on books
"How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book!"
It perplexes me sometimes, how I can spend so many hours with my head looking down and my eyes burrowing into the pages of a book. They really are curious objects, when you think about it. Made from paper harvested from trees, pressed with ink, held together with glue and sometimes thread, it's amazing how books can impact our lives the way they do. And, there are so many different kinds of books capable of communicating so many different things.
When I was a boy, usually before bedtime, my mother used to read to me. From what I can remember, my favorite book was called "Go Dog Go." It's a classic children's book about all kinds of colorful dogs racing toward a big party inside a huge tree. When we are children, books, with their simple life affirming stories, activate our imaginations and fuel our curiosities so well. And when we share those feelings with a loved one, we come alive and feel connected to something bigger than ourselves.
As we grow older, however, our interest in books and reading seems to evolve. We read burdensome textbooks to educate ourselves in school, then we read fashionable magazines to stay popular among our peers. As adults, we may browse through serious newspapers to stay abreast of current events; and, if we can find the time, we might even read a "gripping" piece of popular fiction during an annual summer holiday.
I wonder if the very first bookmakers and bookbinders had any idea how influencial their invention would become? And, I wonder if they had any idea that the books they would so carefully print and bind would be replaced by a myriad of inexpensive publications that are picked up and thrown away at the drop of a hat.
A few years ago, I worked for a Rare Book Conservation Center. Although I rarely restored any of the historic volumes myself, I did work with and around them every day. I packed books in boxes and shipped them to far away universities; and, I often built custom cases and enclosures for books written and printed almost 500 years ago. Many of the books were falling apart, but surprisingly, many of them were not. In fact, some of the oldest volumes were often in the best condition, as they were usually made with the highest quality paper, ink, and leather. To hold a book of this stature in your hands was truly a gift. Somehow, you could feel the love and care of the original bookbinder in the book itself.
Sometimes, I wish more books were made the old fashioned way. But, then again, mabye that's not very realistic. Maybe the best binding should be reserved for the best writing. And, maybe there just aren't that many historic writers out there. Perhaps the current publishing world is as it should be. Cheap paperback books for quick and easy reading. No need to read substancial works, when there is money to be made and shopping to do.
Considering the ammount of reading I do, I don't own that many books - probably under 200. Most of them are hardback editions, although I do own a few of the lesser, paperback variety. I think if I ever generate any extra income, I will update my collection a bit. I'll likely replace some of the cheaper volumes with better hardcover editions. I'm not sure how many new books I will continue to buy, however. Lately, I find it more valuable to re-read a classic a number of times, instead of forever expanding my collection.
I think certain objects take a long time to appreciate. Like a close friend, a good book takes time to get to know. The more the author of such a book has in common with you, the more you feel at ease; and, the more you feel at ease, the more a part of yourself the book becomes. When you read a book that begins a new era of your life, a dormant part of your spirit wakes up.
Yet, perhaps all good books foster a feeling of closeness and familiarity within their readers. The closer the book hits home, so to speak, the more closely we hold it near. My literary friend Thoreau is someone who has walked a path that feels similar to my own. And, for this reason, my copy of WALDEN has become a book that will remain with me, either physically or spriritually, for a long time to come.
In the end, I suppose that I am just thankful for the books that have helped me to grow and evolve; and, not only will I continue to read them and handle them with care, but I will also acknowledge them as important extensions of the person, and the writer, I am slowly trying to become.
It perplexes me sometimes, how I can spend so many hours with my head looking down and my eyes burrowing into the pages of a book. They really are curious objects, when you think about it. Made from paper harvested from trees, pressed with ink, held together with glue and sometimes thread, it's amazing how books can impact our lives the way they do. And, there are so many different kinds of books capable of communicating so many different things.
When I was a boy, usually before bedtime, my mother used to read to me. From what I can remember, my favorite book was called "Go Dog Go." It's a classic children's book about all kinds of colorful dogs racing toward a big party inside a huge tree. When we are children, books, with their simple life affirming stories, activate our imaginations and fuel our curiosities so well. And when we share those feelings with a loved one, we come alive and feel connected to something bigger than ourselves.
As we grow older, however, our interest in books and reading seems to evolve. We read burdensome textbooks to educate ourselves in school, then we read fashionable magazines to stay popular among our peers. As adults, we may browse through serious newspapers to stay abreast of current events; and, if we can find the time, we might even read a "gripping" piece of popular fiction during an annual summer holiday.
I wonder if the very first bookmakers and bookbinders had any idea how influencial their invention would become? And, I wonder if they had any idea that the books they would so carefully print and bind would be replaced by a myriad of inexpensive publications that are picked up and thrown away at the drop of a hat.
A few years ago, I worked for a Rare Book Conservation Center. Although I rarely restored any of the historic volumes myself, I did work with and around them every day. I packed books in boxes and shipped them to far away universities; and, I often built custom cases and enclosures for books written and printed almost 500 years ago. Many of the books were falling apart, but surprisingly, many of them were not. In fact, some of the oldest volumes were often in the best condition, as they were usually made with the highest quality paper, ink, and leather. To hold a book of this stature in your hands was truly a gift. Somehow, you could feel the love and care of the original bookbinder in the book itself.
Sometimes, I wish more books were made the old fashioned way. But, then again, mabye that's not very realistic. Maybe the best binding should be reserved for the best writing. And, maybe there just aren't that many historic writers out there. Perhaps the current publishing world is as it should be. Cheap paperback books for quick and easy reading. No need to read substancial works, when there is money to be made and shopping to do.
Considering the ammount of reading I do, I don't own that many books - probably under 200. Most of them are hardback editions, although I do own a few of the lesser, paperback variety. I think if I ever generate any extra income, I will update my collection a bit. I'll likely replace some of the cheaper volumes with better hardcover editions. I'm not sure how many new books I will continue to buy, however. Lately, I find it more valuable to re-read a classic a number of times, instead of forever expanding my collection.
I think certain objects take a long time to appreciate. Like a close friend, a good book takes time to get to know. The more the author of such a book has in common with you, the more you feel at ease; and, the more you feel at ease, the more a part of yourself the book becomes. When you read a book that begins a new era of your life, a dormant part of your spirit wakes up.
Yet, perhaps all good books foster a feeling of closeness and familiarity within their readers. The closer the book hits home, so to speak, the more closely we hold it near. My literary friend Thoreau is someone who has walked a path that feels similar to my own. And, for this reason, my copy of WALDEN has become a book that will remain with me, either physically or spriritually, for a long time to come.
In the end, I suppose that I am just thankful for the books that have helped me to grow and evolve; and, not only will I continue to read them and handle them with care, but I will also acknowledge them as important extensions of the person, and the writer, I am slowly trying to become.
Stillbook
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