Good news: Waterstones (Amsterdam branch) has a pretty fair selection of “graphic novels” (read: comics).

Bad news: Waterstones (Amsterdam branch) is fairly pricey.

Good news: Said “graphic novels” are on a 3-for-2 sale.

Bad news: In fact only about half of said “graphic novels” are on a 3-for-2 sale.

Good news: One that I want is covered. (Alison Bechdel, Fun Home.)

Bad news: One that I must have isn’t. (The second volume of collected Moomin strips.)

Good news: They have several others that I would like to own eventually (Maus, Black Hole, various Sandman volumes…)

Bad news: The ones I want most aren’t on sale; the ones on sale are expensive. One Sandman volume is marked down, one isn’t; I couldn’t justify Black Hole without Maus, but Maus isn’t marked down (if that’s not a “Graphic Novel” then I don’t know what is), and arithmetic is not my strong point and now my brain is starting to steam

Upshot: much dithering and trips back and forth to the stands, and eventually Fun Home and the Moomins.

Consolation prize: $1.52 on a “Waterstones Card”. They know how to taunt a bibliaddict.