Tokyojupiter - Side B - [books] 12k, version: taiki

Picked up the 2nd Twelve Kingdoms book yesterday from the B&N over on 8th Street. It became such a production even getting it because things around me seem to be quite fraught with some drama lately.

I call the store, ask them to find the book so that I could put it on hold and not have to wander around the place looking for it. Sounds simple and logical enough, right?

WRONG. I get to the bookstore after work, speak to the two people on the main floor first before I'm told that the book may be held in reserve downstairs in the kids/teens section. Fine. Go there and I'm second in line waiting after a lady looking for a book about a farting dog. B&N employee may or may not have noticed me, but proceeds to have a 20-minute conversation on his cell phone, ignoring my pathetic self just waiting for him there.

At that point, I just decide and go look for the darn thing myself. I found it and left to pay.

Seriously, this is why online buying has become so much more appealing. Employees just don't know the meaning of customer service anymore. It's one thing if he didn't see me waiting for him, but it's another to leave me hanging out while he has a long, drawn-out personal call. Make your personal call, fine -- but keep it short and sweet. Or, at the very least, acknowledge me and ask if I need anything.

In any case, have only briefly glanced at the novel so far. The more of these novels that I read, the more that I am struck in awe how closely the anime kept to the original work, especially with regards to this arc, anyway.