I went to Al Muthana Complex today to hunt for some books at The Kuwait Bookshops. It’s been several months since I’ve last been there. I felt compelled to go there today for some reason.
When I walked into the store I noticed stacks and stacks of books piled up. Multiple copies of books formed little mountains all over the place. I noticed them because they were in the way & most of them had to do with Kuwait.
I asked the staff why all the books were out, thinking the answer would be a simple inventory check. But to my surprise, they told me that there was a high chance they were going to shut down. That the likelihood was they were going to shut down unless someone bought the company.
This bummed me out. This is officially the last remaining bookstore from my childhood. The ones I used to visit in Salmiya have already disappeared years ago. This was my last remaining link to my childhood bookworm self.
I know it isn’t the end of the world. There are new bookstores popping up like Q8Bookstore, a used books store at Bayt Lothan. Jarir (forever a newbie to me) is still in Hawalli. That-El-Salasel/W.H. Smith hybrid has several stores around Kuwait in the airport, Avenues Mall, and honestly locations that are more convenient for me. I understand how and why this has happened.
It still makes me sad.
This is the end of an era.
This is the place I was able to buy comics, novels, and research books.
As I stood at the cashier, paying for my selection of books, I asked them for their number so that I could be updated on the situation.
They told me the landline had already been disconnected.
I guess this is goodbye.
