For the love of books

So, Santa brought me a Kindle. Hmmm.

It seems like an ideal gift, really. I have been an avid reader from the day I could string a sentence together. My life revolves around words – in my job and in my leisure time. I love magazines, books, newspapers, and word games, and you can get all of that in one place on a Kindle.

The truth is – I’m not sure what to think of this Kindle thing. It’s smooth, it’s slick and it is determined to propel me into modernity. But, as with all new technology, I may go kicking and screaming. Yes, I love words in a book, but I also love the feel of a book. I love the way paper feels, and I love the way it smells. Steinbeck is not the same on a smooth, slick computer screen.

One of my favorite childhood memories was spending hours and hours on my grandma’s farm, in the front room of the farmhouse, reading the entire Anne of Green Gables series. Even then, those books were old. The covers, which were covered in some sort of light fabric, were worn thin and reminded me that all four of my aunts, my grandma and probably her grandma had all touched and read those books. They smelled so old, and I loved it. When my grandparents passed away last year and the family was cleaning out the farmhouse, those books were the only things I wanted. They now sit on the bookshelf in my front room, and when I open them and smell them, I am brought right back to endless, lazy summer days reading at my grandma’s.

Will the Kindle evoke the same memories? That remains to be seen.

But like my transition from film to digital photography and from a flip to an iPhone, I will embark on this new journey. I have downloaded one book so far, which I have started reading, but I also have a hardback version of East of Eden on my nightstand. I may keep one foot in both worlds for awhile.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/06 at 01:36 PM

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I to was reluctant to embrace readers as I love books also.  I bought my mom one for Christmas and she did not like it and gave it back to me.  So I decided I would use it, and now I love it because I like to read in bed at night and it is so much easier to hold an e-reader than it is to hold a heavy book!

Posted by Doug Abney  on  02/19  at  01:27 AM

“I will embark on this new journey.” it is totally a good journey.

Posted by rasa  on  02/20  at  02:40 AM

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