On a recent trip to Taipei, one unexpected joy was coming across a bookstore entirely by accident. Even better, I found that its English section was as large as or even larger than the Chinese (Mandarin) section.

A book with the portrait of US President Trump on its cover enjoyed a special place on a desk all its own. I assumed the book was in English and that the store was promoting it because it was newly released.

An escalator connected the store’s three floors. Children’s books occupied a corner of their own, in the same space as bookmarks, key rings, crayons and ballpoint pens in a variety of attractive colors. I felt the same vibe as a kid would, upon discovery of a magic land, and it reminded me of the time my father took me to the bookstore for the first time, when I was five or six years old. (The bookstore was known by its nickname, PECO for Philippine Education Company.)

Almost a hundred years later, I was happy to note that in this bookstore in Taipei, I was in the company of young people – strangers -- who busied themselves browsing, without talking or making a sound. I would’ve wanted to ask them who were their favorite authors and what keeps them reading, reading to discover new writers and buying books recommended by their friends or teachers. I know the joy of being hooked by a writer whose voice seems to be intended for you and you alone, the way I was hooked by Truman Capote, Carson McCullers, Colin Dexter, Martha Grimes.

Those writers are long gone, the more’s the pity that this late in the day, I have not found someone of their caliber, whose voice I can identify with. I keep looking, though, searching, waiting . . . I wonder what today’s literature professors are reading, and which authors they are recommending to their students.

Decades ago, I discovered the author who was to become my favorite, Martha Grimes, in a second-hand bookstore in Baguio City, which is why, today, I cannot resist browsing – with every intention of buying – in stores that sell “previously owned” books. Agatha Christie (with her Hercule Poirot) will do in the meantime.