Child again

December 15, 2009 at 12:00 pm · Filed under Roba

My tween book phase

When we were kids, my parents would take us to Jareer Bookshop every few weeks to go on a bookshopping spree. I used to look forward to that much more than I looked forward to toystores. It was so… exhilarating.

Today, many years on, I still get super excited when I go to the bookstore with the plan of “BUY”. I feel happy for an entire week afterwards. Yesterday, we went to Readers (after finding out that Mekkah Mall’s Prime is closed, why?) to buy a few books. I actually wanted to get the Twilight series, because the copies I bought are not my own. I ended up buying a dozen.

Among my new collection:

  • Neil Gaiman’s “Neverwhere”. Half-way done with this one, so far, it isn’t that great.
  • Gregory Maguire’s “Lost”. I absolutely LOVE Maguire, so I of course bought this book straight away.
  • Mead’s “Vampire Academy”. When I bought them, I somehow thought they were The Southern Vampire Mysteries, but I later discovered that they were actually also tween books. It matters not, I guess, I’m enjoying tween books these days.
  • Terry Brooks’ “The Word and the Void”. This author was highly recommended by the New Yorker, so I bought it. Hope it won’t be a disappointment, I’m looking forward to a good fantasy book.



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  • http://www.chocolatemintsinajar.com/blog jessyz

    I loved Neverwhere, but Gaiman has lots of more even better books like Anansi Boys, Good Omens and Stardust

  • http://7akifadi.com 7aki Fadi

    I really like your book posts :) .

  • Mohammed Zatari

    oh, i love books!! bit i never had a time to read them!!

    anyway!! Prime is closed because on constructions and it’ll open again under new name i forgot what it is, thats what they told me!!

  • http://noor.d@hotmail.com Noor.D

    i agree about that feeling when you buy books, my friends think i’m weird when i buy a book and instatntly open it and sink my head in it and inhale the smell of new pages!!!, nothing beats that beautiful scent!

    i am abit frustrated with Readers though, they don’t update as much as they should and sometimes they sell books more expensive than other bookshops.

    for example when i wanted to buy HE TWILIGHT SAGA box set, they were selling the paperback box for 48 j.d!

    however i looked for them elsewhere and found them as “the good book shop” – Same box set for 32 j.d!!

  • http://andfaraway.net Roba

    Elizebeta, yup, I definitely haven’t watched that one :)

    Terry, it is!

    Maxxed’ouT, cool, thanks, now I know what to Google!

    lendmeurear, yeah, I’m sure you do :( These people are sooo annoying.

    Chris, they are indeed. You just want to smack them. That’s the Seinfeld episode?

    Hareega, it ain’t loading :\ I’ll check it out from home later :)

    jessyz, yup, Anasi Boys looks fantastic. I googled it after I read Neverwhere. Is Stardust good? Did you watch the movie?

    7aki, thank you, I really like you too ;)

    Mohammad Zatari, ah wallah? They’re changing the name? That’s weird.. what about Prime Cinema and their Barakeh mall bookshop? Hmmmm

    Noor.D, hehe you’re right. So woody and relaxing :) As for Readers, you’re right, but I think they update their collection more than others no? I’ve been to the Good Bookshop several times, and they never had anything but Bible books. I’m surprised you found Twilight. But good to know… I still need to buy Eclipse :) Thanks! :)

  • http://errwhateverz.wordpress.com/author/petitenemesis/ petitenemesis

    you should read the fountainhead by ayn rand. by far one of the most well written pieces of literature out there – the story is amazing, and the writing will blow you away.

  • http://andfaraway.net Roba

    petitenemesis, ooh, I have, it is a good book :) I currently lent my copy to a friend. Ayn Rand is a very interesting author, to say the least. Any other recommendations?

  • Zaiding

    You should try to read for Michael Moorcock, on of my favorite writers ever, i recommend The Elric Saga, wow now thats cool and twisted.

  • Mohammed Zatari

    “Mohammad Zatari, ah wallah? They’re changing the name? That’s weird.. what about Prime Cinema and their Barakeh mall bookshop? Hmmmm”

    i dunno “thats what they told me!!” :)

    go to virgin mega store!! i love it!!

  • Mario Mustache

    I LOVED JAREER BOOKSTORE!!

  • Inge

    You have got to read Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo! The geek culture map will have to be revised just so that this book can be added. This book is also becoming a world-wide best seller – but for a good reason. I don’t get the Coehlo thing either, have read through several of his only to ask “huh?” every time.

  • abitmutch

    Hey Roba, If you are getting into Terry I would recommend the original Shannara series or the Voyage of Jerle Shannara. (Just be warned that there are a number of parallels to LoTR). And I just finished reading Orsen Scott Card’s ‘Ender’s Game’ for – oh – maybe the fourth time. It is still just as fantastic as when I first read it as an eleven year old. Don’t be put off by the ‘SciFi’ cover, it is about so much more than spaceships.

  • http://andfaraway.net Roba

    Zaiding, hmm, cool! I’ll look for them next time I’ m buying books :) Thanks for the recommendations.

    Mohammed, afraid that Virgin is the worst of all “bookstores” in town. They’re book collection makes me feel sad.

    Mario Mustache, ana kaman :( Beddi :(

    Inge, thanks for the recommendation :) If you don’t like Coelho, I’ll probably like that book :P I’ll check it out for sure if I find it in town.

    abimutch, yeah, I didn’t find that :( They only had that book. But I’ll keep looking for it!

  • http://errwhateverz.wordpress.com/author/petitenemesis/ petitenemesis

    funny enough i lent a copy to a friend as well, but never got it back. after you’ve read that book nothing else can really compare. if you’re into short stories some good (but very sad ones) are found in the interpreter of maladies

  • http://silveroses69@hotmail.com laura

    Book stores are some of my favorite places. They are definitely an evil invention. I can’t enter one without spending too much money. Usually something between $100 and $200 each time. I have to FORCE myself not to go or I’d go completely broke.