I went Goodwill hunting yesterday and came home with a new book...
Don't get me wrong, I love the Kindle I got for Christmas;
it's light,
small,
portable,
and I can have any book I want now !
In fact, it could probably replace this entire bookshelf...
but is that really what we want?
You can't press flowers with a Kindle...
You can't collect old or rare e-readers...
Where will we hide our jewels?
Where will the library cats go?
Sometimes books come in handy for other reasons...
Would this painting feel quite the same if she was holding an e-reader?
The Joy of Books... simply magical :)
I love my kindle,it's like having a travelling library in one small package. But I know what you mean, there are many books that simply don't lend themselves to that medium very well. eg. design, botanical, wildlife etc. I have thousands of books and I love stumbling across old favourites.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a Kindle - yet - but even if (and when) I do, I could never be without my books. Or give up searching for interesting ones at thrift shops or book fairs. And what would bubble baths be without a good read? I'd never chance taking an electronic gadget into the bath, in case I'd drop it into the water...that would be the end of it; a book would be much easier to replace. Life without books? Oh my...
ReplyDeleteEvery point here is true. There really is NO substitute for holding the written page in our hands.
ReplyDeleteThere is a peace and calmness that comes when one settles down to read with a book.....its just a pleasure, like a treat.
Good points, all of them. Kindle Kats, anyone?
ReplyDeleteI have hundreds of books on pdf but I just prefer to have those pages in my hand. My wife has a Kindle, but I have no desire to own one. There is something about a book, especially really old ones with fancy covers and crisp pages. They just smell of knowledge where as a kindle smells of gadgets...
ReplyDeleteHI JANE - I SO agree - I too have a kindle and due to my eyes I am thrilled with it because I can enlarge the font. However, I surely miss the feel and smell and involvement with a real book!
ReplyDeleteGreat post and pics
Love Gail
peace.....
Just love your photos! I must say that I enjoy my e-reader because I can enlarge the font BUT it just isn't the same as a book. I've always found different genres smell different. Science fiction stories are metallic, mysteries are dusty - I don't get that with my the Kobo.
ReplyDeleteLol, I was just chatting with a friend and she was wondering what I meant by my title for this post "What About the Worms?" I hope everyone gets it: bookworms! What are they going to do? Just thought I'd make myself clear... Thanks for your comments everyone so far :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jane, I am your newest follower. Thank you for your fun comments on my blog. I too am a book lover. Years ago a friend asked me to help decorate her new house. They had an enormous bookcase. While arranging items I asked where her books were. Get this, she didn't have any. Like none! I can't imagine a world without books and Reading! ~ Diane
ReplyDeleteSulky Kitten, So true, it's often the tactile nature of paper that brings an illustration to life.
ReplyDeleteMartha, Yes, what would a bubble bath be without a good book? I have many books that I'm continually re-reading and these are the ones I take in the tub with me :)
Lorene, I agree, I also find holding a book very calming.
Debra, Hmmm... It does have certain ring to it ... some marketing team somewhere needs to run with that!
Hi again Debra, I knew this already, but it just hit me - do you know what a bunch of kittens is called? A kindle... !
DeleteWebDebris, There certainly are some very beautiful old books out there - especially the tooled leather ones.
ReplyDeleteGail, I agree, larger print is definitely one perk of the e-readers - one that we will all eventually appreciate.
Francie, How interesting that you used the word metallic to describe the smell of sci-fi - I recently watched a video where astronauts were asked to describe the small of space and that was the word they used. It seemed to resonate with me at the time for some reason.
Diane, Thanks for stopping by and becoming a new follower - I enjoy your blog very much :) I agree, I can't imagine life without them and I've honestly never met anyone who doesn't have at least a few books - odd that your friend even owned a bookcase, lol!
Mom so agrees. It is so tough to be torn between technology wonders and tradition.
ReplyDeleteThere is just something about the book in your hands.
Great post!
Hi Scrappy, Look at this! Suddenly we can now reply to individual posts, yay! I'm sure your Mommy is loving this too :) I agree with Mom, there's something comforting and familiar about a book.
