Weekend Walkabout: Calgary Reads Book Sale 2014

You may call it Serendipity.

But it is way better than Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack’s romantic movie in 2001. Isn’t it tiring watching them chase each other on the film?

Well, I was a little bit like them. No. Skip the romantic part.

I go crazy chasing books. They just stay still but you have to know where to find them.

So when I was skimming on Facebook News Feed (slower than the usual) I spotted a tip from Chic Geek about the annual CBC – Calgary Reads Book Sale.

From technology to books, what’s not to like about social media. (It’s the result of tidying up the news feed, being selective of whom to follow and unfollow based on my interest.)

The I-Almost-Missed Event

The book sale started on May 23 (Friday) till May 24 (Saturday) at Calgary Curling Club.

I made it on the last day. On my way I get the much needed exercise and was rewarded with a great view of downtown Calgary and Prince Island’s Park.

Everything was new to me. It was the first time I’ve been at the Calgary Curling Club and Calgary Reads Book Sale.

With still aching legs which I entirely ignore, I indulged in book-hunting galore.

“Where would I start?”

With so many books priced from $2.00 to $5.00, I didn’t have to check the price. (There’s none anyway, only sticker for some special books but even then it’s a guilt-free splurging.) And also you can buy used DVDs and CDs.

It’s the great way to shop over the weekend.

The Unbearable Books (Literally)

Have you tried browsing a store for hours and found nothing you like—both item and price?

I was wandering from a long stretch of table to another. It lasted for about 15 minutes. The next thing I knew I’m grabbing all the gems before somebody else did. I was lucky not to engage in tug-of-war with anybody.

(Too many books to keep everybody busy minding one’s purpose: not to live with less-than-a-dozen-books.)

Looking around I was ashamed of myself.

I should have brought along my luggage just like the others who probably never missed the event every year. I was content to put my books (I feel as though I owned them already without even paying yet) on an empty box.

There’s no way I’m letting go.

Here are some of the books I now rightfully owned adorning my bedside table:

The first grammar book I bought in Chapters is “Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing” on which I earned Chapters Plum Points. And now I have two more in my collection:

• The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White
• Woe is I: The Grammarphobe’s Guide to Better English in Plain English by Patricia T. O’Conner

Unfortunately I didn’t find The Yahoo! Style Guide in the Calgary Reads Book Sale.

Maybe somebody else did.

Must-Find Wish List

This quotation has become my favorite ever since I read it online and in books:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

So I searched and found the source of wonder: A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles by Marianne Williamson.

When it comes to my fiction list, I vowed to read The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom before watching the movie.

Well I have no excuse now—except for the laptop that instantly connects online with a press of a button.

After reading Rob Carrick’s book Guide to What’s Good, Bad and Downright Awful in Canadian Investments Today I’m on the lookout for his other books including How to Pay Less and Keep More for Yourself: The Essential Guide to Canadian Banking and Investing.

I learn in finance that books are great investment with a high value that no inflation, deflation or financial crisis can change.

Must-Have Treasure

And then there are things you simply cannot leave behind once spotted:

There you have it. These are only some of the books I mined for two hours. I bought 18 books in total and felt sorry for a dozen that I left behind.

I shall return . . . on wheels.

Next Year Would Be Different

I know the short cut and the drill.

I’ll be on the first and last day of Calgary Reads Book Sale with my Goodread’s list ingrain in my memory. I’ll be like the Chic Geek heralding the good news online and offline.

By then I may find Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez. The book played a part on the movie Serendipity somewhere near the ending.

It somehow ended the chase that leads to “happily ever after” ending. (Did I just spill the beans?)

As for me the chase will never end.

I’ll always look for books on sale with or without the classic happy ending.

One final note: thank you for all the used-to-be owners who donated the books, CDs, and DVDs. You are so kind to let others experience the joy of reading and watching the movie adaptation.

Thank you to Calgary Reads and all the volunteers! Till the next book sale. Enjoy all the words of wisdom and don’t forget to inspire others.

Have you been to any of the annual CBC – Calgary Reads Book Sale? How many were you able to squeeze in to your bag?

More Goodies: