• Facebook
  • BlueSky
  • Instagram
  • GoFundMe
  • Threads
  • Mastodon
roostlogohead2cropped-transp-blue-owlS.pngroostlogohead2roostlogohead2
  • Home
  • All Magazine Issues
  • About
    • Vision and Mission
    • Meet the MockingOwls
      • Leadership Team
      • Editorial & Writing Team
      • Design & Web Team
      • Performing Arts & Tabletop RPG Team
    • Our Contributors
    • Keep the MockingOwls Roosting!
    • MockingOwl Roost Staff Services
    • Contact
  • Submission Guidelines
  • Blog
    • Artist Profiles
    • Best Of
      • Gaming Corner
      • Round Ups
    • Film and Theatre
      • The Acting Side
    • Inspiration for All
      • Positivity Corner
    • Fiction
    • Poetry
    • Music
      • Music Performance
      • Music Reviews
    • Reviews
      • Book Reviews – Fiction
      • Book Reviews – Nonfiction
      • Film Reviews
      • Tea Reviews
    • Resources
      • NaNoWriMo
      • Writing Prompts
      • Books for Writers
    • Series
      • Travel
        • Literary Travel
      • Fitness for Creatives
      • My Favorite Things
      • Writing Memories
      • Things I Wish I’d Said
  • MockingOwl Roost Workshops
  • Resources for Creatives
    • Presses Taking Unsolicited Submissions – No Agent Necessary
            No results See all results
            ✕
                      No results See all results

                      Selling Books

                      Published by Shaoni Chakraborty at November 17, 2023
                      Categories
                      • Fiction
                      Tags
                      • dark fiction
                      • Edgar Allan Poe inspired fiction
                      • fiction
                      • Shaoni Chakraborty
                      Selling Books - fiction story cover, Indian woman in background, books surrounding her

                      Image created onCanva

                      As a single woman, thirty-five-odd-years of age, the only things I’ve ever given my whole heart to are books. I have never understood people who sell books. Why would one ever, ever part with a piece of someone’s heart? A book can be a gift, a memory, a lesson, a token — basically anything you can think of— and yet it lands up in thrift stores!

                      Fortunately, financially unstable folks like me exist and save these little treasures that also often save us. 

                      After Maa passed away from sudden heart failure six months ago, I found respite in the only place that has comforted me since childhood. I spent days and nights weeping and hugging every book she left me. I went over every single page of every single hand-me-down and wet them with my heartbroken tears.  

                      Many sleepless nights and restless days later, I finally decide to visit the used-book stall in my friendly Calcutta neighbourhood. I finished my breakfast a bit hastily, for the ominous skies foretold the advent of a sudden monsoon this year.

                      Although I love getting drenched, I have serious doubts about paperbacks and hardcovers enjoying the rain as much. And so, the sooner I finish running my wordy errand, the better.

                      ***

                      Ashim dada runs an heirloom store in the narrow bylanes of College Street, the legendary Boi Para of Calcutta. His shop — an obscure, dim, and dingy cubicle bordering the pavement — houses a plethora of used and abused prints. Some rare, some annotated, some ripped, some scribbled, but all equally fascinating and beautiful.

                      Speaking of fascinating, there can be nothing better than Edgar Allan Poe and his gothic and grimly fantastic pictures painted in letters. I have been eyeing his compilation, full of all the gory stories to satisfy my hunger for the darkness.

                      Today is clearly a day of dreams, since The Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque is waiting for me right in front of the ledge of Ashim dada’s shop. 

                      As soon as I grab the hardcover, the pot-bellied shopkeeper says, “Limited edition. 500, but only for you.  This piece is in such untouched condition — it’s almost impossible to get your hands on!” 

                      I look at him with a slightly raised left eyebrow. “I myself was shocked. MRP 2000. See for yourself?” He turns the book over and points at the price printed on the bottom left corner. 

                      “Hmm…” I pretend to contemplate, even though I know for sure that I absolutely need this on my bookshelf. “Pack it for me, please. I’ll buy it.” I finally let go of my frown.

                      I begin walking towards home in a light drizzle, with a giant cumulonimbus blocking the bright side of the otherwise hot, tropical afternoon and the wind strong enough to almost blow my umbrella inside out.

                      ***

                      I see a blinding streak of lightning as I close my door, followed immediately by a deafening clap of thunder. The power goes off, no different than every other storm in a metropolitan suburb, and eventual transformer short circuits. I yawn at the predictable monotony. Isn’t there anything thrilling in my life, other than page after page of Poe?

                      I open my newly bought parcel and stare at the book. It looks soft and matte and does not feel like anything else I’ve ever touched in my life. I love it! It belongs on my antique bookshelf inherited from my grandmother, not in some lackadaisical, ignorant household that chooses to sell this precious thing off. I love it to bits! 

                      Lost in thought about my newly acquired treasure, I open it to the first story, “Morella.” I begin reading, engrossed in the captivating penmanship of the author, when I’m startled by my name being called from upstairs. I brush it off as a mere hallucination and continue the story.

                      Not long after, I hear a rattling at my window. This weather is now getting on my nerves. Can’t I be left to read in peace? What is this weird climatic behaviour, a bolt out of the blue, in the literal sense?

                      The beckoning, meanwhile, has intensified.

                      ***

                      Irritated and indignant, I decide to stomp upstairs and stash my book in the ornate shelf. Stationing the hardcover in its new home, I turn around to leave the library, but freeze on my own tracks. Blood splatters on books and bloody scratches all over the walls make me shudder and let out a shriek.

