In reference to my last post, Bookshelves, I have this question: How on God’s green earth can I even have a bookshelf if the world is going Kindle on me? If I were the type to read a book then store it away in a box in the attic then I might be a candidate for Kindle. I get how they could be great for travel: finish a book on the plane then buy a new one and begin a new story—cool. Same with itunes—great for travel. But I know where it’s headed: the same direction albums went. And photo albums. Nowadays everything is downloaded and stored in invisible places that require usernames and passwords to assess. Photographs on computers, books on Kindle, and music on ipod.
In the old days (like just a few years ago) you could walk into someone’s house and have conversation pieces displayed everywhere. Guest looking at gigantic album sleeve: “Aw, I see you like The Bay City Rollers, too.” Now, looking at a picture on the mantle: “And who is this cute little cat? He looks just like you.” Now looking at bookshelf: “Oh, you have an autographed first edition of Phyllis Diller’s Guide to Housecleaning, too? My goodness we have so much in common”
Technology has now made snooping into other’s lives that much more challenging—and I don’t like it.
And worse, technology requires more sitting tying to learn it all, thus causing extra, irreversable poundage of thy hips and thighs.
Tricia
You are too funny! And also, right on this. Many times, the books on my shelf have sparked a conversation topic among visitors to my home.
I read a humorous blog post the other day about “literary snobbery” saying that, if everyone goes to electronic readers, we’ll lose the opportunity to sit in a coffee shop, restaurant, or public transport holding up a book to show off your exquisite literary taste in public. 🙂
Yes, and think what it will do to the future of pick-up lines. It was always the perfect way to meet a person of interest by commenting on the book the other person was reading. In fact, how would you begin your book if Meredith didn’t notice Jalal reading a book she had once read–and didn’t like?
And as for showing off, I want the world to know I really do have Phyllis Diller’s book on housecleaning. It’s a riot. And when you walk into my house, it appears as if I took her seriously.
True; I was thinking about my opening scene when I read your post. Of course, I can’t even imagine that REAL books will ever disappear.
I mean, really, no more author book signings?
I’m with you! I think you could make a KILLING in the industry by inventing faux book covers for Kindle owners to display on their shelves at home…like all that fake stuff they use in model homes! I see your name on the Dow Jones even as I type this!
Christian,
Good idea; I’m liking it. I almost choked on my gummi bear it’s so good.
Thank you Tricia, great post!
I’ve posted a few comments about my thoughts on kindle here and there, but I’ll say that nothing replaces perusing through a books store. I have found books in this way that I never come across on line. To give hope, recently I pulled into a parking lot with ToyrUs and Chapters. My five year old saw chapters and yelled “The store with the big book! That’s my favorite store ever!”
Since I’m one who judges a book by its cover 🙂 … then Kindle and me will never work out