Borders Crosses the Line
So after yet another long and mind numbingly boring day at work, I decided to stop by Borders on the way home and enjoy wandering about in peace for a few minutes surrounded by the happy books. I like to browse and read the backs and just touch the new books. I know, I'm a nerd. Anyway, I haven't been to the bookstore in quite some time and BOY has it changed. They redid the layout for one- so I don't know where anything is anymore. Also- there is now a HUGE section blazoned with posters saying, "Read what your friends are reading!" and mass quantities of such gems as Twilight (at least it's originalish) Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, The Clique and all the many many knock offs of the same. Not only do they have the books, they've got the cell phone cover, tshirts, diaries, socks, etc. It's merchandising hell. Literally. I also somewhat am disturbed that Borders now sells actual comic books. Like the serial kind you're supposed to brave a real comic bookstore for. If they had Batman & Robin, I'd probably consider being a sellout, but they mostly had Marvel. Double Ugh.
To make matters even worse, either I was looking rather spectacular in my black tshirt and dark wash jeans with white sneakers (curse trying to get dressed at subterrannean hours with no caffeine)or Borders now has book pimps trying to move in on unsuspecting spinsters.
I was approached by one guy named Jeremy who insisted that he was here to help me with whatever I could possibly need, just let him know and then when I said I was fine, proceeded to loiter/follow me around through the reference/kids/& teen section. I thought I would lose him in sci fi but instead, I was accosted by another guy. This one was (I am not making this up) wearing a black hoodie all zipped up and he pulled out a book and shoved it in my face and said, "Have you read this book?" The book he held out to me was called The Reliable Wife and it had a rather suggestive photo of a woman in a drapery of some sort on the front. I was so suprised, I answered honestly "No"
He shoved it in my hand, "You should look at this. You would like it."
I instinctively took the book when he passed it to me. The back made it sound exactly like what it looked like- a rather racy romance/thriller thinly veiled in Historical Fiction.
I pass it back to him. "That looks rather racy. Why do you recommend it?"
He said it was gaining a lot of national attention and it was suspenseful. and then- and I quote "You should buy this book. I can hook you up with a deal."
That's right. I was being peddled smut by some hoodie wearing book pimp. And did I stand up for myself? Did I ask him why- why out of ALL the books in the store, he thought the frumpy fat girl should be presented with The Reliable Wife/a crappy romance novel?If he had tried to "hook me up with a deal" on Hemingway or even something new and weird like the new Jasper Fforde novel- I might have thought it strange and funny. As it was, I took off as quickly as I could- like the big spinster coward that I am. And I left feeling rather offended. And really really irritated that my sanctuary of nice, orderly, peaceful books has been invaded by teen vampires and weirdo book pushers.
On the other hand, once I pay off the library collectors, I can go back there again. I think the only thing I'd get now is a few busted knee caps. When did loving books become so dangerous? Next thing you know, I'll be cruising the westside trying to find someone to sell me a new novel so i can get my fix.
To make matters even worse, either I was looking rather spectacular in my black tshirt and dark wash jeans with white sneakers (curse trying to get dressed at subterrannean hours with no caffeine)or Borders now has book pimps trying to move in on unsuspecting spinsters.
I was approached by one guy named Jeremy who insisted that he was here to help me with whatever I could possibly need, just let him know and then when I said I was fine, proceeded to loiter/follow me around through the reference/kids/& teen section. I thought I would lose him in sci fi but instead, I was accosted by another guy. This one was (I am not making this up) wearing a black hoodie all zipped up and he pulled out a book and shoved it in my face and said, "Have you read this book?" The book he held out to me was called The Reliable Wife and it had a rather suggestive photo of a woman in a drapery of some sort on the front. I was so suprised, I answered honestly "No"
He shoved it in my hand, "You should look at this. You would like it."
I instinctively took the book when he passed it to me. The back made it sound exactly like what it looked like- a rather racy romance/thriller thinly veiled in Historical Fiction.
I pass it back to him. "That looks rather racy. Why do you recommend it?"
He said it was gaining a lot of national attention and it was suspenseful. and then- and I quote "You should buy this book. I can hook you up with a deal."
That's right. I was being peddled smut by some hoodie wearing book pimp. And did I stand up for myself? Did I ask him why- why out of ALL the books in the store, he thought the frumpy fat girl should be presented with The Reliable Wife/a crappy romance novel?If he had tried to "hook me up with a deal" on Hemingway or even something new and weird like the new Jasper Fforde novel- I might have thought it strange and funny. As it was, I took off as quickly as I could- like the big spinster coward that I am. And I left feeling rather offended. And really really irritated that my sanctuary of nice, orderly, peaceful books has been invaded by teen vampires and weirdo book pushers.
On the other hand, once I pay off the library collectors, I can go back there again. I think the only thing I'd get now is a few busted knee caps. When did loving books become so dangerous? Next thing you know, I'll be cruising the westside trying to find someone to sell me a new novel so i can get my fix.