I'm a Bibliophile. It's Not as Bad as it Sounds.

 

 

There's nothing like reading a great book. My absolute favourite books are the life changing ones. You know, the ones where you take away a profound new thought or idea. Really, how can you not love that? I'm not a fast reader, and most times it takes me at least a month to get through a book unless I really, really adore it, only because I am easily distracted. Candy Crush is usually the main distraction, but other usual things that capture my attention are watching movies with my kids, laundry, playing with guinea pigs, texting until late at night, and painting random things as the desire hits me. If I detest a book I won't finish it. If I love it, I'll keep it close to my bed even after I've finished it and read passages from it as my whims dictate to me.

I have lists of books that I want to read, and I go searching for them on a regular basis. Ahhh but my searching is systematic. I try to check books out of the library when I can, but if it's a popular book and I'm not able to renew it once or twice it doesn't work for me (remember: slow reader). If that's the case, or if the library doesn't have that particular book, I search in other places. I start at the used book corner store at the library. Always cheap prices there but not a very high turnover. Next is the Salvation Army, where books are super cheap, but there is almost no turnover. Once in a while there are a dozen new books on the shelf, but the rows around them contain the same ones that have been there forever. The Goodwill is more expensive but still reasonable. The only problem being that they apparently have a book connoisseur on staff, because anything that's quite recent is marked up to the $8-$10 range. They've got you over a barrel there because although it's expensive, you can't get it for that price if you buy it new. Value Village sells their most expensive books for $5 each but if you buy four, the fifth book is free. Then there are the actual used book stores. After that, if I'm crazy desperate I order off of Amazon. At this point, are you wondering how often I go through this book finding process? Great question! Once or twice a week. Enough that it takes up a ridiculous amount of time that I could be spending actually reading the books I do have. Enough said.

 

The other day I was in the Goodwill purchasing some much needed (ok, not needed so much as wanted) books. I was at the checkout and the elderly lady behind me eyed up my armful of hardcovers and then informed me that she just LOVES her Ereader because she can just put so many books on it and take it everywhere with her. I wanted to tell her, "That's great, but what about the feel of the book in your hands? What about leafing back through the pages to find a certain passage or to clarify something for yourself? What about turning down the page corners on something profound that you want to be able to pick out instantly when you pick that book back off of the shelf? What about underlining paragraphs and putting your own thoughts in the margins? (yes, I do that from time to time)"

Instead, I smiled sweetly and nodded at her as I thought, "We'll see who's reading a book during a zombie apocalypse when there's not any electricity to charge your fucking Ereader, lady."