Books vs The Kindle/other reading boards

I can tell you immediately that I much prefer books to the kindle. First of all, they are physical property, unlike their virtual counterpart. There is a certain character to books. The character comes from many different attributes to the book. It can be modified or simply how the book was made.

The different covers a book can have, is always an interesting thing. It adds something to the world the book is trying to portray. If it's a really old piece of literature, then, you can find old covers that aren't printed any more and that adds to the value (in my mind). They also let you know a little bit about the marketing strategy of the book at that particular time. It reveals a little bit about whatever was in the mind of the publisher/marketers, that made them think such a cover would sell more copies.

Above all, I love used books. Whether they be borrowed or store bought, there is always a little side gift. There is little notes here and there left by previous owners. Hand underlined sentences that sometimes leave an enigma if you can't find a meaning in them. The condition in which the cover and pages aged give little clues about the personality/ies of previous owners. Even little things, like the smell of humidity or dust accumulated withing the pages, give insight in to it's whereabouts. Dried up droplets of some kind of liquid of whatever color as gifts embedded in this book's papery soul by previous owners clumsiness, or intentionally.

Sometimes, you find even more. A little piece of paper with a note on it. Phone numbers, code words, e-mails, recipes... The best of all that I've found was a break up letter from one lover to another. I wonder if the person for whom it was intended, ever read it. Was this note intended to be read as a surprise by the person to whom the book was given to once they stumbled upon it? Did the receiver just think that someone forgot the letter in there and never opened it with the thought that they would return the book? Or did they just simply read it, and leave it in there as some sort of memory and then forgot about it as they've gotten rid of the book? I'll never know, but at least I am part of this book's voyage. Unlike it's virtual counter part.

I realize that the kindle (and other reading boards) get the advantage of convenience. The convenience of carrying many books at one time. And I give it that. But, at the same time, I wonder who needs to carry more than one book around besides a student. If you are going on some long trip, is it really that dull that you need more than one book (or any book at all) to divert your attention from living in the moment?