A Fun Guide: How To Buy A Book
Tell me a story about a time you walked into a bookstore. How did you feel? For me, I felt alive! There’s a bookstore in Lagos, Nigeria, named Ouida, and just this weekend, my friends and I decided to visit.
The goal was simple; to buy a book, yet, when I walked in, I felt something else — something close to peace. Or should I say, ease?
Again, I ask, how do you feel every time you walk into a bookstore?
Are you certain of what you want, or is it a case of trial and error? Because, I wasn’t. The first section we noticed was a sales area, offering books for just 2,000 naira or more.
After a quick look around, I gravitated toward the fiction section because I’m a huge fan of fiction, which brings me to my first point:
When buying a book, it’s safer to start with your interests first.
After checking out Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti series and other works by African writers, I wandered over to the memoirs. I’ve always wanted to write a memoir, and my favorite has always been Viola Davis’ Finding Me.
This brings me to my second point:
When buying a book, you might want to choose something relevant to a goal or path you’re aspiring to take.
For example, my friend Favour, who is a travel blogger, bought a book on traveling. While Gloria, who just wanted to explore fictional worlds, picked up two novels.
I, on the other hand, had no idea what I wanted. I had to learn right that instant how to choose a book without spending my entire day in the bookstore (though, in the end, I did).
When buying a book, it’s okay to Google.
While scanning for the perfect book, I had my phone in hand, googling and checking reviews of a few titles that caught my interest.
Recently, I’ve been drawn to thrillers because of a project I’m working on, and I wanted to find a book with a theme that would align perfectly with the book without pulling me into a completely different genre.
When buying a book, especially as a writer with an ongoing project, consider choosing something that complements your work to avoid distractions.
Finally, I found something.
I picked up Land of Lost Things by John Connolly for 10,000 naira.
How was I sure it was interesting?
I Googled it, read the synopsis, and trusted my instincts.
I just knew it would be perfect. So…
When buying a book, trust your instincts.
But even after finding this novel, I wasn’t quite satisfied. I kept browsing and discovered another treasure!
I wasn’t just going home with one book, but two!
By this time, my friends were getting impatient and wanted to wrap up our purchases, so, after taking a gazillion pictures, we headed to the checkout.
But guess what? I left the store with one book, not two. Someone had snatched up Land of Lost Things.
When buying a book, be decisive — pay and run with it before someone else does!
In the end, I came home with South by Frank Owen, another amazing read I had stumbled upon.
In conclusion, bookstores are magical places. They’re filled with treasures that stir your imagination and bring it to life.
So the next time you visit a bookstore or a library, have fun!
But, be sure to grab a book quickly before someone beats you to it, knowing that there’s no limit to the amount of fuel the mind needs.
So hey, what are you waiting for?
Go have fun in a bookstore!
