Why I Love Books

I got a Kindle for my birthday. I come to the e-book format with reluctance. After all, haven't I worked with and loved books all of my life? I love the way a book feels in my hand, I love the smell, the texture of the page, and, if borrowed or used, the journey each book may have taken before. That journey is often marked on the book in some way. Its history in a note from the giver to the receiver.

I am a club member at PaperBackSwap.com. Club members trade books with one another, paying only for the postage. A book lover's dream club.

I recently received a book from PaperBackSwap.com called  "Between Ourselves: Letters Between Mothers and Daughters 1750-1982", edited by Karen Payne and published in 1982. It is about the relationships between mothers and daughters as revealed by their letters to each other over five hundred years. Compiled at a time when it was OK to call oneself a "feminist", the letters in the book cover many different mother/daughter relationships, from the loving friendships that sometimes occurs to the sometimes hateful ones, and everything in between. 

The copy I received has the following note written on the inside cover:

In 1984, someone who signed herself "M" gave this very book to Vicki. Could "M" stand for "Mom?" Makes sense. "M" has a smiley face under it. I conclude that mom and daughter have a good relationship in 1984. I wonder where they are now, 27 years later. Of course, I may be completely wrong in my assumptions. That's OK, though. This book has a history. It was given with love in 1984. If I had gotten this book in Kindle format, I would never have seen and wondered about this warm-hearted gift. 

There are things about the Kindle that I like. I like being able to get a book instantly and not have to wait for it to be delivered. I like that you can change the font size to make reading easier. I like the Kindle much better than I thought I would. 

I do feel a sense of loss, however, when I think that e-books do not carry their history with them. That will be missed. 

Spring Comes Hard

I know, it's typical for spring. Snow one day, 70 degrees the next. Snow at this time of year is particularly galling, though. It doesn't last long, but the fact that it appears at all  is just plain irritating! Both the calendar and the groundhog say SPRING!

Still, we get some gorgeous sunsets this time of year.