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The Demise of the Written Word?
With the proliferation of computers, cell phones, blackberries, and now the introduction of the hand held reading device, such as the Kindle: Amazon's Wireless Reading Device , some are predicting the end of the written word. I beg to differ. While these products may offer convenience and portability, I can’t see myself curling up on a rainy afternoon with a smart piece of plastic. There is just something soothing and comforting about holding a book in your hands that cannot be found in these new-fangled devices. For me, a connection with the printed page is a retreat from the rigors and stresses of everyday life. A life-long love of books has afforded me a great wealth of experience that otherwise I would not have known. I have found in them great knowledge, great appreciation of cultures, places, and people that I would have never known in my small corner of the world.
My love of books began very early. I lived within walking distance of the local library and soon discovered that hidden within those walls was a gateway to places, people and experiences that I could never have imagined. I remember the joy of learning that I could choose any of those books and take them home with me. Holding a book in my hands gave me the feeling that it somehow belonged to me. Not just the physical binding and paper, but what was contained within. How powerful the written word! It could transport me anywhere, bring new worlds to life, or provide solace and comfort. Books opened a new world for me. And although I didn’t know it then, books would eventually become my livelihood. Somehow, I just don’t think it would have been the same experience had those words been contained within a microchip.
“These are not books, lumps of lifeless paper, but minds alive on the shelves.” -Gilbert Highet
So, while I think a Kindle is a fantastic new gadget, I will never forsake my old musty friends. I owe them too much.
Beverly Manley
Life-long Lover of the Written Word
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