The Photo Gallery
Week 120 - Books
I am surrounded by books on a regular basis. Hundreds, thousands even. At times it feels overwhelmingly like I will never, ever manage to read them. But I do. I get through them. Plodding on with allotted time for each book. They are interesting. Some new, some old. Some smell wonderful. Really wonderful. There is that fantastic moment when you sit silently, open up a book for the first time and breath it in. The history, the previous owners, the life the book has had before you even pick it up. You are one small moment in that book's past, present and future.
I rarely read for pleasure during term time, my brain is too full of the required readings. But when I get a moment so read I enjoy it all the more. Simply sitting down and reading a book from start to finish is something I haven't done in a very long time.
It saddens me that we are moving away from books and increasingly to technology. Even at university, the library is getting smaller and everything is being put online. As if our brains didn't see enough of computer screens, we are encouraged to look at them more, or harm the environment by printing the copy out. Books are so important. Our children have three shelves of books purely for them. We read every night and many times during the day. I am fairly sure that, in our house at least, books will continue to live long and prosper!
If you want to see the other offerings for this week's Gallery, click on the picture below.
You are right, there is nothing like a proper paper book in your hands. I have some downloaded to my phone and it always feels a bit different!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I haven't downloaded a book yet and don't have a kindle. Not sure I could do it!
DeleteThe joy of books - you've described it perfectly. I can smell them just by looking at that photo!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. You can't beat the smell of an old book!
DeleteTotally agree! You can't beat real books!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. They are great.
DeleteIf only I could find the time to read all the books on my list, I can see how it can seem overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteI know. This year at university our reading list is twice as long as last year!
DeleteHow long until a Library is somewhere online you connect your eReader to? I can see the sense, the practical reasons for doing that, but the Lord of the Rings on Kindle just doesn't carry the same weight, Stardust minus the Charles Vess illustrations! House of Leaves without the weird colours and page layout fun! It really is not the same.
ReplyDeleteI know. It seems like such a shame. The library at university is huge, spread over three floors, but over the summer they halved the book space on one floor. I might have to start collecting books!
DeleteLovely photographs... I will admit to owning a Kindle, but if I love a book so much that I feel it's important, I will buy an original copy as you can't actually beat a real book can you?
ReplyDeleteThank you. I haven't got a Kindle and I am not sure that I could. I love real books.
DeleteWe love the touch, feel and smell of books too. I don't think iPads or Kindles will ever really compete.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Especially with children's books which involve so many textures and colours.
DeleteLovely pictures and totally agree that technology is taking over but shouldn't x
ReplyDeleteThank you. It is scary how fast technology is changing everything.
DeleteLovely shot! I seem to get distracted if im reading an Ebook, and you cant beat the smell of an old book xx
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point. I think I would get distracted too.
DeleteNow that's what a house should look like: a university library! Ebooks are good and have advantages (they're easily searchable, for instance), but I too still like the real paper. The wonder of a real book is that you can pick it up and dip into it at random: much harder with an electronic version.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, I wish I owned (and had the space for) that many books. I much prefer to actually read a real book rather than an ebook. I'm not sure I could dip into a book at random though, I like order too much! I have to start at the beginning.
DeleteCouldn't agree more . A kindle is no doubt handy for going away travelling as less heavy books to carry BUT you can never have enough books , the feel, the smell and the pleasure of turning a new page of a new book. Great post x
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! I am a bit of a book hoarder.
DeleteHear, hear!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI know exactly what you mean and reading some of the posts on here today show you how important books are in people's lives. I have resisted a kindle and I know how easy it is, but I do prefer the actual book
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. It seems like there is a lot of love for books this week.
Deletethere is something fabulous about opening a book and reading it until it was finished. I haven't done that for a long time but I very remember the joy of doing that.
ReplyDeleteI think there is something very relaxing about reading a book while technology the glow of the screen - it's just not the same.
Absolutely. I don't think reading from a screen is the same at all. I am not sure that I could ever own a Kindle.
DeleteNothing will ever feel the same as a real book in your hands. Great post.
ReplyDeleteHerding Cats
Thank you very much.
DeleteI don't think we will ever outgrow books! I love a book to read and would hate to have a kindle or e-reader!
ReplyDeleteIt's so good to hear such book love this week!
DeleteI cannot conceive of a world without books and even though I have a kindle I still hanker for the feel of paper :-)
ReplyDeleteI am so surprised at how many people really love books. It's great!
DeleteHow I love the feel of a real book, I still enjoy going to the library, even though I have hundreds of books at home, there is always something new that I wouldn't normally buy..
ReplyDeleteI like your pictures with the books!
ReplyDelete