It happened one fine day, I gave in and bought one of
those thin smart tablets that promised to replace everything else and would be
my book, guide, know it all and would answer to every query be it related to music,
weather Trump’s crass jokes or just why the Chancellor resigned suddenly. It
would also help me to have my books, for the challenged and the initiated it
means the I- pad would substitute my books, and I would not have to carry the heavy-duty
tomes that I used to lug around everywhere.
Just the slick, sleek sophisticated thinnest screen
that I would carry and flaunt in one of those design skins, and I did get one
of those designer status symbol insignia ones. Carrying the iPod meant I was
with it and I had all the information I wanted with me, plus my books that I
could access anywhere. Books and I have a life long affair, I don’t know when I
stumbled into this world where I started getting transporting into a magical
world of fairy tales, to the faraway tree, to the adventure series of Nancy drew,
hardy boys to Mallory twins, to boarding school adventures, to the romance of
the English authors of georgette heyer, Bronte sisters, and then I discovered adventure,
fiction, murder, mystery, suspense, whodunit’s, spirituality, the list is
endless. I did all of those things, using a torch and reading under quilts,
hiding in the bathroom to read, to have books that I was reading, to a back- up
book, and to have another back up. My biggest fear till date is to not have a
book to read , to be without one and that leaves me in a weird way insecure .
I know all of you have faced that particular problem
where one delays starting a book because you know it’s going to finish. That’s
my procrastination, many days and coupled with coffee and mentally making lists
of when to start and when to buy the next one. However, all this was getting
solved as I had bought this “ device’. I would never have to worry and I
started using it extolling to all how light it was, how it had a night feature
where the light would change and the font could be increased to help me with my
poor eyesight!
It was a boon for this old young readaholic mom who
needed to read and read and then sleep.
However, I realized, I am so old fashioned and ancient
that I started missing the feel of a book. The turning of the pages, the use of
book –marks that have special meanings, family, friends and even my boys have
gifted such beautiful, unique ones which needed to be used.
The feel of a book , the turning of pages, to go back
and re-read them , the illustration that sparks of the imagery in the mind ,
all that I was missing like an ache . In fact, the times I have imagined being
in Hogwarts and missing the missing steps and the friendly ghosts or being
transported to the world of Middle earth and the wise Ents. To go back the
pages and to read the written word, or to wonder whether the dire wolves have a
deeper meaning or are just soulfully entwined to the Starks.
Well, the calling was so deep, just like the bond of
Watson and Holmes and I succumbed and bought books all over again. Ah, the feel
of new books, the illustration on the cover that gave a hint and had deeper
secrets that it would reveal. One can ramble and debate on this about the
convenience of having a lightweight electronic , unlimited supply of reading
over the love of old books, the smell of pages and the heady feeling of a
holding a book that holds memories. It’s the physical feeling of holding ,
touching and feeling and then the imagery and memories associated . The human
brain is the most complex and sophisticated machine where as sensory imagery
invokes a memory rewind. For me reading
the old fashioned way is what I like and it just beats what Mr Steve Jobs made
and sold to billions .
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