The experience of reading is one that is unique to the reader himself. Immersing in a world unknown, exploring ideas never thought up of before, or just reading for nostalgia, reading is, above all, a pleasure.
Reading a book, that is.
"There is no frigate like a book to take us lands away, nor any coursers like a page of prancing poetry."
-Emily Dickenson
Until recently, whenever we mention reading it has almost always been reading a book, but something has changed this. The electronic book reader. While it is not widely available globally, its use slowly but surely spread.
But what good is a book if it cannot be flipped, stacked on your living room table, or shelved away to collect some dust until you next pick it up and enjoy it again? Someone once said "A book is like a present you can open over and over again". True, that.
A book(or magazine) is more than just its literary content. Its colour, shape and even smell, makes it unique. What it tells of the reader is another attribute that the electronic book reader most definitely cannot replace. A man reading Hugo's Les Miserables looks to be a cultured one, the same man reading Hugo's Les Miserables on an electronic book reader looks (to me) more like a geek than anything else. (if he was reading a copy of Playboy, however, it is preferable that it be done on the electronic book reader, so I guess it does have some plus points.. but I digress.)
Books however small, have a sculptural presence and invariably become little islands of interest. The little mound of books stacked in the loo gives a certain insight into the thoughts and concerns of a person. What books are strewn about on the coffee table have the same effect - people notice books. Books, as any visitor to a civilised house knows, do furnish a room. Books never look untidy, even when piled in tumbling stacks.
Imagine taking a stroll about Harvard, and stumbling upon its massive library filled with books of all disciplines looming above. Impressive, isn't it? Now, replace the tomes with these electronic book readers.. They just do not have the same visual effect, especially if their batteries are long dead.
There is something luxurious, even sensual about the book that the electronic book reader can never attain. Antique tomes have a certain allure that appeals the senses and intellect. Don't know about you but in my case antique technology generally find their way into rubbish dumps (or recycling plants etc. what have you).
As long as Man has the need to narrate his knowledge, the book - the one that uses no batteries and are cheap to produce and can last for ages and ages - will transcend into immortality.
PICTURE TAKEN FROM FLICKR.COM. UPLOADED ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2008 BY Roberto69
