The Number One Reason I Love Used Books
Which, consequently, also doubles as the number one reason I will never buy a Kindle. I can’t even tell you how much I sincerely hope that physical books (and the stories they tell by the people who pass them down) never stop existing.
This particular story goes like this:
I bought a book as a gift for my little sister. I didn’t notice the inscription written in handwriting that looks remarkably similar to our Aunt Julie’s before I transported said book home and opened the front cover to thumb through the first few pages.
The inscription reads:
Sharless,
When I was a little girl I fell in love with this wonderful story of Heidi. I dreamed of seeing the Alps for myself, as Heidi believed their beauty was magical! Many years after I read this story, I had the chance to travel to Switzerland to see the Alps for myself! Always believe that your dreams will come true.
Karen
2005
I love books. One of my favorites books is a beat up copy of Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam by Omar Khayyam that was passed from my great aunt Judy to my Grandma and then to me. There’s handwriting through out it from both my Gran and Aunt Judy.
that’s awesome! and what nice handwriting. :)
Wow. Amazing. :)
Oh! I love finding inscriptions in books.
I will never own a Kindle either. I love the smell, look and feel of books.
There will be a library with a sliding ladder in my house someday. Mark my words!:)
I love that picture, and I love finding inscriptions in books. (I like writing them and thinking about someone finding them years from now, too.)
Oh, I like this so much. And I love used books too!
A Kindle always sounds good when I’m flying, though…packing eight books can get heavy.
———-
Oooh, see that might be the only sustainable argument for the Kindle that I’ve heard thus far. Packing (and moving) books is the worst!
How beautiful is this!? Really beautiful.
Lovely, lovely, lovely.
I love this. And you, for sharing it.
(And also, because you’re YOU.)
But so sad that the book was inscribed less than 5 years ago and found its way so quickly to the used bookstore. :-(
Perhaps your sister will love it for longer.
yes, yes, books have such a tactile pleasure that will never happen with a kindle. the crack of the spine, the smell of the ink and pages, the folded down corners or corners with the potential to be folded, the squish sound of my embosser labeling my book as mine on the title page. plus, come on. i’ve dreamed of having my own library in my house as long as i’ve lived. it LOOKS pretty.
I like to think paper books and e-books can coexist. I like the idea of using a Kindle for some types of reading, while also having a giant personal library of “real” books.
I couldn’t curl up in bed with a Kindle the way I do with a book every night. But maybe I could take a Kindle loaded with several books on vacation instead of taking up valuable luggage space for everything I want to read.
This is my hope at least…
it’s like you live inside my head.
[This is me sticking my tongue out at you!]
I’m a Kindlevangelist, so you know where I stand. (FROM MY COLD, DEAD HAND.) But I agree with Doahleigh – there is a huge market for coexistence. I STILL love my used books from Powell’s and my stinky library books. Just not as much as I love my Kindle. ;)
Aww. :) For that same reason, I like giving books to friends as gifts!
I love books too. I can’t imagine ever having them replaced by anything else. I can’t handle online newspapers because they’re just. not. the. same.
i love this so much. totally another reason to add to my NEVER GET A KINDLE EVER list.
I’m right there with you Kerri. There’s something magical about thumbing through a worn paperback that Kindle could never emulate.
Karen’s inscription is beautiful. As is the girl who posted about it. xoxo
And that! Is why I buy all my books secondhand. Some say charity shop. I say vintage, baby.