What gunpowder did for war

...the printing press has done for the mind. --Wendell Phillips

That I awoke this morning to the pleasure of discovering a pair of canker sores inside my lower lip is no surprise after yesterday’s particularly trying day with P.E. The stress of dealing with his aberrantly delinquent behavior compelled me to seek a balm for my weary psyche. On a typical Friday, fellowship with my brothers and sisters at church would have fit the proverbial bill, but last night’s meeting had been cancelled, leaving me searching for other options.

Feeling directionless, I headed for the Towne Centre, where all who are weary and searching for answers to the deep questions of life go. Boarders, having just been moved from the satellite site (next to Hollywood Video and Gateway Computers) to the main Centre (near Edwards Cinema, Ross Dress-for-Less, and Starbucks), seemed as good a place as any to begin my quest; I reasoned that browsing a few attractive titles and perhaps even perpetrating some conspicuous consumption would take my mind of my problems, even if only momentarily.

Immediately on entering, I found the bargain books tables—the equivalent of “reduced for quick sale” in the printing world. As usual, I walked passed this section in the belief that if other readers hadn’t been interested in these titles, it was unlikely that I would find anything of great value among them either. [Editor’s note: I have exhumed some great deals from the moribund depths of the bargain books tables at both Boarder’s and Barnes & Nobles, but it does take more time and effort than I felt compelled to invest.] “New Fiction” and “New Non-Fiction” section, which is always a promising place to start. What follows is a partial listing of the selections I saw, and my respective responses to them.

“New Non-Fiction”
Single, Saved, and Having Sex. How does that work? If I understand what this book is about, it would better be titled Sinle, Saved, Having Sex, but in Sin—this title having the advantage of maintaining the original alliteration. My curiosity wasn’t sufficient to overcome the inertia that prevented me from plucking a copy from its shelf and leafing through.

Cure for the Common Life—living in your sweet spot. This one was by famed Christian author Max Lucado. The debacle at work from earlier in the day had me seriously reconsidering vocations, so I ended up purchasing a copy of this title in hopes of getting some practical advice on where I belong in the globalized workforce.

The Big Oyster, History on the Half Shell. By Mark Kurlansky, the same author who wrote Salt and Cod. Basically his gimmick as a historian—and bookseller—is that he traces the effects of a common object (ionically-bound minerals, saltwater fish, bivalves, etc). Several summers ago, Chula introduced our mutual circle of friends to Kurlansky through the recitation of a salt-related fact each time she could smoothly—or otherwise—integrate it into our group conversations.

Supreme Chaos: the Politics of Judicial Confirmations and the Culture War. Sounds interesting, if you’re into that sort of thing.

“Best Selling Non-Fiction”
Sudoku. Although it’s certainly not “fiction,” does that automatically qualify it as non-fiction?

The Year of Magical Thinking. See what a few spots on NPR can do for sales of a book? Although I found it marginally interesting, I didn’t find it as well written as I had anticipated or hoped. I think sales were definitely bolstered by Ms. Didion’s being interviewed by a barrage of NPR hosts.

The World is Flat. Ditto the first sentence of my comments on the entry above.

Freakonomics. (Ditto again.) I own this one; it’s quite diverting and enlightening, if not stretching credulity in some parts; two thumbs up.

A Million Little Pieces. Does this really belong in the non-fiction section?

“Fiction”
Eragon & Eldest. Two titles (actually intended for jr. high and high school readers) that I’d like to read if I can find the time. They were featured on NPR for one reason or another, and my interest was piqued. Hopefully I won’t find them as mediocre as I found The Year of Magical Thinking.

“Biography”
Katarina Witt. Is there anyone out there willing to pay to read this?

“DVD”
My Lovely Sam-Soon. Looked like a pick-me-up buy to make me feel better after my long day at work. I started watching as soon as I got home; it looks like a typical Korean romantic comedy series, which means it will be great! Plenty of humor and saccharine romantic pining, balanced by some good ol’ fashioned Korean fighting, drinking, smoking, and acerbic bickering between the lead characters.