Where do you go first in a bookstore?
By makingpots
@makingpots (11915)
United States
April 4, 2008 11:35am CST
When you visit a bookstore, do you have a section that you always go to first? If I have my 3 yr old son with me then I usually have no choice, I have to go to the kids section first. Then I find something for him to keep him interested while we browse through my sections. But if I am alone or the hubby is with the little one, I like to go to the magazine section first. I find that something will catch my attention in the magazine section that often predicts what books I go look at. Like a fitness magazine that I flip through might make me go first to the fitness section, or a hobby/craft magazine makes me want to go look at art books.
How about you? Do you always go to the same section first, every time you go to a bookstore? I love to read novels, but for some reason, browsing through the new novels section is always the last thing I do before leaving... I don't know why.
17 people like this
53 responses
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
15 Apr 08
Hi makingpots! I usually go first to the art magazines so I can buy something for my husband..then to the kids comic books so I will buy a comic book or two for my nephew, then I go to the novel section to buy something for my father..then the last section I go to is the inspirational book section for me. And then just browse around in the new section for newly published novels. Just my thoughts dear friend. Take care and have a nice day! 
2 people like this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
16 Apr 08
Sounds like a fun trip to the bookstore. You seem to always be thinking of others. That is nice of you.
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@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
4 Apr 08
it depends on the day and the mood - the magazines are right by the door, so i tend to have a look through them first.
i also zoom to the sale aisle to see if they have anything good on sale (our bookstore sells stuff like mugs and other neat things - and i buy for christmas all year round.)
then its crafting, history and that sort of thing and if the kids are with me, thats were we head.
2 people like this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
4 Apr 08
smart.... Christmas shopping all year. Do you ever forget what you have bought?
1 person likes this
@wonder_grrrl66 (236)
• United States
15 Apr 08
I usually go to the scifi/fantasy and manga first to browse. Then I head to the novel section to see if any of my fav authors have any new releases. Then I might browse through the romance to see if anything strikes my fancy before I head out the door. I try to only go when I really want to buy something because I have the habit of not leaving without something in hand.
@idowrite72 (2213)
• United States
15 Apr 08
My first, and sometimes only, stop in a bookstore, is at the bargain books. Most of the time I don't want to pay the price that is charged at the bookstore for books, so I only go there to browse the bargain books or if I am looking for a particular title that I can't find anywhere else. I have purchased many books at the bargain sections at the bookstores.
2 people like this
@deedoneza (83)
• Philippines
15 Apr 08
I always check the bestsellers corner first. Then I'd check out the fiction and the manga/japanese comics area next.
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
16 Apr 08
Alot of people start with the bestsellers. That is a great place to start. Thanks for the response, deedoneza.
1 person likes this
@asawanialvin0611 (1877)
• Philippines
15 Apr 08
I look at the magazines to lookat anything that is interesting
2 people like this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
16 Apr 08
I never miss the magazines. They are just fun.
1 person likes this
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
4 Apr 08
I go to the clearance books first gotta get the good ones before some other snot steals em up.
2 people like this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Yes good point. If I start at the clearance table I have an arm load to carry around with me.
1 person likes this
@tigerdragon (4297)
• Philippines
22 Apr 08
when i go into a bookstore , i usually go to the business books and the motib=vational books first because that's where i usually hang around longer. i browse then i go to other sections just to see what they have for the day and i might find something that might interest me.
@tigerdragon (4297)
• Philippines
23 Apr 08
it's like i don't know how to spell "motivational".hehehe , anyways , thanks for the reminder. maybe i am just being an too O.C.
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
23 Apr 08
Hahaha, tigerdragon...... nobody ever has typos around here.
Thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
@TriciaW (2441)
• United States
5 Apr 08
I usually go to the bargin book section first then head on over to the self help section. I end up looking at magazines last that have to do with fixing up the house. I had never thought about my routine but I guess I do have one in the book store. I can spend hours there and may not even come out with a book. I just find it so relaxing.
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
7 Apr 08
I often spend hours and leave with a book. I also enjoy looking at home improvement mags.
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
4 Apr 08
I usually go to the best sellers section first and read through some of the books there. If I have my son with me then we go to the children's section first LOL I think we spend more time there than where I want to go haha!
