To a reading aficionado, a bookstore has to be more than a place that sells books. It is a truly sensorial experience. The right lighting, lots of space, an organized shelf, staff that leave you to your browsing pleasure but are instantly available when you need to ask a question, soft brown colors that hint of a library, a wide selection of books, soothing music… ah, this is the stuff good bookstores are made of. A good bookstore should tickle the senses of the book aficionado.

The sense of sight. Is the lighting conducive to reading? Do the store colors put us in a browsing mood? Is the store layout making you dizzy? Are the books laid out like a feast?
The sense of smell. Mmmmm, I love the smell of new books, don’t you?
The sense of sound. What music is playing? Is there any music at all? Are there too many people chattering?
The sense of touch. Do the books feel clean beneath your fingers? Are they crisp to the touch? Can you hold the book in your hands comfortably? Don’t look at me that way, buddy. I told you I’m a lover of books.
The sense of taste. Is there a coffee shop nearby? A place where you can devour your new purchases? You know how Pinoys love to eat!

There are your big names like National Bookstore, Powerbooks and Fully Booked. Then you have the store that sells old and used books like Booksale. There are many other bookstores but for now these are the ones I’ll talk about, as these are the ones I frequent. Are you ready to go on a bookstore tour with me? Well, c’mon. Lace up those sneakers (we’ll be standing around a lot), grab your reading glasses, strap on your book bag (I’m certain you won’t end the day without a couple of new purchases) and fill up your wallet. It’s another rainy day in Manila, perfect for a bookstore tour.

Don’t forget to sharpen those senses.

Powerbooks: A Transient’s Haven

I see: Blue and Yellow, the store colors. It’s turning out to be one those ubiquitous colors. Powerbooks is practically in every major mall…Rows and rows of books. Great, it’s well-organized and you can immediately find the book you’re searching for… A couch that should hold three people… but is currently holding five. People scramble to sit on these chairs. You think it’s a competition to get a rare book? Try grabbing a seat in Powerbooks!… People passing through. Oh right, Powerbooks is usually situated in high-traffic areas. For example, the Megamall branch’s entrance is near EDSA, so commuters usually enter the mall through the bookstore. It’s a hassle to the avid browser, honestly. One minute you’re enjoying your peace and quiet, the next thing you’re feeling a swarm of bodies rush past you… A teenager checking her cellphone and then looking around. My friends and I treat the Greenbelt 3 branch as our designated meeting point. It’s a popular meeting spot as it’s like a rotunda, and we get to browse while waiting for one another… Myself in a heap. Oops, I tripped over one of those people sitting on the floor. Dude, didn’t you see the sign? “No sitting on the floor please.”… Bright lights, ow. I can’t explain it but the lights are just too bright for me. While I can browse through the books comfortably, there’s something impersonal about their lighting. I just can’t put my finger on it.

I hear: A Customer Representative on the phone, talking to the Rep of another branch… asking if the book I’m looking for is available at their branch. I like how closely connected the branches are. I wait a few minutes more and the rep tells me the book I’m looking for is available in Glorietta, and they’ll reserve it for me till tomorrow. Goodie!

I smell: Spaghetti? A Java Man Cafe opens right to the Fiction section of the GB3 branch. The aroma of tomato sauce can either stimulate me or annoy me, depending on my browsing mood. Well, I don’t want my books to smell of food!… Coffee!! Ah, that’s better. The aroma of coffee mingling with the scent of fresh books are okay. I can take that.

I taste: Puttanesca. The pasta at the Java Man Cafe’s pretty good!

I feel: An elbow dig into my ribs. That’s an exaggeration, but that’s how I feel in their Shangri-la branch. It’s smaller than the other branches and I can’t stay in there for too long. Even the one in Megamall can be a tad suffocating… Eyes digging into the back of my neck. I finally get to sit on the couch, ready to browse several books when I sense someone eyeing my seat hungrily. Oh please. I can do without this harassment. I stand up and return some of the books to their shelves.

National Book Store: The National Supplies Store

I see: Books and magazines and greeting cards, oh my! And pens, notepads, folders, paintbrushes, coloring books, notebooks, glue, rulers, etc. You need school supplies? They’ve got it. It’s a one-stop shop!… Old books!!! Of all the National Bookstore branches, I like the one in Cubao the best. I like going up the stairs to the topmost floor where the old books are kept. Some of the books look like they were haphazardly thrusted into the shelves. It’s all very charming. I used to visit this place a lot before watching basketball games at the Araneta Coliseum.

I hear: “Ispaghetti pataas, pataas nang pataas…” I put down the book I’m checking out. Listening to the music of the Sex Bomb Dancers isn’t really conducive to browsing. Some kids are enjoying it though, suddenly doing the signature dance steps right there by the notebooks section. I tell the nearest saleslady to lower the volume, please; and perhaps, change the song? She changes the song alright. It’s another Sex Bomb song, “Bakit Papa.” I shake my head and walk out of the store. I’ll come back for the book another time.

