Landmark-ing (I)
I had wanted to buy a Granta Book for so long, its not even funny. Then last week, floating upon a pathetically anorexic wad of cash earned from a part-time sub-editing job, I walked into The Landmark Bookstore. I'm quite sure my face wore some sort of cocksure look as I walked in, "Yes boys, I'm actually here to buy today. I shan't be sitting on one of those idiotic looking, green faux leather stools and reading for hours without paying you a penny. I have cash and it is greener than that stupid leather on your stool. So hand me a basket, and a salaam while you're at it."
Past the door and rapidly away from that travesty of browsing (the actual joy of a bookstore apart from the lovely books)- the bestseller stand.
But hey, not so rapidly.
It's difficult for me to not hate the bestseller stand. Plonked about 3 feet away from the main entrance, such that it forms a pretty effective barrier on your way to the good stuff on the back shelves and piled high with titles from the house of Shobhaa De and her firang fraternity of Joan Collins and Co., the cryptic tomes of 'C', 'C+', 'C++' and so on, the illogical series of 'How to...', 'xxxxx for Dummies' and 'Chicken Soup for (just about every economic/social/bipodean subsection)' and innumerable management series, it is difficult to miss.
Now the management section just brims with duds posing in management garb. Sample these: 'Manage your Emotions', 'Managing your Workstation', 'Manage your Annual Holiday!', 'Mind Management'. And so on. I'm severely confused as to how a single word suddenly ballooned in its capacity to carry such a variety of titles on its trisyllabic back. Perhaps I'm going crazy, but it does seem as if 'Management' has suddenly become one of those 'It' words that sort of mushroom in every possible cranny when they're in fashion. And Management certainly is in fashion. I perhaps need to manage my growing confusion about the tremendous applications of the word management. Perhaps 'Manange your Emotions' should have found it's way into my basket afterall...
But swivelling swiftly back to the point- the barrier that is the bestseller stand.
Now, not only is it a physical hurdle, I think it forms something of a mental hurdle as well. Not to mention a decently effective barrier to your spending money on Good Books (they deserve the capitals).
I couldn't help but notice the numbers lurking around the bestseller stand (well, it's actually more of a carousel in Landmark) which are usually far greater than those near any other section. Except perhaps the shelves labelled 'Kamasutra' which on weekends suddenly become the meeting point of an unmistakably thick band of voyeuristic men.
But that apart, I thought it was a little saddening to see that most people usually shop from amongst the bestselling titles. I saw empty baskets fill up right there. There was little browsing, a lot of cover summary reading and far too much attention paid to the How to's.
Placing the bestseller carousel right in your face as you enter leaves you little room to manoeuvre- it commands your time and attention. It's selection of glossy paperbacks, arranged neatly and flashing those yellow stars with exhortations like 'Now Rs.799 only' are admittedly difficult to resist. Not to mention the fact that bestseller stand often host titles which are not bestsellers at all. They are well priced, however, and are best business for the bookstore if they sell well. It's a good management ploy (there's the word again), I must admit.
Before you know it, you've picked up a few and have almost (b)reached your spending limit.
You have picked up your quota of books, feel a little guilty about not looking around too much but also feel vaguely satisfied that you will read quality stuff. (Bestsellers are often, sadly, equated with quality. De, Collins and Co come to mind.) You decide to concentrate on Classics, Travelogues and Poetry the next time around.
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on 22.3.06 at 5:36 PM.
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anand here..lol. very intersting. You have a unmistakable knack for funny. hope to read more on your adventures in banglore :)
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