A Lack of Libros

Christmas came early this year! At least, I think David M. might agree. One of the most frustrating aspects of this trip (besides the piropos...which is a story for another day) is the lack of libros (books, that is). Peru isn't real big on books. That isn't a criticism of Peru's educational system (which I know little about) nor is it a suggestion that Peruvians do not read (I know for a fact that they do...I've seen it.)

Books of any genre (including dictionaries and textbooks) can only be found in very clean, sparkling librerias and only at surprisingly high prices. (P.S. Why doesn't Lima have a black market for books when it has one for everything else?) Generally, the books tend to be $5 or $10 more than US prices. I assume that is because there are no book factories in Peru. Books in English come from the US, and books in Spanish come from Spain. Then, they are set on polished wood shelves (wrapped in annoyingly impenetrable cellophane) and guarded by crisp-shirted Peruvians.

"Puedo ayudar usted?"

"No, thank you, I'm just looking."

Therefore, the summer reading that I was hoping to have has turned out to be...unavailable (aka unpaid for my checks from Joe). Unlike, David M. I assumed that I would buy books in Peru thereby making it unnecessary to lug 15 books through the airport. David, we should have chatted pre-departure about this. Dear Joe, please recommend that research be done on enjoyable reading material before peacing out (bookless) to a non-English speaking country.

So, I've been going to a local international high school/English-service church to poke through a very dusty room full of books, most printed about 3 or 4 decades ago. Occasionally, I run across a Danielle Steele (which I refuse to read), a Pulitzer Prize winner (unfortunately I read it last Christmas), and "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" (it's actually pretty insightful).

Thankfully, via the bookstore about 5 blocks from my house, Santa or my guardian angel or the libreria manager needing to clear out the stock room decided to "gift" me an book sale! And not just any book sale, an English book sale at 10 soles per libro! I can't rave about the selection, but it was much better than dusting off self-help books from a church's basement. I bought "My Invented Country" by Isabel Allende, "The God who Begat a Jackel" (no clue what that's about), and "The Conquest of the Incas" (a book sold only in Latin America that's as big as Harry Potter #4).

So, thank you, Santa. Next year, I'm going to ask for a Kindle.