In this world of social media and smart phones and endless scrolling and streaming, I’ve noticed very few people carry books around with them anymore. Including me.
“Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.”
Lemony Snicket
I never used to leave the house without my current book tucked in my purse or a book bag (I’m not even sure where my book bag is these days). These days, the only time I make a point of taking my book along with me is when I’m going to the hairdresser.
During the pandemic, our book club has had to meet via Zoom. Thankfully book club kept me reading. Fortunately, with some of the regulations easing up, we’ve been allowed to gather in person for the past two meetings — out of doors and distanced. Thank goodness for that.
Ever since I learned to read as a young girl, books have been special for me. One of my favourite gifts to receive has always been books and I will often give books as a gift as well. In fact, back in the pre-pandemic days, on a few occasions I’ve even given books as a hostess gift.
The simple act of holding a book in my hands and being transported to another place and time along with a variety of interesting characters has been one of the few faithful constants during the pandemic. On top of those positive benefits of reading a good book, I’m always so captivated by a really well written story. The last two novels I read, both were book club selections, excelled in the story they told. One was Michelle Good’s Five Little Indians which just won another award — the Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction. The other novel was American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins — an absolutely excellent novel. If interested, my comments on each can be seen at Goodreads.
“So please, oh please, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away, and in its place you can install a lovely bookshelf on the wall.”
Roald Dahl
For me, I’ve always found pleasure simply in how a book fits in the hand, as I mentioned above. I can even recall specific books — read many years ago — that had a particularly comforting feel in the hand: Memoirs of a Geisha; The Stone Diaries; and Obasan by Joy Kogawa. Much more recently, in the past year, I remember how Winter Wren similarly felt so good in the hand. Mind you, that novella also has a memorable and beautiful inscription handwritten on the flyleaf that reads in part, “– a far beach, a tiny bird, and … Bach.”
So the pleasures of reading, at least for me, aren’t limited to the story or the characters but also to the physical feel of the book.
Do you ever leave home with a book in your hand or purse or back pocket?
a wonderful read, Diane and i love the images that accompany it. Lemony Snickett is one of my favs for quotes.
Reading was one of my favorite pastimes and the pandemic brought it back to the forefront. Unfortunately, one book has gone half read as of late now that the weather has warmed and homeowner maintenance has taken me outside. The one thing that I will always do is buy a book like dinahmow below.
Always!
I share your lifelong passion for books! When I was a child my grandmother would send me books that were always just perfect for me. In them, she would always include a personal inscription. I like to think her graceful handwriting inspired me to care about my penmanship. I still inscribe books I give as gifts.
I don’t carry books with me to waiting rooms anymore; however, I do still pack a few when I go on vacation or am in the hospital.
Thank you, Diane, for this lovely post. You’ve brought back some great memories of the excitement of receiving a new book.
I feel the same way about books. The first line in either a new book or a beloved reread can send a shiver of anticipation through me. I have recently started using book plates, it gives me a sense of security on loaning but mostly I’m saying I love this book.
Oh, yes! In these pandemic days, I take a book if I have an appointment as magazines have all been removed from waiting rooms.
And I read on planes and on buses if the scenery is dull. And I do not own a Kindle.