It has been a really long time since I’ve been to ABC Books for a book signing (last November?) Our late winter Saturdays, at least when ABC Books has had book signings, were given over to archery meets in nearby towns, and the school tends to play other schools that are south and southwest of town, not on the north side of town (except for the soggy cross country meet last October. So when I saw a book signing posted this week, I thought about it, and as my gym time ended about 10:30, I was able to stop by on the way home even though it added an hour to my trip home.
At any rate, the martial arts section was virtually gone; two books and a shrinkwrapped Tae Kwon Do DVD. I still found a couple of things, and not inexpensive things.
I got:
- John D. McDonald: A Checklist of Collectible Editions & Translations by David G. MacLean. It’s a saddle-stapled chapbook from 1987 that lists first editions of McDonald’s work along with some pricing information from 35 years ago. I will count this as a book I’ve read when I have flipped through it and nodded at the titles I have or I’ve read.
- Philosophies of India by Heinrich Zimmer / edited by Joseph Campbell (yes, the Hero’s Journey guy). It’s a sixties textbook edition, but covers some of the myriad religions of India.
- The Ocean Inside Kenji Takezo by Rick Noguchi. From the poetry section. I picked it up because I am finishing an audio course on Japanese cultural history. Although Noguchi is an American, my dabbled Nipponohilia is not discriminating.
- Hope Dealer by David Stoecker, the author signing books. His book is the story of his recovery from addiction and advice for those doing the same.
I was most disturbed that Mrs. E., the proprietrix, was not present. Instead, there was another woman who referred to “her inventory,” and I feared that the book store had changed hands. The owners have changed churches, so I don’t see them except for when I visit the book store. I asked if she was the new manager, but she said she was just Mrs. E’s sub. Which is good; I should hate for the book store to change hands, but on the other hand, it would save me a drive and I could return to haunting Hooked on Books.
Once in a while, I will have the urge to read all the books from a trip to a bookstore, but given that this run brought a textbook, I shall not likely do that soon with this trip.
