What is a love-hate relationship?

My relationship with Knowledge Book store in Bras Basah, that's what it is!!!

I've always been an avid hunter of old books, mostly for nostalgic value, but targetting primarily out-of-print titles.  Been restricting myself since I got a family and not enough space at home, but occassionally, a rare chance would come by and I get to browse through the shops at Bras Basah looking for more nuggets.

After the nameless shop next to Evernew, Knowledge Books turned out to be the next greatest treasure trove (particularly since the former is almost tapped out).

But man, oh, man, their lack of organisation and double shelving of books make the whole process so time consuming, which tantalises, entices, but mostly guarantees to take up ten times as much time as I could spare to search through meticulously.  And being good practicing Muslims, they close on Friday lunchtime for weekly prayers.

And they've been opening extensions after extension units on the same floor.

Yes, I did notice some attempt to group the target age groups together, and even marked off sections for Archies and Hardy Boys, but who cares? Those books aren't in danger of becoming out of print, and they're less than a dime a dozen.

Biggles, Race Against Time, Three Investigators, now these are the rare ones.

I love the store for their products, yet hate them for making it is so difficult to locate particular titles.

If I am still single, I could well volunteer my services to sort those books out for them, in all 6 units or so of their outlets.

It's a very gratifying and rewarding process, probably ranks right up there with sex and chocolates ... okay, maybe a little lower.

Man ... I hate them, yet I love them ...