When I was an undergraduate at Kansas State University, I found the love of my life, a love that, to this day, is unequaled anywhere. But it wasn't a who. It was a what. A place.
Near the edge of Aggieville, the college town section of the city, were two independent bookstores. The first, Varney's, specialized in new books, in particular textbooks. It was clean and well-ordered -- and as cold and impartial as some of the books required for my classwork. But the second… Oh. That was a sight to behold. A mecca to rival Mecca: The Dusty Bookshelf.
I was introduced to it by friends. The first trip, they made me leave my checkbook and credit card behind and take no more than $10 in cash. I was skeptical at first. What could anyone, especially a devout bibliophile, hope to purchase at any bookstore for $10? But my friends were far wiser than I, for
The Dusty Bookshelf was that marvel among marvels, a sanctuary for lovers of books, all books, not just certain books. It was a pilgrimage that everyone in our group of friends had to make eventually. It was a used bookstore.
And what a used bookstore!
No matter what was going on outside, the interior was library quiet, making me feel like it was just me and the books. The floor was carpeted and comfortable to sit on while I studied the shelves. Volume after volume. Text after text. Even with other shoppers nearby -- who rarely spoke as they engaged in their own devotionals -- I never felt crowded or jostled. I was not in anyone's way.
I'm not certain how they created that quiet, comfortable feel, but when I design my own library in my head, I reflect back on that ambiance and the store's physical layout. Chairs were nestled in little nooks. Two cats made the place their own, lounging in the sun-filled window, or staring down at shoppers from the top of tall shelves or from atop stacks of books next to the cash register.
Since I graduated and moved away from Aggieville, I've searched everywhere for The Dusty Bookshelf's like. I haven't found anything to compare to it. The other used bookstores that I've encountered have been small and cramped, without any order among the books, or else they've been like warehouses, cavernous and impersonal.
One of these days, I'll return for a visit, make another pilgrimage, and reconnect with my lost love. Until then, I have my memories.
2 comments:
Wow, that sounds like a great place. We had an old used bookstore here that I loved, but it was tiny and cramped and if there were kids outside skateboarding you couldn't hear yourself think.
Imagine the wonderful old books to be found in a place that big and nice!
That's the thing, it really wasn't that big. Nice, yes, but big, no. It was cozy, but they had a very nice setup and layout. I imagine they still do. I really do need to roadtrip back there some day.
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