Booktok Shelves Novels & Stories

I scanned the bookcases desperately, checking to see if I knew any of the books and— That's exactly when I noticed the shelves. They had numbering. These shelves were unlike the shelves at normal libraries, these ones had a more elaborate system of rows and columns — making it almost like a grid. Small, little shelves for at least two-three books each. And all these shelves and rows had names. Once I caught a grip of the numbering system of the rows and columns, it took me the blink of an eye to locate the specific little shelf in which my book was. Row A9, column F7. There were 5 thin books stuffed into the tiny compartment of a shelf, so it was rather easy to see what the #3 in the clue st

The books were similar in sizes, and has no unbalanced pattern. "Here!" Nathan shouted. "Shelf No. 21..?!" he frowned. I felt the disappointment in his voice. But why? "Does the arrangements of the Shelves were—" Ella was a bit shocked, covering her mouth. "They were arranged randomly!!" Aaron concluded, and panicked. He rapidly thrown all of the books in his chosen shelf just to find the Encyclopedia! "Oh, here!" Trixie gladly shouted. She was jumping in joy! "Encyclopedia No. 13, right?" she smiled.

In the far corner is a sink and a crude-looking toilet. Hooks line one of the walls, all empty. The air smells like rust and dust. But then, something catches my eye. A shelf near the back, almost hidden in shadow. Not plastic packages this time. Books. Old ones. Their spines are worn, leather cracked. Some have gold filigree. Others are thick and bound in cloth. I move closer, squinting to read the faded titles. “Lineage of Power.” “The Lost Coronation.” “Treaties of the First Blood.”

Soon I had begun to take every book off the shelf, shaking the pages, just in case, it was in there. An hour passed and I was almost done with the entire bookshelf, but no sign of the damn card. Where the fuck was it? Another few books and I was on the last one, but that card was nowhere to be found. Did it maybe slip under? I placed another book down before looking at the shelf. It was large, made of solid oak. You could see that the bottom shelf was at least five inches off the ground but there was no panel I could take off. Slowly I tried to move the shelf, cursing when I realised it was bolted to the wall.

"I'll go to the library now." I headed straight to the library next door and hurriedly walked to the red-brown shelves. My fingers slid on their boards and surfaces; I wondered and awed at their smoothness, sturdiness, newness. The old termite-infested shelves could prick anyone, but these new shelves could put anyone in Paki-bato and their furniture in shame. On the shelves were books, which still had that bookstore scent, that air conditioner, mall scent I infrequently smelled. Kuya Ronny would have loved this.

, I exclaimed in wonder as I glanced around at all of the lit shelves. “I don’t even know where to start.”, I said in awe. “Well, let’s leave the weaponry for your dad to go over with you and start with the Book of Durand. It would seem a fitting place to start, don’t you think?”, she asked with a smile as she pulled a thick heavy book from its place in the lit cabinet in the center of the room. I nodded as I watched her and followed to sit in on of the two wing backed burgundy leather chairs, table in the middle, at the side of the room.

Curiosity piqued, I pushed it open and stepped inside. My breath caught in my throat as I took in the sight before me. The room had a tiled chessboard floor and stretched out farther than I could see, lined with row upon row of bookshelves. It was a private library, grander than anything I'd ever imagined. I walked slowly between the shelves, my fingertips trailing reverently along the spines of the books. They were meticulously organized – fiction arranged alphabetically, non-fiction sorted by subject, with color-coded dots marking different genres. A children's section boasted lower shelves and inviting floor cushions, while comfortable leather armchairs were scattered throughout for quiet

They weren't joking when they said they'll have a word with my boss about my working hours. Instead of dying from embarrassment, I headed toward the book section, I could read while they aren't here. It's probably the last time I'll set foot in this place, my boss is one mean lady, she'll fire me for sure. Looking around the shop was fairly packed today, we weren't extremely busy, but not empty either. I was trying to catch a book from the top shelf, while keeping my short skirt down. I really should ask mommy for longer skirt, even with the high knee socks keeping me warm, I still was at risk of diaper flashing.

An​d behind it‍, f‍loo​r-to-ceiling s​helves. My eyes​ s​canned​, frantic. Le⁠a‍th​er-bound books​. A small bronze statue​. Framed ac‍colades. And⁠ then, on​ t​he middl‍e shelf, slight‌ly apart from t⁠he rest as if in i‍ts‌ own sacred space: a simple, thi‌n black frame.

Each chandelier held within it a dancing flame, casting flickering shadows upon the shelves of books that stretched as far as the eye could see. The shelves were made of intricately carved marble, adorned with scrolls and books, and delicate filigree. Each book was a work of art, bound in fine leather and decorated with intricate, gilded designs. Amira paused in front of one of the large mahogany tables. “Put them here,” she ordered the servants, who proceeded to place the ledgers on the table whilst she looked at the library in awe.