A good book on your shelf is a friend that turns its back on you and remains a friend. ~Author Unknown.Call me old fashioned but I have absolutely no desire to own one of those small electronic book devices which holds hundred and hundreds of books yet has absolutely no character whatsoever..... it's just not for me. I like turning real pages, using bookmarks, enjoying a well thought of and artfully done book jacket and holding the heft of a good old fashioned novel in my hands..............
I know every book of mine by its smell, and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be reminded of all sorts of things. ~George Robert Gissing
I like to walk past my beloved books and smile at the familiar titles, remembering fondly how each one came to reside in our home...perhaps it was a gift or a wonderful flea market find or a favorite beloved treasure since childhood or purchased during a library sale or on one of my various trips to a favorite book store.
Speaking of favorite book stores....On Friday afternoon my Sister-in-law, Mom-in-law and Aunt took a little trip to Manchester, Vt for a bit of shopping & lunch and stopped at my favorite book store~ Northshire Bookstore..oh what a wonderful place. This is not a chain store...it's independently family owned and absolutely wonderful. Cozy, warm, relaxing, soft music playing, huge comfy leather chairs and couches, very knowledgeable and friendly staff and a fantastic little sandwich & coffee shop with amazing lunches.
I could spend hours in this store..and on occasion do..Steph (my sister-in-law) and I go here as often as we can, grab ourselves a nice hot cup of coffee and a snack and while away the hours... always leaving relaxed, happy & with something special to read and add to our growing collection of books. During lunch we got to talking about how book stores are struggling due in part to those small little electronic devices I mentioned above and ....it's very sad.....we live in a fast paced world of quicker is better..get in get out and go about your business...the large grocery stores and department stores have forced the small mom & pop shops..tiny little boutiques and independently owned shops to close their doors..many after generations of family's running them...are book stores next? I certainly HOPE NOT!
So..you will not find a hand held electronic book in my hand...you will however find a real BOOK!
Wishing you a wonderful day, :)Doreen
18 delightful friends dropped in for a visit:
I so, so agree with you!! I do not want a Kindle either...I made sure my family knew this fact this Christmas. Give me a real book anytime!!
~Hugs
Stacy
Oh Doreen, you are a girl I can rely on - I loooove my books as well, and can not even imagine a day with no book stores. Books are a family favourite, in fact, when my dad died, the only thing he worried about was what would happen to his books! He needn't have worried because all of us, including grandchildren, fought over his books (nicely of course) :o) I have his treasured collection of World War II books - there was a printed synopsis of each week of the war, and he saved them all and had them bound. It has been suggested many times that I should donate them to a museum, but I'm not ready yet - maybe when it's my turn to go and no one shows any interest. I just know what they meant to my dad. Sometimes I just pick one up and run my hands over it and I can almost feel him next to me - that's what we will never be able to get from an electronic reader! Enjoy your visits to you book store :o)
hugs,
Brenda
Oh I know just what you mean! The techy part of me would love the idea of having hundreds of books at my fingertips, but I spend 90% of my weekdays in front of a computer, I love getting into bed at night and snuggling down with a good book, I don't need another screen to stare at!
Bookshops, now they're a whole other *thing* but I only get to indulge a couple of times a year otherwise I'd be bankrupt with a pile of books I'd never get through. Still, I usually walk away each time with about 20 books, so I use my time well ;o)
How would I ever be able to thumb back through the pages of a mystery novel and remind myself of a suspect's name with Kindle??? Books are works of art from cover to cover. I love purchasing books written for various ages for the story, the wonderful artwork, or both.
Library book sales are fun, also. I've acquired some splendidly broken in books that no one else would give a second glance past their repaired binding. I am currently reading the collection of Sherlock Holmes bought at one of these sales. Donating to the libraries is important also. Kindle has taken a good bite out of them, too. I personally think my eyes would go blind looking at a screen every night! :)
Doreen, I also agree. I love reading books. I love going to book sales, garage sales, etc. and always head for the books. I have found so many nice books and its nice to share them with family and friends. They also make such a nice gift for that special person.
Becky, a new blogger from Ginger Creme Hollow
Oh you are so blessed to have such a wonderful bookstore nearby! We had one until 2 years ago but it couldn't keep up with the like of Borders and Barnes and Noble - so sad! I would spend many an afternoon there when I could. I too love books - I always have one or more - handy. And it was and is my favorite gift for kiddo's too. I still have shelves of them from when our kids were little to share with Lili and I get her books for every occasion. I keep a few special ones of mine, but we have a wonderful program in our town at the senior center and they distribute books to house bound seniors and those in nursing homes and assisted living so I pass most of mine on to them. Any they don't pass on they sell and it helps fund the activities they do at the senior center - a win - win!