DeleteI don't think I'll ever embrace the new technology for books--unless my eyesight fails me! I have adored books for all my life--it started with nursery rhyme books my mother bought me. Even before I could really read them I memorized them, then I created my own version of the story--to my parent's amusement! I love having books, looking at books lined up on shelves, going to bookstores, and sitting with a book. Books are one of the truly great pleasures of life!!
ReplyDeleteHi Dianne, I couldn't have said it better myself! I love your creativity as a child - perhaps a book is in your future...
DeleteI love the look and feel of books, but I totally love having a Nook. I can keep all my books in one place and have my whole TBR with me on vacation. It's perfect for me :)
ReplyDeleteYvonne, I hadn't heard of the Nook before and had to look it up; it's hard to keep pace! Readers are undeniably fantastic for travelling with.
DeleteI don't have an e-reader, because I like to be able to highlight and makes notes in my non-fiction books, and curl up with the feel of paper and pages when I'm reading fiction. I love libraries and the smell of books even. I'm not against technology but I do prefer books to e-readers. Wishing you all good things for 2012. Big hugs, Em x
ReplyDeleteEmma, Reading more non-fiction was my 2011 resolution - I did end up reading a few more than I had the year before - but I could still do better.
DeleteI also love the smell of libraries and old book stores :) All the very best in 2012!
Jane...I love your reasons...there is room for books and Kindles and Kindles are good when you want a ton of books with you...at all times!!!
ReplyDeletePatty, Sometimes it pays to take along a ton of books... what if we ended up stranded on a dessert island? We'd be set... until our battery dies!
DeleteJane-I'm so happy that you and I find great books at Goodwill! Most of our Goodwill stores in the area are selling their new books on E-Bay, but I discovered one Goodwill that does not...I'm always in search of really good novels, and cookbooks! Kindle could not replace all the beautiful pictures in the books, but it is quite handy when you go on a trip; especially in a long car ride!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Jane!
Elisabeth, I am a huge Goodwiller - I'm always on the prowl for pottery, books, unique and useful items :) I had no idea e-bay would be utilized by Goodwill, how high-tech of them, but annoying for customers like yourself. I agree with you, the Kindle is great for travel, I keep it in my purse when I'm not using it, that way I'm sure to have it with me.
DeleteI want that lamp!
ReplyDeleteI am a book lover too:)I heart that about you.
Lael, I love it too - kind of cottagey, I think it would fit in with almost any decor :)
Deleteagreeed... don't think you missed any points, jane :)
ReplyDeletenever lived in cowtown, but did spend time there visiting friends... and pubs, of course, during uni days in bc
my 3 kids were born in edmunchuk when we lived in st.albert during the years i worked at ft.mcmoney
when we split in vancouver, she took the kids to halifax... did not see them again for 7 1/2 years!
deb, kindle kats would be robots ;)
Lol, I've never heard Ft.McMoney before - perfect!!
DeleteI think Debra has a winner.
I like the Kindle for the convenience of being able to get a new book immediately. I tend to only use it for novels, and the type that I wouldn't keep once I had finished reading them if they were in book form. I also love books. I am reading a new Charles Dickens biography at the moment, and I wouldn't have liked this as a Kindle read.
ReplyDeleteJane, I received a blogging award today. I have put you down for one too. It is on today's post.
Tracey, The ability to get a new book immediately is great, but we made a point of setting down some ground rules right off the bat (we each got one) - one book at a time - unless it's a freebie or a cheapie 3.00 or under - the temptation to load it up is too great!! We know from experience that, like most readers, we have the best of intentions, but it's sooo easy to end up with a huge to-read pile (I know - I have one :) A Charles Dickens biography sounds like a fascinating read.
ReplyDeleteThank you in advance for the award!!! I'm just headed over your way. You are so kind to even think of passing this honour on to me - I truly appreciate it.
But I don't need the clutter, but I don't need the clutter, but I don't need the clutter, etc.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying this mantra to downsize the books in the basement, but it's tough.
And, I want that lamp!
Hi Tracy, I know a lot of people really like their readers for this reason. Clutter is an ongoing problem for everyone. I pretty much keep all my books in one room in a very large bookcase and then of course on my bedside table, and then a few in the living room, one or two in the bathroom for when I take bubble baths... lol, they're everywhere!!
DeleteI love that lamp too!