Bonkers

Can you judge a book by it's cover? – Can you judge the Zeitgeist by a Book Shop? I have been drawn inexorably into Blackwells again. Winter driving me to it's comforts. Four floors of cosiness plus a cafe on the first floor. There could be a whole section called The Zeitgeist. Or can the whole book shop pick up on the pulse of what is going down?

It wasn't that long ago that some nerdy people were predicting the death of the book...as they did vinyl. There is one great thing about the human race – the way that it confounds experts and there predictions. Human nature is at least amazingly inventive and contrary. One thing is clear, despite the extreme leaps in technology and digitisation, paper is still happily or annoyingly with us. The dream of a paper free office was a dream apparently.

I always prefer to read anything on paper – given the choice– I never wanted a kindle. The difference between holding and reading paper and reading from a screen is like the difference between vaping and smoking a real cigarette – for us unfortunates.

Bookshops are alive and well it would seem...must be because people enjoy browsing in book shops; as I do. One can wander about and not feel that you must buy something to explain your presence. Spending too long in most other shops would feel weird. You can just be without any pressure; apart from the pull of titles, some of which have to be awful in order to attract the attention. Those publishers really know how to catch your eye– with those awful titles.

However I have also been in here in a different mood and felt oppressed by the weight of all the words. Zillions all about me. Upstairs, downstairs... in my lady's chamber. Too much to read. All these ideas being repackaged and endlessly regurgitated. But today I could wander round and pick up half a dozen books; but I have enough books at home to read, and my reading muscle is wanting. My brain fills up too quickly so I'm only managing a handful of pages at a time.

Anyway back to judging books by their covers. The self help section will take you down if you linger too long. There is a whole section called TRIGGER PRESS. Some of the titles that grab my attention: “Perfidious Albion” I would take that one..... “The Outsiders”... “Have you eaten Grandma?” I would take home “The heart is a Lonely Hunter” that hit's the spot. What about “Why Women have better sex under Socialism” “Better sex under Fascism” fantasy wise surely; “Better Sex under Corbyn” less so. Now that does speak volumes about the Zeitgeist -I'm loosing the will to live now- my energy is being drained – That is the Zeitgeist -Bonkers!

“What would Boudicca do?” I have to check the inside cover blurb - “There is only so much mansplaining, body shaming, playing nice and being underestimated that a girl can take” Now Boadicea was quite justified in being angry with the Romans but....OK just leave it there. What about the “Brexit Survivors Cook book”?

OK, I made that last one up. Later unfortunately my curiosity led me to google it – and yes “The Brexit Cookbook” is available from Amazon along with all the other marvellous satirical stuff that's out there – like Brexit toilet paper. Perfidious Albion indeed. I had to look "perfidious" up....but I knew it meant something bad.