Post 2: What is a Book?

A book...when I think of a book I think of a real book. Not some Kindle or Ipad but the true book—made out of paper and all. I think a real hardback book is more of a sentimental thing. I believe people who have grown up only reading on Kindles and Ipads wouldn’t really understand why those of us who read paper books enjoy them so much. Because of this I think a book is like an old picture from your childhood. The picture probably is not that interesting to someone else outside you, or maybe your mom, but to you it brings memories of some of your best experience, such as birthdays or first days of school. The paper book may not seem that interesting to someone who reads eBooks but to you, the true flipping of a pages and smell of the book mean something. Real books remind me of warm, fluffy blankets and just curling up in the winter time. I think I feel more happy reading a paper book rather than on my Kindle because of this.

I agree with Nancy Jo Sales because her opinion is that, “There is something about the physicality of book, the way it looks and feels and even smells—the notes in the margins—that’s what makes it a living, breathing companion.” I think Sales is saying that just holding the book makes the reading experience better. You feel like the book is a “friend”. I completely agree with this because when you open up a book and see the little comments people have made and feel the paper, it makes the book that much more magical.

Victor LaValle says that treating a book like something special is ridiculous and unnecessary. He says, “Now you hold that essence [of the book] in your hands! And other melodramatic nonsense. It all strikes me as a pretty Old Testament way of thinking.” I don’t agree with any of this. I believe what LaValle is arguing isn’t valid because I think that peoples experiences with book make the book special. And then when you pass that book on to someone else to read, the get to share that special experience with you and the book. I think it does matter what you read on because you will have a different experience whether you are reading on a device or a real book.