The library motif
We’re noticing a design theme in the places we saw in Shanghai today.
Here’s a quiet nook off the main lobby of The Puli Hotel and Spa on ChangDe Road.
And here’s the main dining area at Qimin Organic Hotpot on Shaanxi N. Road.
Libraries! Shelves and shelves of books! Happiness.
We’re taking a vacation from the early Manila summer. The temperature in Shanghai tonight: 2 degrees Celsius.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
March 10th, 2012 at 23:32
With the coming of e-book readers and pirated PDF book copies, physical books are on the road to extinction. Perhaps in modern day China, book publishing is already extinct that physical books can only be seen in museums or as hotel motif. Yeah!
March 11th, 2012 at 09:45
Then printed books will become collector’s items for people who live in houses with shelf space while the people who live in boxes can read e-books on their little gadgets.
March 11th, 2012 at 10:48
This was a really good article that I read recently: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/chapter-one-a-booklovers-lament-20120127-1qlby.html
On the subject of books, I still have a number that I bought for the donation drive for kids’ literacy arising out of one of your posts in late 2010, I might be coming over in September, so I’ll bring them with me. Not as many as I’d hoped, but I kept my eyes open every time I saw books to save and could afford to buy them up. Maybe some of your other readers have also been collecting?
This year, I made a bet with a friend that (subject to strict exceptions) I wouldn’t buy a book until 1 January 2013. So far, so good. I’m still allowed to get books as gifts (provided that I don’t later pay for them) so my wife got me Twisted 9 when she visited family a little while ago. But apparently Mananangal Terrorizes Manila was not to be had at National Bookstore (although I don’t think she tried PowerBooks or Mall of Asia) anymore for love or money, even ready money.
March 11th, 2012 at 11:57
Jessica, you should check out the lobby of the Urbn hotel and the designer outlet store in Xiangyang Lu. If you are billeted at the Puli that is a stones throw away from my flat and the places I mentioned. Welcome to grey Shanghai :)
March 11th, 2012 at 12:02
I can show you around if you want here is my contact number. (deleted). I am working for an advertising company here at naghahasik Ng kabaklaan :)
March 11th, 2012 at 23:33
Thanks for the offer, beach_fanatic! Our schedule is tight and we’re only around till Tuesday morning. But we’ll check out the Urbn hotel and the designer outlet store tomorrow. Stay warm.
March 12th, 2012 at 07:02
Please tell: where’s the outlet store? :) I’m going there in a few weeks! Thank you!
March 12th, 2012 at 15:35
Interesting – shelves full of printed books becoming the next decorators’ statement / showcase.
March 12th, 2012 at 22:17
Welcome to the chilly mainland Ms. Zafra. I had expected winter to be over by now, but the cold chill is back.
The library theme is pretty common, but I don’t know if it’s a good idea in a hotpot restaurant, all those fumes from the steaming pots of broth must make all the pages a bit limp.
Hope you get your fill of xiao long bao (soup dumplings) in their city of origin.