Valet Reader

Well, I told you I kind of cheated when I posted last week’s book events (sf) cause I had made a resolution to attend a book event and then didn’t really do so. I mentioned my five minutes at the Booksmith but neglected to tell you about the 2 hours I spent at the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library Big Book Sale (that’s a mouthful). By the time I left, my day was all but over but it was well worth it.

Apparently this was the 45th year of the event and everyone I mentioned the event to seemed to have gone at some point in their life and picked up some interesting reads. I certainly managed to pick up some interesting reads myself. When I first walked in I was a bit overwhelmed with the task that was before me. I had thought about trying to pick out a book from each category or genre of books they had. I quickly threw that idea out the window after going through two rows of fiction books and already accumulating 10 books. Not to mention the fact that the map I picked up, with my shopping cart at the entrance of the event, listed 66 different categories. The most interesting in my view being “yearbooks,” hopefully mine wasn’t in their somewhere (although I somehow doubt those are the type of “yearbooks” there),  “aging” and “craft & sewing” maybe they were interesting to me only because I had no interest in them at all.

I did though peruse the entire warehouse. I didn’t spend too much time looking at the sections that I didn’t have much interest in but the ones I did I spent a long while, sometimes going down the same row a couple of times in case I missed something.

The sale though was a really nice event. Granted I was there on a Friday evening, the crowds weren’t overbearing and everyone seemed fairly nice. Of course maneuvering through the rows of books was a challenge at times when some people didn’t want to let you pass by them for fear that you find something that they wanted (this happened to me several times but I just smiled and let them have their way). Checking out was a breeze and even though I tried to haggle a bit they weren’t having any of it. Fair enough, they money the make goes to a good cause.

When I finally got home and unpacked my bags I was actually somewhat surprised by how few books I actually walked out with. I think in the end it turned out being 20 titles. I guess I used a bit more restraint than I should have but now I’ve got enough to read for awhile (not like it will keep me from buying more though).

Let’s see the most interesting title’s I picked out were definitely “War With the Evil Power Master,” “War of the Twins” (I liked the cover art) both science fiction books and “Wet Forever” and “Women on Top” both of which were picked up in the “erotica” section. Can you blame me? I’m just trying to expand my horizons (that’s sarcasm in case you didn’t catch it), who knows if I’ll actually ever get around to reading any of these books. If I do though, you can be sure to find my review of them here. And to paint a better picture, “Wet Forever” is “the story of a small-time grifter and a dominatrix on a collision course with oblivion…” seriously, doesn’t that sound riveting?

I did find a copy of The Sparrow there and considered buying it but decided to be good natured and offered it to the first person I saw. I don’t know if she actually bought it but I tried to sell it pretty hard. I was pretty liberal with my business cards so if you met me there be sure to say “hi” and leave a comment and let me know how you made out at the sale.

For the most part the books there were bizarre. But that’s pretty much what I expected. If I’m still in the bay area next year, one thing is for certain, I will be back to this book sale.

Just a few books...

Some Fiction..

"Wet Forever" & "War of the Twins" ( incestual?)