Store owners attest…
IT WAS once said that a book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an
explosive idea not fearing it will go off in your face. The book is one of the few havens remaining where a person’s mind can get both provocation and privacy, said American journalist and
writer Edward P. Morgan.
He remarked on the life changing impact books can have on an individual, forever altering imbedded perceptions and ideas.
However, with the dawn of the information age and the advent of technological gadgets like the IPod, Kindle and E-Books, people are
becoming increasingly disinterested in purchasing a good old-fashion paperback novel or even venturing into a bookstore to attempt to
peruse the aisles and you can definitely forget the idea of a book being on a gift list.
But there are those literary enthusiasts who maintain the notion that like Rufus Choate said: “A book is the only immortality.”
Regardless of the advancement and ease of the combined hi-tech devices, they would not trade a book for anything in the world.
Still alive
Some of those enthusiasts could be found in the few bookstores across Guyana, the most likely of places befitting their passion and
purpose, spreading the word that books are still alive and as valuable today as they were hundreds of years ago and encouraging
persons to rediscover the joys of reading.
One such enthusiast,  Mr. Rupert Hopkinson, Director of the Georgetown Reading and Research Centre (GRRC), said there is absolutely
no gift as valuable, this Christmas, as a book, to show the people most precious to us that they deserve the best.
He sad he is heartened by the number of persons who venture into GRRC to buy books and enquire what titles would make appropriate
gifts.
Hopkinson said it is an indication that reading is not a dying art but one that needs a little encouragement.
To facilitate the heightened interest and influx for the season, he announced that persons who wish to purchase books as presents can
uplift gift vouchers instead, in addition to other surprise giveaways.
“We suggest that they buy gift vouchers so that persons can come in and choose the books they prefer to avoid complaints,” Hopkinson
said.
He said the need for heavy advertising during this season has dwindled somewhat, over the years, as customers are going to purchase
books without seeing advertisements.
“More and more persons are just coming in and I can assure them that we, at the GRRC are well positioned to offer a wide variety of
books,” Hopkinson offered.
Heightened interest
Reiterating the importance of books and reading, Mr. Lloyd Austin, proprietor of Austin’s Book Store on Church Street, also in the
city, explained that there has been a heightened interest in books this Christmas.
“We are selling quite a number of books and customers are asking for recommendations on gift items,” he disclosed.
Austin said, to facilitate this, customers will be given the choice of a gift voucher, much like at the GRRC, redeemable by the
recipient, which is a useful way of ensuring that the presents will be valued.
Whatever the title, topic or theme the fact remains that books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most
accessible and wisest of counsellors and the most patient of teachers (Charles W. Elliot).
A book is a gift you can open again and again.