Re-kindle-ing my love for books

I am a bit of a Luddite.  

It might due to laziness, apathy, or age 

but my eyes glaze over when chattering about the latest gadget.

I still have the original iPhone - 

only because my brother gave me his one when he upgraded.  

Otherwise, I was quite happy with my Nokia.

RIP Nokia - you were a good phone and we had great chats.

He is also the one who ushered me into the world of the iPad.

He recently bought me a kindle for Christmas 

so I would "keep up".

He attempts to be my digital pulse on the world.

I like the kindle - for the obvious reasons.

Quite handy.  

I won't regurgitate the technical positives because 

to be fair I only heard blah blah blah.

But I am still torn.  

I can't yet still promote it and endorse it wholeheartedly.

God forbid I lose it but I still wouldn't fret about it and 

go and replace it in a hurry.  

I am sure I would have been guilty of rolling my eyes when the printing press first came out.

I would have made sure everyone knew that no one could manufacture books better than the Benedictine monks.  

Funnily enough, I still wouldn't be wrong...

Image via medievalarchives.com

How beautiful is that?

It must be something primal in me -

 maybe I want to own something physically.

But like most people, I love the tactility of books.  

I like the turned pages at the corner.  

I like seeing the scribbles on the side. 
I like finding autumn leaves pressed between the pages.

There's a subplot within the covers of the books. 

This books smells of cigars.

His scribbles about what was read for what. Looks like he had to retake his exams!
 As if Milton didn't give him enough angst.

 Perhaps that is why I like old and vintage books so much.  

I love seeing the dedications in the front and the 

messages of people more than a century ago.

I love the social history you learn from the details.

In the original French edition

When Liverpool was economically a powerhouse, 

there was a market for French books. 

This book smells of so many things. 

But it would, it's more than a 100 years old.

If the kindle gets old - you gotta upload or download again - whichever one and if it breaks, well, it is broken.

If you're lucky, you can claim on insurance.  Have fun chatting with the claims agent...

But even the damage on a book is rather beautiful. 
I prefer to call it patina. 

I doubt the kindle cultivates a patina as it gets older. 

It just breaks or becomes as outmoded as soon as it comes out.

Even though this book was slightly damaged, I couldn't resist buying it.

I am worried about the erosion but if it gets worse, I will take it to a book "doctor".

Now I am not advocating getting rid of kindles and 

forgive me my sentimentality towards books.

(Some of you may be yelling at my flat attitude about the kindle through the computer screens.)

Perhaps this makes up for what I lack in other "virtues" like patriotism and conventional traditionalism.

But I love books.  

You see, I not only read books but I decorate with books.

I collect books.

I even have books about books in the home.

I ultimately worry that eventually books will disappear.

Then I might become one of those people 

who collect Georgian snuff boxes - a la Miss Havisham. 

Because then I will be a really kooky woman who collects anachronistic items - I already shout at the telly.

But I also think the warmth of my house might disappear.

I like walking past my books, 

sometimes I like simply looking at them.

( Easily amused I am...)

Let me put it this way, I like certain parts of my house.

Books have a lot to do with that so I would feel empty, 

so would my shelves.

My mini book case at present.

If books were to disappear and only kindles to remain.

My other book shelf in my living room.

                 Negative space would take on a whole new meaning.

Would you give up books completely if you were guaranteed 

a lifetime supply of kindles?

I think you know my answer.