Is it difficult to buy a book by a commonly known, English-speaking author (Nobel prize winner!) in an English-speaking country, in a quite big town, with branches of at least three big book-selling concerns? The answer might be surprising and unexpected - it is difficult.
I spent a month trying to buy a book for my friend's birthday (yes, that is true, and that is why I buy presents a long time before birthday and Christmas!).
I could choose an easy way and buy the book online or simply go to one of the bookshops and order it. But I wanted to be sure that I can exchange my gift quickly if my friend would have that book already...
When you order online, the process of returning stuff is obvously longer, so I turned to the bookshops avaiable. But in one of the stores I was told that if I order a book, I won't be able to exchange it later, so to have this possibility I would have to wait for the book to come with a random delivery. In another bookshop I found out that actually even if I ordered a book, I would have to wait for it way too long to be on time with it for the birthday!
Finally, when I found the book I needed (after about three weeks), the cover was damaged and there was only one copy in the store...
I was lucky I got what I needed on time :) And, much much more important - my friend haven't read the book and is happy with the present! Happy birthday once again, M.! :)
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