I smell: Glue and paint. It’s just like a supplies store, what do you expect? I’m transported back to my kindergarten days. This is making me want to buy a box of crayons and a coloring book… Dust. I’m back at the Cubao branch and am thinking there is no way my asthmatic husband can stay in the old books section for a long time.

I taste: Nothing really…but that Tropical Hut fastfood joint across the street’s making me hungry. I spy with my little eye a burger joint across the Quezon Avenue branch. I remember being in gradeschool and my folks taking me there to eat a juicy burger after some book shopping at National. I wonder if the burgers still taste as good.

I feel: A bit sentimental. I just spotted those notebooks with pictures of celebrities as the cover page. I remember wanting one badly as a kid. Which actor you ask? I’m not telling!… Creative. The display of acrylics and canvases is calling out to me. I start checking out the prices and wonder if I should get a “Acrylic Painting for Dummies” book.

Booksale: Finders Keepers

I see: Back issues of O, InStyle, Mademoiselle, Real Simple… and other magazines. I love browsing through the magazine racks at Booksale. They sell back issues at an average of 1/3 the original price, even lower for others… An old book with the words “Jessica, age 8, July 10, 1986″ scribbled on the loose first page. I love the history behind previously owned books. I find joy in finding scribbles on the corner of the pages… An old man crouching on the floor. He’s looking at the old books settled on the floor. This place is a treasure trove.

I hear: A lot of rustling through pages. Magazine pages are being flipped here and there, and there are several people going through paperbacks. We’re all intently reading even if we’re standing side by side (it’s kinda cramped.) Kids reading to each other. They just grabbed a book from the children’s books shelf and are reading off it. Everyone in the store listens to them and is charmed.

I smell: The musty odor of old books. It’s not too overpowering, but that’s something you should expect of a store that sells old books after all… Siopao. Huh? Oh, it’s the siopao stall right outside the Booksale branch at Makati Cinema Square. Anyone care for a quick snack?

I taste: A strawberry-filled donut and mmmm, hot coffee. After my Booksale shopping at MCS, I decide to walk one store down to Dunkin’ Donuts. Here I can browse through my newly bought back issues of Marie Claire and Country Living while I indulge myself with a sweet snack.

I feel: Like a huntress. If you look really closely, you’ll discover books that are in very good condition. While yellow pages and the occasional torn page can add to the charm of an old book, crisp and clean pages still get two thumbs up too! And if you look even more closely, you might be able to spot a rare book too.

Fully Booked: My Book-Loving Heart’s Delight

I see: A buffet of books as I enter the place. I’m at the Power Plant branch. A wide selection of books greets me as I enter and I am instantly drawn to this week’s new picks. If only I could pile my plate up high with these books! This buffet has stimulated my reading appetite. A wide spacious area with books everywhere I turn. Is it okay to drool over a store layout? I love how airy the place is. The floor area is wide, the ceilings are high, but the bookshelves tuck you in so comfortably. I can spend hours in here. Friendly staff. I like that they don’t hover over you but are instantly present when you need to ask something. A cove for a Children’s Books section. This is one of my favorite spots. This section is in one corner of the bookstore, and it’s set like a maze. I enjoy the feeling of being in a separate book world, and I don’t mind the kids sitting on the floor one bit. Here it is allowed. Lots of brown colors. Yessss. I like how it gives off the feeling of being in a modern library. This bookstore treats book-browsing like a sacred art.

I hear: Soothing music. I’m not sure who’s singing, but whatever music the staff’s playing, it sure puts me into a book-browsing mood. Easy listening, nothing heavy. No Sex Bomb, thank goodness.

I smell: The crisp scent of fresh, new books. Need I say more?

I taste: Crepes! Well, I don’t know how they taste like. I’m usually too excited to browse the book buffet to stop and eat at their restaurant!

I feel: As if I’m on a quest. I just spotted Ann Tyler’s books and am going through each one of them excitedly. I take out my notepad and write down the titles. This store sure fills up my book wishlist… Warm and cozy. I send my husband a text message. “Will take 30 mins more. Browse ka muna sa O.”… At peace. My husband replies with “Ok. Take your time.” I smile and slowly devour the fiction section’s many book titles. I’ll start from “A” and go down to “Z,” then make my way to the Cookbooks section, then the Architecture section, then the Travel section…. Hey, he did say I could take my time right? :)

Obviously, Fully Booked is my personal favorite.

My, that was quite a tour. I hope you enjoyed it even though it was quite lengthy. So are those book bags filled yet? Wasn’t it a sensorial experience, as promised? Well, brace yourself. There are many other bookstores that are worth visiting but I’ll stop here for now. Maybe one of these days, we’ll visit Books For Less and A Different Bookstore. And after reading Migs’ review of Libreria, I’m excited to visit that place too. And the Manila International Book Fair’s in two weeks. Time to further sharpen those senses, fellow book aficionados.

Happy browsing!