this is really sad.. ok, i must admit first, i don't know a single thing about renting books.. i have BORROWED books, but never RENTED them from stores before.. well, there's always a first.. there's this book rental store next to the Dobi.. (yes, we have recently taken to sending our laundry out.. and why would we do that?? aha, good question.. why don't i let the accomodation office explain why they haven't fixed our unit's washing machine despite several complaints?? we somehow managed to get it working again but brute force, but now, its completely given up on us.. so?? but i digress..)
back to the subject.. now, this is how renting books work.. you rent a book, a title of your choice.. you pay an amount for the book.. and the book is yours for the stated amount of time.. say like for 3 months.. so, after the three months, when you go and return the book, they will refund you a portion of the amount that you have paid initially.. so, you will be charged a sum of money for reading the book in 3 months..
so, here's what i borrowed, J.K.Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard.. sounds familiar?? yeah, another side title from the Harry Potter series.. its more or less 109 pages in lenght.. hmm, you know how long it took me to finish that?? less than 2 hours.. i read it while walking home... the print is BIG i tell you.. plus, the amount of pages also includes some small illustrations that somehow are given a page of its own.. like this here.. (insert pix) not to mention the foreword and personal messager from some charity..
now, for the bombshell.. i read it in less than 2 hours right?? the rental period was supposedly 30days/ 1 month.. (swt..) no biggie, but then.. i paid $42 to get this book.. (ok, they were selling too.. but i wasn't that keen.. i just want to read it, ok??) when i return the book, i will get back $31.50.. now, if you know your maths, then you will figure out that i have just paid $10.50 to read a book that is unbelieveably short.. all for 2hours of entertainment.. (wtf!!! that's way expensive!!) if you charge me like $5 i can still understand.. but $10?? whoa.. i realised that when i got home, finished the book and fished out my calculator.. *bleks..
that uncle there sure know how to earn money.. think about it, if the book sells for like (okay, let's exxagerate the price a bit..)$50, then, all he needs to do is to rent it out for like maybe 5times and he would have gotten back the cost of the book.. okay, maybe he needs to pay rental and other costs, but then, they can't be that much can they?? his shop isn't exactly in a very strategic spot.. hell, you have to walk 2 stone throws away.. (laughs.. ok ok.. i was just having you guys on.. lol..)
i figured that since i paid so much for such a thin volume, why not make full use of it?? *evil grin.. now, i have a little gift for all of you my dear readers^^ i'm not sure if you all have read this book.. but you will get to, so i will be uploading all the 5 tales up here.. keep an eye out lor.. i will also tryo to include the miscellaneous stuff and interesting notes whenever i can.. hope you guys enjoy!! (hehe, i'm sure wenxi will be interested.. just that you prefer paper to digital binary codes.. kakaka.. like Bryan himself..)
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