Feb 18 2009
How long has it been since I’ve been in a bookstore?
Now there is a good question.
Used bookstores - and Amazon.ca and Chapters.ca … those I have been to quite often…
but to actually go and stand in a bookstore and look at the books …. it has been awhile… in part because Ross, who I am on dependant to drive me wherever, for some reason, thinks I have “enough books”.
Silly man!
Of course, I do have ….umm…. well…. a few. Between my sister (she works at a publisher - wasn’t that nice of her to go and get a career that suits me - and my whole family - so well?) and online bookstores - which is where I buy most of the books I require for school (hey, I can’t help it if other stuff jumps into my shopping cart while I’m there buying the ones that are on the syllabus, can I? 
)
Anyway, today I went with him while he did some banking for his boss. And since he didn’t need me in the bank, I just wandered on out into the mall and, well, you know that I am writing a paper on fiction for emerging adults, right? There was a bookstore right next to the bank and it seemed like a really good time to go and do …. ummm…. yeah… research.
Went to see where they were placing the books for emerging adults. Honest!
Actually, it was a good exercise …. I was interested to see that instead of now having a section for Children and one for Young Adults and everything else basically for adults, this store now does it differently than what I remember.
Their Children’s section is now broken into age ranges: 0 - 2, 3 - 5, 6 - 8, 9 - 12. Then there is an area designated as just Adolescents, which included a lot of the sort of books that I am most interested in - books suitable for older teens and emerging adults.
What I found particularly interesting, though, is that the end-of-shelf displays on almost every single one of the Adult display stands was made up of books that I would consider particularly suitable for “my” Emerging Adults. A lot of Twilight related stuff, of course (Meyer’s books, as well as some wanna-be’s), but also graphic novels (hey Andrea, I need me some of those; you got any?), fantasy stuff of the sort Steph ’s working on and so on.
I was being a ~good~ girl and hadn’t picked up a single book to buy before Ross found me… the fact that I ended up with 4 was all his fault, honest! Well, maybe not the datebook…but it was half off so …… 
If I go into a bookstore, I have to leave any means of purchasing things at home. I go in armed with a notepad and pen. That way if I see something interesting I can write it down and find it at the library later.
I can’t remember the last time I was in a bookstore though - maybe in July.
If I ever win the lotto (or acquire a sugar daddy), I will spend half my day at the book store, and the other half at the library. I feel my blood pressure going down just walking in the door.
I have to ask…I haven’t jumped on the Twilight bandwagon. I don’t get it, probably because I haven’t read it. Do I need to correct this situation? Am I missing out on something life changing?
Whee! Graphic novels can be FUN. I recommend Fruits Basket.
is that a book or a series, Steph?
oldwest mom, I love bookstores… not so fond of libraries… they always want their books back!