That said, my IPad has an E-Reader built in and I have used it twice to read a book. When I sat by my dads bed in the hospital and he was sleeping and wanted the light off, I was glad to have it with me with it's backlight. I like that I have both options but I could never stop picking up real books! And if the towns around here are any indication, the libraries are all expanding so I hope that is a good sign that books will never go out of style!
Enjoy whatever book you are reading now and stay warm!! Brr!!
Hey Doreen... you (once again) touch at the heartstrings of the matter! Long live the REAl book! Daryle
You said it! Love real books too. And there is nothing like spending time in a bookstore, browsing, dreaming and taking a few home. Good for you! Dawn
Hi Doreen,
The photo of that bookstore looks like it is right out of an old movie scene !
And looks so very inviting with the rounded porch and so quaint, warm and cozy inside with the lights beckoning that you come inside to take the chill off.
I have been reading books since I was a child.. Bobbsey Twins was a favorite series then and now it is Jan Karon's Midford Series.
I also like reading books by Jane Kirkpatrick and some other authors I can't think of at the moment.
And let's not forget magazines such as Early American Life and the new ones that are keepers, too: A Simple Life and A Primitive Place and then there is Mercantile Gatherings also.
I am also a collector of old books ~ especially school books.
Thank you for sharing that wonderful bookstore photo and may they stay in business for a long time!
Hugs,
Linda
Good morning Doreen~
Oh I SO agree with you!
The delight of an old bookstore with wooden floors, floor to ceiling shelves (with a ladder of course), and a wee bit of dust. And there is nothing quite like holding a book, especially an antique book. The feel of the leather, the beauty of the words pressed into rag paper, the scent of age old pages. Truth be told, it does make my heart skip a beat! I am presently reading "Little Men" with a copyright of 1899. It is a glorious time indeed!
Thank you for sharing your lovely day. May you enjoy many happy hours with your nose between the pages!
Warm hugs...Judy
Very well said!!!!
I found your blog through dog trot farm. I work in a used book store in central NH. while I think that the electronic gizmos will be our undoing at some point I will never own one. When books come in I had never heard of and I love them how would I even have heard about it if I had a gizmo? I love the weight the smell the shiny pages and discovering books and authors.
A great post thank you
Cathy
I'm right there with you, Doreen... I LOVE turning the pages and I love all my bookmarks!
It is sad that one day bookstores like this could be a thing of the past...
Doreen ,I know this to be true ! If it were possible you and Your Dad would have had just such a Book Store,The few photos you shared are just a tiny look at the many, many , books you have collected over the years .To say nothing of the trips to the Library when all anyone can see when you walkout is a pile of books and two little feet!!! And anyone who has ever been to our home knows if there is a place to set it there is a cook book,well minus the ones HE HAS GIVEN TO YOU lol.I think your love for reading has had a wonderful imprint on how you have shaped your life and your art .And you never would have found that in a hand held gadget.LOVE YOU MOM
Dear sweet Doreen ~ a woman whom I admire immensely. In nearby Concord (MA) there is the Concord Bookshop and the Barrow Book Store which we visit often ~ and we are fortunate to also live near many college towns who have independent book stores for students, families and tourists. So many great American authors and poets lived nearby and lucky for us ~ the local residents still revere the men and women who helped to shape our turn-of-the-century writers. This is a beautiful blog post with outstanding photographs. Thank you so very much. Hugs, Marilyn
No kindle for me!!! I love the idea of looking at my books old and new! I do not like the idea of not being able to fold the pages if I want to..........I love the touch and feel of old books, some how a kindle will not ever do that for me. HUGS MARY
I agree with you. I couldn't have one of those either....although I would have so much more space in my house ~ lol!
There is something about books that just make you happy. And old books with all the character and smell are a delight! I'm jealous about your book store. We have none left here. Reminds me of a favorite movie...You've Got Mail (I'm sure its one of yours also lol!)
I'm catching up today on my blogs and fb...can you tell??
Feelahug ~ Jenn :)
Oh Dorren ~~ I had to comment on this post too. I so agree love, love, love my books. Love getting them, giving them ... the feel the smell of them. Love to go back and read the words friends and family have written to me when I have received them as gifts. A good book store is a treasure and so are the small library's that dot our state .... my friends and I have a few we visit sometimes for hours enjoying the many books, each other and the quaint country ambiance. Hugs ~ Connie xox
Post a Comment