I wonder if it has anything to do with the tangible experience of holding a book. Humans are so touch-oriented and I wonder if actually reading a book gives us a deeper sense of connection than being on another device . I feel like there is some psychology behind the love of real books 🤷♀️ but I don’t know
Bookshelves are hard to find these days. In a fit of madness, I bought the cheapest, crappiest bookshelf from Walmart last year ($30) and I'm already double shelving on it. What I need to do is weed my print books.
Of course, I also read plenty on my ereader. So part of my personal collection is hidden. I actually don't have much of a preference between the two - the ereader is by far more convenient, but my book acquisitions are driven by convenience of purchase and price. I struggle with the expectations, though, that as a librarian, I should own a lot of books (I mean, I do), and enjoy them.
I wondered about how your book-reading identity is shaped similarly by expectations...that you should act and appear a certain way (although your freeing cries to shed books is like finally getting permission 😂)
And yeah, most of this drama was shaped by not wanting those bookcases. Or to step foot in Wal-Mart. I was being difficult.
After reading Robert Caro’s Working (in print, by the way) I determined that I had to read his classic, The Power Broker ... but my public library didn’t have a print copy, only electronic! I also prefer a real book--it never interrupts me with a damned notification--but I wonder at what point our libraries will tip over the edge and carry more electronic books than print? Thanks for the thoughts, Bryn. Welcome, as always.
I've wondered about electronic v. paper in terms of preservation. The model of "ownership" doesn't rely on material possession (books); it relies on access, which can have all sorts of gateways and impediments. Last week, there was a court decision (Hachette Book Group v. Internet Archive) that pretty much neutralized the Internet Archive's scanning-and-loaning program of books that have long past their commercial value but that still are held within (overly long) copyright. The Authors Alliance (https://authorsalliance.substack.com/) has a report. They submitted an amicus brief, I believe.
The historian in me -- and probably in you -- worries about the disappearance of documents and thoughts in books.
Thanks, Mark ☺️ It does make me worry, although admittedly I’m still sorting out whether it’s purely an emotional reaction to days gone by, rather than anything logical. Perhaps it can’t be but emotional, and to see the vast stores of knowledge and art and stories sitting in front of us on shelves soothes middle-aged thoughts of legacy.
Thanks, Tom ☺️ I miss the little cards, the stamped reminders of when it’s due. But then again, I never owe late fees thanks to the notifications, so I should probably concede that.
Right. Also, for me, highlighting sentences physically is part of the joy of reading. (But ask my fiance about our once-pristine white bedsheets, "Is that PINK on our sheet!!?"). And writing comments in the margins. Crucial.
My bookshelves all have been either hauled out of second-hand shops or made in my garage. A real pain to move them if you have to. My favorite bookshelves were discards from the Duke Classics Department -- solid oak, tall, wide, made in the 1920s. We have just one of them still. The other one couldn't make it back to North Carolina from Evanston, Illinois. It would come in handy about now.
Those are the best, though. Sturdy vessels for all sorts of valuables, be they print or sculpted or what have you. I settled on pine crates from a hardware store, to be stained this summer.
You're not alone! Fellow bibliophile/book-a-holic here :) Book shelves are CRUCIAL. I am crabby whenever I'm not reading. Sometimes I feel like all I want to do is live in a cave somewhere in rural India and read.
Alison would be more than happy to dispose of those old textbooks. 😂
Literally came here to tell Bryn TO THROW OUT THE TEXTBOOKS.
Ha! I knew it. :)
😂😂😂
I’ve tried to trim down my book collection, but personally, a kindle has never done for me what real books do.
Same, Camille. It can’t be beat, although I’m still trying to think about why.
I wonder if it has anything to do with the tangible experience of holding a book. Humans are so touch-oriented and I wonder if actually reading a book gives us a deeper sense of connection than being on another device . I feel like there is some psychology behind the love of real books 🤷♀️ but I don’t know
I’m going to have to look and see if someone’s done a study on this!
There's something out there, I know. I can find it, though. Do let us know what you find on this!
Amen
Bookshelves are hard to find these days. In a fit of madness, I bought the cheapest, crappiest bookshelf from Walmart last year ($30) and I'm already double shelving on it. What I need to do is weed my print books.
Of course, I also read plenty on my ereader. So part of my personal collection is hidden. I actually don't have much of a preference between the two - the ereader is by far more convenient, but my book acquisitions are driven by convenience of purchase and price. I struggle with the expectations, though, that as a librarian, I should own a lot of books (I mean, I do), and enjoy them.
I wondered about how your book-reading identity is shaped similarly by expectations...that you should act and appear a certain way (although your freeing cries to shed books is like finally getting permission 😂)
And yeah, most of this drama was shaped by not wanting those bookcases. Or to step foot in Wal-Mart. I was being difficult.
I wanted to get another Billy from IKEA but they’ve been having stock issues with it for ages.
After reading Robert Caro’s Working (in print, by the way) I determined that I had to read his classic, The Power Broker ... but my public library didn’t have a print copy, only electronic! I also prefer a real book--it never interrupts me with a damned notification--but I wonder at what point our libraries will tip over the edge and carry more electronic books than print? Thanks for the thoughts, Bryn. Welcome, as always.
I've wondered about electronic v. paper in terms of preservation. The model of "ownership" doesn't rely on material possession (books); it relies on access, which can have all sorts of gateways and impediments. Last week, there was a court decision (Hachette Book Group v. Internet Archive) that pretty much neutralized the Internet Archive's scanning-and-loaning program of books that have long past their commercial value but that still are held within (overly long) copyright. The Authors Alliance (https://authorsalliance.substack.com/) has a report. They submitted an amicus brief, I believe.
The historian in me -- and probably in you -- worries about the disappearance of documents and thoughts in books.
Thanks, Mark ☺️ It does make me worry, although admittedly I’m still sorting out whether it’s purely an emotional reaction to days gone by, rather than anything logical. Perhaps it can’t be but emotional, and to see the vast stores of knowledge and art and stories sitting in front of us on shelves soothes middle-aged thoughts of legacy.
Interesting. Good info. Thanks.
Thanks, Tom ☺️ I miss the little cards, the stamped reminders of when it’s due. But then again, I never owe late fees thanks to the notifications, so I should probably concede that.
Right. Also, for me, highlighting sentences physically is part of the joy of reading. (But ask my fiance about our once-pristine white bedsheets, "Is that PINK on our sheet!!?"). And writing comments in the margins. Crucial.
I’ve been tempted with novels to underline and make notes, but can’t bring myself to do it for some reason, so I’ve been taking pictures of sections.
Ah!! Yes: I do that too: I have whole sections of photos with various books 📚
My bookshelves all have been either hauled out of second-hand shops or made in my garage. A real pain to move them if you have to. My favorite bookshelves were discards from the Duke Classics Department -- solid oak, tall, wide, made in the 1920s. We have just one of them still. The other one couldn't make it back to North Carolina from Evanston, Illinois. It would come in handy about now.
Those are the best, though. Sturdy vessels for all sorts of valuables, be they print or sculpted or what have you. I settled on pine crates from a hardware store, to be stained this summer.
You're not alone! Fellow bibliophile/book-a-holic here :) Book shelves are CRUCIAL. I am crabby whenever I'm not reading. Sometimes I feel like all I want to do is live in a cave somewhere in rural India and read.
Thanks for commenting, Michael! What would you take into the cave to read? ☺️
Hmmm. Brothers Karamazov:)