I think it was the Christmas I was 12 or 13 that I asked Santa for it. I couldn’t wait until Christmas morning; I knew that heavy, rectangular prize under the tree was waiting for me. I was about to receive
As with all books, there is something to be said for their physical nature. The act of reading, the feel of the paper pages between your fingers, the different weight of a paperback vs a hardcover, or permabound and roughcut. So many variables that shape the reading experience as much as the words themselves. This is something that I’ve struggled with as I debate whether to give in to the allure of the e-reader, but it strikes a different chord when its the OED, a volume so large and so revered that it takes years to update.
Recently, I almost bought a nook. I was seduced by the thought of travel that didn’t require me to bring 5 different books, but rather one slim electronic device that could hold a library. It’s difficult to resist the convenience, though in the end I opted to wait and see what comes next.
So where does this leave us, those lovers of literature?
