I love Powell's...

If you've ever been to Portland, you know we have this fabulously cool bookstore called Powell's. It occupies an entire city block and is about 4 stories high.  Their claim to fame is that they carry both new and used books, so you can literally find anything there.

So, I bought several months worth of my book club's books there when we put together our list in January.  I always try to get a used copy from Powell's.  Anyway,  last month's selection was When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro (who won the Booker Prize for Remains of the Day). 

My used copy (from Powell's) was previously owned by someone who had lots to say about what he/she was reading.  It was full of underlinings of important points.  It was also full of comments ("he's in denial!" or "my suspiscion is he's actually insane" or "duh!") and also included smiley and frown-y faces for emphasis.  I felt as though I was reading the novel with a buddy...a buddy with a sense of humor!  I really looked forward to my friend's insertions. 

Now that I am starting this month's book group book, Our Lady of the Forest by David Guterson, I find that I really miss my invisible and anonymous reading companion.  I wish I could find out who he/she is so that I could tell them that I just want to buy their books directly from them. 

Alas, my current book is utterly unlined and un-commented.  :(

Comments

[pam]

Hahahahah...this is really cute! I think it sounds like the work of a cartoonist!

[Loretta]

Let me know how you like your current read. I had mixed emotions about it. I loved Powells for the short time we were "living" in Portland. A very dangerous place indeed!

[Barbara W. Klaser]

I've heard nothing but good things about Powell's. If I'm every traveling through Portland I'll be sure to look it up.

My husband I used to notice that when we traveled we often found the public library, wherever we were, as soon as we stopped in a particular town. Maybe in this case we would make it an exception and visit an exceptional bookstore.

[Marilyn]

(bowing down before the Powell's altar)... I recently picked up a used book that had notes in it like that...but I found it a bit distracting, since it was nonfiction. I didn't want to read what "her" answers were...because then they tended to color my own...ha!

[Roz]

I lived in Portland for seven years, walking distance from Powell's. Yes! Now that I'm in Seattle, I really miss that.

I'm just finishing Ishiguro's _Never Let Me Go_, which is a pretty neat read. I'm going to look into _When We Were Orphans_ . . . .

[Arlene]

I bet Powell's is wonderful but I'd have a hard time there. Sort of like here, in Denver, we have The Tattered Cover. Huge bookstore. My problem is sensory overload with so many choices. I need to go in with a list!

[Stephanie]

I love marked up books. And I love to mark up books. My favorite marked up books are ones loaned to me by a professor friend. It's pure gold.

Jason got me Ishiguro's Kafka on the Shore for my birthday and I'm still waiting for the chance to read it.

[Tonya]

I've always felt that a crisp and new (and unmarked) book was the most appealing to me, but the way you described this experience makes me think I've missed out!

[Margaret]

Powells is wonderful. I am obsessed with all bookstores--love them! I got some used texts from UW with comments in them; they were fun to read, and very helpful.

[leslie]

Powells!!! Spent some wonderful time there when my sisters were living in Portland... I love to just wander around all the various rooms and absorb the vibrations. And I definitely plan on making a stop there during my visit to your city next month!

I usually avoid buying used books with notations and underlining, I guess because I don't like to mark up my own books... maybe it's time to try something different.