Ye Olde Bookstore: Mind the Dust

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Charles Yallowitz
Prague National Library (According to a site)

Prague National Library (According to a site)

Try the place next door if you’re looking for coffee.  Oh, you wanted a book.  Kind of young, so I wonder if you know what a book is.  No, it isn’t the stuff they put into your brain these days.  Not exactly.  Both hold stories, but the classic methods are what you hold in your hands.  Sure, you can’t carry as many as the eReaders or the mind plugs.  Issue with paper cuts too . . . It’s when you get a cut from the edge of paper, which is what books are made out of.  Just watch your hands, kid.  So, are you still interested?

Sure, I’ll go with retro and carrying a book around being a cool thing. Hope you read the thing you buy. Yes, you have to do it with your eyes open because you can’t see it in your dreams until after you read it the first time.  We have all the classics from all the genres, so pick something that interests you.  Even if you only have a vague idea, I can steer you in the right direction. Here’s a mask and an emergency oxygen tank since there’s a lot of dust around here.  I’m good because I haven’t stepped outside in cen . . . a long time.  Don’t look a day over fifty, huh?

You’re looking for a story with a flying lizard that breathes fire and attacks people who live in squalor.  Forgot they banned certain genres a few years back and they only got revived this year. Your parents were part of the rebellion? Surprised you don’t know what a dragon is, but most of your generation are into the old world thrillers.  Back when they used bullets instead of sonic darts.  Though what you’re going for involves swords and other medieval weaponry.  You know what a knife is? Take that bread slicer and make it bigger, sharper, a capital ‘T’ for the hilt, and a fancy holder on your belt.  That’s a sword.  Let me see what I can find you.

I’ve got one about school kids fighting evil, another about two best friends fighting evil, an outcast fighting evil, an idiot and his friends fighting evil, one about a young man learning to fight evil, a bunch of kids going to another world to fight evil . . . Heroes in this genre tend to fight evil a lot.  So, pick your literary pleasure.  Yes, we do take virtual money.  I may peddle in the old stuff, but I know what’s worthless and what’s not.  If you even think of pointing at a book to say it’s worthless then you’ll be banned.  Okay, that one you can get away with.  Nobody knows what that author was thinking or why it was published.  In fact, that’s what caused the downfall.  But that’s another story.

About Charles Yallowitz

Charles E. Yallowitz was born, raised, and educated in New York. Then he spent a few years in Florida, realized his fear of alligators, and moved back to the Empire State. When he isn't working hard on his epic fantasy stories, Charles can be found cooking or going on whatever adventure his son has planned for the day. 'Legends of Windemere' is his first series, but it certainly won't be his last.
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39 Responses to Ye Olde Bookstore: Mind the Dust

  1. L. Marie says:
    July 17, 2015 at 11:08 am

    I’m glad I stumbled upon this bookstore. Do you take gold? I might have some earrings to barter. If I wander the shelves though will I get eaten by something or attacked by magic spells or ghosts or gnomes hiding in dark corners?

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. coldhandboyack says:
    July 17, 2015 at 11:21 am

    Cool place. I should send Lisa the robot there to scan them all for me. (Ducking and covering)

    Liked by 2 people

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  3. mbarkersimpson says:
    July 18, 2015 at 6:39 am

    I want to hear the other story! The one which caused the downfall 🙂 I’m so glad a place like this still exists – I’ve always had a soft spot for paper!

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. The Story Reading Ape says:
    July 18, 2015 at 9:06 am

    Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
    Another great little tale, this time from Charles Yallowitz 😃

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. rogerdcolby says:
    July 18, 2015 at 9:11 am

    Reblogged this on Writing Is Hard Work and commented:
    I found this article because I was fumbling around in my feed. So often in this digital age we forget the simple pleasure of a print book, and that is why I offer a print edition of all of my books for order on Amazon. I also stock some in the dusty old book store, too.

    Liked by 2 people

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  6. fuonlyknew says:
    July 18, 2015 at 9:53 am

    I’ve been warned me about places like this. Heard you could get lost in these books.

    Liked by 2 people

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  7. noelleg44 says:
    July 18, 2015 at 10:04 am

    Great post! I loved that you chose the Prague National Library – I’ve been there. But I do love old bookstores in reality, not virtual. There’s a certain smell – of knowledge, lore, centuries of thought on a printed page? I never leave without buying something!

    Liked by 2 people

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  8. John W. Howell says:
    July 18, 2015 at 12:02 pm

    Now if we could get coffee here……wait isn’t that how Borders started?

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  9. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    July 18, 2015 at 12:35 pm

    Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
    Charles Yallowitz going retro with an actual book.. you know the one you turn the pages of rather than swipe…

    Liked by 2 people

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  10. purpleslobinrecovery says:
    July 18, 2015 at 1:59 pm

    Love it! While at the same shuddering at the very thought that kids one day might not recognize a book if they saw one.

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  11. debyfredericks says:
    July 18, 2015 at 2:27 pm

    What fun! I’d love to wander into a store like that. Although now I’m wondering which book or series caused the end of the world.

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  12. vanbytheriver says:
    July 18, 2015 at 6:01 pm

    Love this. Missing Borders…sigh. And I grew up killing time in the libraries of old…I can still smell the book bindings if I close my eyes. We have our Atari and drag it out just for fun…the kids laugh. Nice piece. May the printed page never really die out. ☺ Van

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    • Charles Yallowitz says:
      July 18, 2015 at 6:07 pm

      When I moved to Florida, there was a Borders down the block. 4.5 years of being in walking distance of a bookstore. That also had a movie theater, supermarket, comic shop, ice cream place, and several restaurants around it. I really miss that location. I don’t know what happened to my old Atari and the trash bag full of games I inherited from friends. I don’t own a TV that could work with it, so it’s probably best that it stays in its slumber. I’m sure the printed page will always exist somewhere.

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