I was excited to see that Westgate books was not closed forever and had a brand new location. They are, as far as I've seen, one of only a minimal number of used book stores left in the city. However there have been a few changes aside from the new store. The most predominate change is that their large inventory consists only of one title: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. That's right, folks. The most intellectually fossillizing piece of literature from this side of the galaxy. Working the till was a young man with long, blonde hair who probably owns too many Sublime t-shirts. Curious, I asked him where all the other books, to which he replied "Other books?". "Yes" I said with my eye-brows closing in on each other, "Like Othello, The Bible, Pride and Prejudice?"his only reply was a blank stare. Whether the ignorance is willful or the product of a profound miseducation, it appears that the staff of Westgate Books has no other knowledge of any other form of printed literature that has come into existence, ever. Finally he came back to the conversation, overcoming his own mental exhaustion and said 'Don't worry, "when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."'reciting the idiotic pablum that is the thesis of spiritual-egotism found in The Alchemist. The only thing left for me to do was to weep for this poor wretch and prayed that God would have mercy on his poor rodent-like soul.
Also, it's kind of expensive for a used book store and they argue with their customers. read more
