a beverages business would totally be a high margin one.
Kinda like the Starbucks inisde a Barnes and Noble. ..or the Borders coffee ( Is it Seattles Best now? ..I dont remember)
Last night I craved to go to another bookshop and find my books.
How I would absolutely love it if I were to find a bookstore with a coffee shop.
Fuel for a hungry mind and a sweet tounge.
I'd be hooked and booked.