In Korea, small bookstores have long faded away from neighborhoods. Even if you happen to stumble upon one, it’s usually just a stationery shop near schools that doubles up by selling textbooks and workbooks. I remember those days when I’d stop by a local bookstore on my way back from school to browse through various books. So, realizing that neighborhood bookstores have vanished is a bit of a wistful change for me. 🌟
In contrast, walking around the streets of San Francisco or Sydney, you can often spot charming little bookstores. Some specialize in scholarly books, while others are like old second-hand bookstores, always bustling with people. It’s something I envy. 📚
A few years back, I went to Australia to visit my sister. After being cooped up at home for days, she insisted I go out and explore Newtown. She said it was like the area around Hongdae in Seoul, but I hadn’t been to Hongdae in ages, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Stepping out of the station, it felt more like Insadong or Hwanghak-dong, but being out and about felt refreshing. 🌬️
While wandering around, I stepped into a tiny bookstore. Beneath the new releases, unique 200-character reviews penned by the store’s staff were attached. Unlike the polished sales pitches you’d find in big bookstores back home, these reviews were honest, sometimes brutally so. It made them all the more trustworthy. For instance, a review for the then-popular ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ read, ‘Personally, I wouldn’t recommend it, but if curiosity from its fame gets the better of you, read it and decide.’ (Still, I wanted to buy it.) 😆
Another bookstore nearby had a section where books were tightly wrapped in kraft paper, making it impossible to peek at the title or content. Keywords like ‘Complex crime,’ ‘Edinburgh,’ ‘Regret,’ ‘Vengeance,’ and ‘This time it’s personal’ were boldly written on them. The ink seemed to have seeped through the paper onto the books, but since I wasn’t planning on buying them anyway, it didn’t matter to me. 😅
The prices were a bit cheaper, so if someone wandered in without a specific goal, they might find it interesting. I remember standing there for quite a while, pondering over what books might be hidden inside. Of course, since I didn’t purchase any, I’ll never know the answer, but I’m certain one of them was an Agatha Christie novel. Or maybe…
It was definitely an Agatha Christie book! (Who knows, really?!)
With social distancing slightly eased, I think it’s time I visit a bookstore again after ages. 📖✨
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