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THE EXECUTIVE LIFE
BOOK WORM	DINING OUT

BUY THE BOOK

BY SARAH BROBERG

Finding just the right book can deflect a Cairo rainstorm, shut out a dusty late-winter wind, or overpower the din of horns and shouting. Of course, it does help to be ensconced within the sturdy walls of a good bookstore - a venue becoming more and more common these days. From "buy it and bag it" bookshops, espresso-charged page turning and Cairo's recent foray into sales online, buying a book has become almost as enjoyable as reading it.

The bookstores of the American University in Cairo (AUC) are a one-stop shop for any and all books about Egypt. Owned and operated by the university, the stores sell all the titles that the AUC Press publishes at branches on the AUC campus and in Zamalek. They specialize in books on ancient and modern Egyptian history, Middle East studies, Islamic studies and Arabic literature in translation. In addition, they sell all the textbooks used in AUC undergraduate, postgraduate and adult education classes. A large selection of imported general interest titles is also available, including a decent range of bestsellers in the US. If you still can't find what you're looking for, special orders can be placed for most books in print in the US and UK. Besides books, a small number of Egypt-oriented gifts and cards are on offer, along with school office supplies and highly modish AUC logo merchandise.

The more casual bibliophile will enjoy the Volume 1 chain of bookstores, which offers a balance of literature and gifts. They specialize in foreign language reference books, children's books and fiction, with a sideline in local and international magazines and travel guides. Recently released novels are available, as well as a diverse selection touching topics such as childrearing, decorating, travel and pets. In addition, the shops offer a variety of CDs, cassettes and DVDs in both English and Arabic. You'll also find several shelves of used books and a stationary section for both kids and adults. The gift shop features the usual scattering of home décor items, mugs, picture frames, greeting cards and stuffed animals.

Diwan Bookstore in Zamalek opened its doors in 2002 as the first American-style bookstore in Egypt. Building on Cairo's growing concept of modern leisure, the shop sells books, music CDs, videos and DVDs in a concentric layout centered around a small coffee shop. Diwan stocks an impressive selection of titles in English, Arabic and French, covering fiction, classics, political science, Arabic novels in English translation and children's books. The obligatory Egypt section includes some very nice coffee-table books, tourist guides and maps. Works in Arabic, meanwhile, constitute nearly half of the titles on offer, and treat such sensitive topics as Arab women's issues and contemporary politics.

Books can be special ordered if they're not on hand, and Diwan prides itself on a speedy turnaround. The shop is also known for buying and selling used books for roughly £E 5 and £E 10, respectively.
As for visual media, American movies as well as classic Arabic films are for sale, and an equivalent spread of music is available on both CD and cassette. Educational CD-ROMs occupy another niche, attracting parents and repelling their children - these include encyclopedias and computer-program tutorials. Magazines, comic books and a wide variety of small items fill in the gaps, made up mostly of Diwan-brand stationary, cards, candles and pencils.

The 2,200-square-meter Virgin Megastore is an anchor of Egypt's 550-store Citystars shopping center. The UK-based company launched a flagship store in Egypt last October and has lived up to its "megastore" label, cramming its shelves with an impressive selection of English-language books, as well as music, DVDs, games, IT, multimedia, mobile phones and electronic gadgetry. Currently, the store stocks approximately 8,000 books with plans to expand the selection to more than twice that number. Indeed, expansion has made the Virgin brand a major media empire and a deal to sell books, CDs and DVDs in collaboration with Amazon.com has expanded the reach of Virgin even further. Special orders are an option if you can't find a book among the diverse selection of titles, some of which can only be found at Virgin. If you feel the need to recharge after scouring the shelves, the store features a café next to the book section complete with gourmet coffee and a menu of light items.

In vogue as Diwan and Virgin no doubt are, an even more modern environment for book shopping has now found its way to Cairo. Cairobookmark.com is pioneering the service of buying and selling books online. The straightforward site bills itself as the largest online bookstore in the Middle East - with nearly 15,000 new books for sale, the claim is hard to dispute. After completing a short account registration form, anyone can buy or sell books on the site. Shoppers can search a specific category or conduct an advanced search for a title they have in mind.

If you like what you see, simply add a title to your cart, your favorites or your wish list, the latter of which allows others to see what you might like to receive as a gift. Once you've made the leap and committed to buying a book, the delivery fee is added automatically. That fee depends on the order destination listed in your account information. Delivery generally takes place within two working days from the date of your order, and buyers are contacted by phone or e-mail to confirm the time and place of delivery. Payment is on delivery in Egyptian pounds or the equivalent in euros or US dollars.

The options for buying used books are rather more limited, consisting exclusively of a no-frills "buy now" button. Once the button is clicked, an e-mail is sent to the seller with the order information. Then it's up to the seller to contact you. As a buyer, it is your responsibility to check your message center regularly for any messages from the seller in order to complete the sale. The seller determines the delivery method and payment preference.

Interestingly, Cairobookmark.com has an exchange policy, which stipulates that new book purchases may be exchanged for different items within three days of delivery. Caveat emptor, however: the buyer must pay all additional delivery and pickup fees. Books with obvious signs of use will not be exchanged. For used books, the return policy, like everything else, is the seller's business.

For those looking to partake in the fine art of book browsing, the opportunities to hone your skill and expand your mind are themselves expanding. Whether you're searching for a classic literary work or a how-to on yoga, the hunt is half the fun.

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