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Yes, it seems to work out that way doesn't it. That's okay though.
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
5 Apr 08
Hello dear makingpots. When I go to a bookstore, my favorite section of the bookstore is the part where there are lots of English books. I go to the bookstore for them as I want to find some good and practical English books that I can use in my work.
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
7 Apr 08
I hope that your bookstore has a good English book section.
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@williamjisir (22819)
• China
7 Apr 08
As we have a foreign language bookstore in the city, I can always find very good English books that I need from there. Thanks for your response.
1 person likes this
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
4 Apr 08
This one is easy. My daughter doesn't give me much of a choice. She is 23 months old and knows exactly where to go when we pass the front doors of Barnes and Noble. She heads straight to the Thomas table.
My husband and I take turns sitting with her while one of us goes to get books or magazines to look at. I usually go to the magazines first. Then I browse the biography section.
On the way out I look through the bargain books.
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Aw, yes the Thomas the train table. Been there!! One of our B&N has a better set up than the others in town and my son knows when we are at the 'good' store.
My husband and I do the same thing. We jokingly call it tagteam parenting.
1 person likes this
@heart143 (1202)
• Philippines
4 Apr 08
I usually go to the Arts and Crafts section first. I try to look for books about any kind of crafts like crocheting, cross stitching, embroidery, sewing or candle making, etc. Then I'll check on books about Cooking, afterwards go to the Magazines. After the magazines, I'll go to the Beauty and fitness section. Browsing the novels is an optional thing for me. I usually don't buy any novel unless I have heard good reviews on it or a friend recommend it to me. My husband always brings my daughter to the kids section and buys her the book she wants so I'm always free to go wherever I want to go inside the bookstore.
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
4 Apr 08
I know a lot of people who go straight to the Arts and Crafts section just like you. I love that section, but sometimes if I go there first I spend all my time there.
My husband is pretty good about taking my son when we go too. He knows that going to a bookstore is one of my favorite things to do.
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
4 Apr 08
That is smart to have a list and know just what you want.
MyLot is a great place to practice your English, pooh. I hope you like it here.
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
24 Apr 08
I always check in self improvement section. NLP, self hypnosis, psychology first.
Photography and design second.
I can easy get lost in bookstore for many hours.
@spiderlizard22 (3444)
• United States
20 Apr 08
I usually go to the one that has comices.
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
23 Apr 08
I can honestly say I have never stopped at the comics section in a bookstore. I should give it a try.
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@playsafe (115)
• India
29 Apr 08
Usually ask directly for the ones I need to have but most of them are now available online free of cost. This pertains to magazines but if you are looking for specific book, yes, softcopy is hard to read and libraries are bit far cry. so, best is to know what u need and then find it at local nearby stores. Anyway, if interested in free tech and business related magazines, check out my profile for the link.
@DCMerkle (1281)
• United States
20 Apr 08
I usually go to the bargain book table first. They are really packed around after the holiday, especially Christmas. I walked out with over $200 in books on day and had only spent $20-25, I think.
The next section I hang out in the the new age section and then probably the poetry section.
DCMerkle
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
23 Apr 08
It is exciting to find deals like that. Good job.
1 person likes this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
4 Apr 08
I head straight for the science fiction section if i'm not there for a certain book...if i'm there for a specific book i find that first then head to the sci fic/fantasy section, then to the young adult section, romance then general fiction, sometimes the computer books.
As i go through the sections i write a list of books i want or want to read...After i'm done making a list i pick one or two books from the list and head back to those sections to get the book.
I keep my lists for future reference for shopping or library trips.
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
4 Apr 08
A science fiction fan! Do you have a favorite author?
I like the list idea.
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@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
5 Apr 08
one favourite?? scifi/fantasy authors i like alot are:
I have quite a few:
Ann Mccaffrey, Terry Brooks, Terry Goodkind, jim butcher, kim harrison, kelley armstrong, christine warren, david eddings, douglas adams, marion zimmer bradley, robert a heinlen....Simon R Green, Chris D'lacey, Christopher PAloni, LE Modessitt....thats the list off the top of my head right now...I'm positive theres more.
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@makingpots (11915)
• United States
23 Apr 08
I enjoy a good chicken soup for the soul book now and then.
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