                      Unfortunately, no one can listen regardless of how loud I shout. My books are falling off the shelves and windows are breaking open from the ruthless winds. Combined, the wind forces each book open and the pages’ sweet ruffles now sound a crass cacophony. 

                      I shut my ears with the palms of my hands. The sensory overload is too much for my autistic brain. Books hit me all over my body. I cry in pain, but the pain echoes right back to me. 

                      The Tales of the Grotesque and the Arabesque hits me on the back of my head. I fall out of the third floor window, finally to be reunited with Maa.

                      ***

                      The only suspicious object recovered from the scene of my death is an edition of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tales of the Grotesque and the Arabesque, bound in human skin leather. Police investigation reveals almost nothing and I am declared dead by suicide. 

                      The unique book was auctioned and successfully sold. 

                      Alas, I still do not understand people who sell books.


                      Looking for more? Check out these other great pieces at the MockingOwl Roost.

                      • Winner!
                      • Chorus of the Waiting
                      • Too Pointless
                      • The Girl in the Sand
                      Shaoni Chakraborty
                      + postsBio

                      Growing up in the world of Rabindranath Tagore is blessing not many have. An Indian by birth, she has been in love with words ever since she can remember, although she always felt that the magic of the classics is impossible to recreate. Stepping into her early twenties, she strongly held onto her roots of a simple Bengali. Her words spill like a butterfly's wings on paper, and she absolutely adores the freedom of expression that it allows. Writing is her peace.

                      Find more on Shani’s Facebook and Instagram.

                        This author does not have any more posts.

                      Related posts

                      bowl of cherries on a table with greenery around image - TEXT: Ice Cherries, Fiction, Tandy Malinak

                      Image created on Canva

                      June 20, 2025

                      Ice Cherries


                      Read more
                      Microphone in cradle hanging into frame over red background - TEXT: Skunk in the Garden - Liz Lydic - Fiction - a Tale from Hollywood

                      Image created on Canva

                      June 17, 2025

                      Skunk in the Garden


                      Read more
                      fantasy world with woman in background - new worlds - TEXT: My World - Daisy Blacklock - Fiction

                      Image created onCanva

                      May 14, 2025

                      My World


                      Read more

                      11 Comments

                      1. The Book, a Short Story says:
                        December 10, 2023 at 1:46 am

                        […] Selling Books […]

                        Reply
                      2. Emma’s Place, Part 3 says:
                        January 29, 2024 at 2:13 am

                        […] Selling Books […]

                        Reply
                      3. Order Up: Fiction Friday at the MockingOwl Roost says:
                        February 28, 2024 at 10:07 am

                        […] Selling Books […]

                        Reply
                      4. Fantasy Fiction Issue 2024: the MockingOwl Roost says:
                        July 18, 2024 at 6:00 pm

                        […] Selling Books – Speculative Fiction […]

                        Reply
                      5. Sci-Fi Edition 2024 - the MockingOwl Roost says:
                        September 2, 2024 at 12:41 pm

                        […] Selling Books – Haunting Short Story by Shaoni Chakraborty […]

                        Reply
                      6. Centaur Days of the Born Winner says:
                        September 20, 2024 at 2:00 am

                        […] Selling Books […]

                        Reply
                      7. George the Ghost, a Cozy Halloween Tale says:
                        October 24, 2024 at 2:08 am

                        […] Selling Books – Short Story […]

                        Reply
                      8. Holidaymakers on Their Happy Holidays says:
                        January 12, 2025 at 2:21 am

                        […] Selling Books […]

                        Reply
                      9. Lahore Moments: Dance of the Peacock, Part 2 says:
                        March 6, 2025 at 2:17 am

                        […] Selling Books – Dark Fiction […]

                        Reply
                      10. Just Another Plank: The Nature of Work, Part 5 says:
                        March 7, 2025 at 2:03 am

                        […] Selling Books – Dark Fiction […]

                        Reply
                      11. All the World's a Stage - The MockingOwl Roost says:
                        June 3, 2025 at 8:58 am

                        […] Selling Books – Dark Fiction […]

                        Reply

                      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

                      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

                      "If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."

                      Toni Morrison

                      Archives

                      • July 2025
                      • June 2025
                      • May 2025
                      • April 2025
                      • March 2025
                      • February 2025
                      • January 2025
                      • December 2024
                      • November 2024
                      • October 2024
                      • September 2024
                      • August 2024
                      • July 2024
                      • June 2024
                      • May 2024
                      • April 2024
                      • March 2024
                      • February 2024
                      • January 2024
                      • December 2023
                      • November 2023
                      • October 2023
                      • September 2023
                      • August 2023
                      • July 2023
                      • June 2023
                      • May 2023
                      • April 2023
                      • March 2023
                      • February 2023
                      • January 2023
                      • December 2022
                      • November 2022
                      • October 2022
                      • September 2022
                      • August 2022
                      • July 2022
                      • June 2022
                      • May 2022
                      • April 2022
                      • March 2022
                      • February 2022
                      • January 2022
                      • December 2021
                      • November 2021
                      • October 2021
                      • September 2021
                      • August 2021
                      • July 2021
                      • June 2021
                      • May 2021
                      • April 2021
                      • March 2021
                      • February 2021
                      • January 2021

                      Newsletter Signup Form

                      Newsletter Signup Form
                      © 2021 The MockingOwl Roost.

                      All Rights Reserved