My parents read to me. They always had a few books ‘going’ at any given time and passed on their love of reading to me. . .and a love for books. My childhood was the realm of “Golden” books, the 1950’s equivalent of today’s children’s books that talk, unfold to fantastical shapes, electric devices that enable them to light up, move etc. These innovations limit the imagination. A generation before me listened to the radio. It required the listener to imagine how the characters looked, the towns where they lived, their family and friends who had became familiar to the listeners. I am often disappointed seeing a movie based on a book I have read. Never is the visual portrayal as satisfying as my imagined reality.
When I am on vacation, I have an uninterrupted swath of time to read. I prefer non-fiction, biographies, books about WWII, humor, cooking, and of course, the occasional music-related tome. Seldom do I read fiction unless it is based on a real event. I used to visit the downtown Barber’s Book Store here in Ft. Worth where there were untidy stacks of new and old books, some on the floor, some on shelves, and the wonders to be discovered in the upstairs gallery where I could not stand up due to the low ceiling. The minute you entered the store there was an intoxicating scent made up of musty, dusty old books. . .for this bookaholic, it is an odor that made my credit card fly out of my wallet. . . I too, can own some of this! I have hundreds of books: many related to my profession; and the rest. . .shelves in my garage full of books, books and more books. Most have been read at least once, some more. I have an aversion to getting rid of a book and am certain it must be a medical (psychological!) condition–perhaps, Terminale Livreoptinosis?!
I have set the scene. Now it is time for the zinger: other than books related to my profession, I seldom purchase books, that is, the physical kind you can touch, mark, loan and display proudly on a shelf. I admit to being slow to embrace technological advances and had it not been for the excess weight books add to my luggage, I would not have put my toe in the pool of virtual books (e-books). Yes, I admit it, I read off of my I-pad and have since 2011. When I downloaded (I did it myself!!!) my first book, it took me about 7.5 seconds to discover that I could reformat to larger print as well as change the on-screen look. Footnotes, cumbersome for so many reasons, are rendered benign by a simple tap on the number–boom, it takes you to the explanation, and after you have read it, push ‘return to reading’– boom, right where you were. I think I am going to warm to this. Notwithstanding that, I increased the type size to resemble something Theodor Geisel would use; a mere flick of the virtual page and I am cruising through the book. Although you always own the e-book, you can’t loan it unless you loan your reading device. A little matter of copyright prevents unlawful copies being shared. And my bookshelves are now virtual bookshelves stored in something called a Cloud. . .almost more than a 50’s child can take in.
When I see a book ad or hear an interview with an author on radio or television, it takes me about 2 minutes to find the virtual book, purchase it and download it to my I-pad. Often I am reading the book before the interview is completed. Most e-books books cost $9.99; many classics are free; others, $.99, and a some cost more. The point is with an I-pad, Kindle or similar reading device, you have the world of knowledge at your fingertips in just a few seconds.
If you still are not convinced to try an e-book because you like books–here’s a little secret of mine: find a few of your oldest books, put them on your bedside table or wherever you plan to read, and don’t ever dust the table or anything near it. Voila! imitation book odor! Where there is a will, there is a way.
Millions of titles are available in e-book format. Now that I have made my confession, I can concentrate my energies by sharing my summer reading list with you. Look for it in the coming weeks. In the meantime, check out those Kindles!!!
. . . Mark Scott, Summer 2013