Every weekend, I find myself walking into Akateeminen Kirjakauppa, one of my favorite book stores in Helsinki. There’s something comforting about their curated shelves. They are thoughtfully selected, arranged, and always inviting. I especially admire how up-to-date their selection is. It’s not unusual for me to find newly released books on the very day (or the day after!) they hit the market. That kind of consistency has earned my trust. Their collection never disappoints.

But beyond just browsing the shelves, there’s something else I always keep an eye out for: their seasonal sale event, “Osta 4 Maksa 3” which means Buy 4, Pay for 3 in English. They usually place a small banner above the shelf to announce it, and I’ve trained my eyes to spot it the moment I step inside.

It was last year, around April, when I first became a regular visitor since I moved in to Helsinki. That was also the first time I discovered this sale, and ever since, I’ve been patiently waiting for its return. I even started setting aside a book budget in advance because for me, this is the month of the year. Book lovers, you get it.

So last week, on an unplanned midweek stroll past the store, I decided to pop in just to look. I wasn’t expecting anything in particular, just that familiar comfort of being among books. But then, I saw it: the banner was up. The sale had begun (It wasn’t running all month, by the way, just until the end of that week.). Finally! I had to resist myself from buying books right then and there. Instead, I made a deal with myself: wait until the weekend, take my time, explore properly. Good things are worth the wait, right?

When the weekend arrived, I was ready. This time, I wanted to be more intentional about my choices. I often gravitate toward science books, especially in physical format, but recently I’ve found myself falling in love with poetry and literary essays. I wanted a mix: a balance between literature, essays, and science. Something that reflects the different sides of my curiosity.

Here’s what I picked:

• Too Much of Life by Clarice Lispector
• Memories, Dreams, Reflections by Carl Jung
• In Search of Schrödinger’s Cat by John Gribbin
• The Dawn of Modern Cosmology

What a perfect weekend it turned out to be. Me, holding a shopping bag full of books I’ve longed to read. There’s nothing quite like the joy of adding new titles to the shelf, especially when you know they’re going to nourish your mind and soul in different ways.