I spoke to someone about Kindles last night. Today I mentioned them in one of my replies to a comment.
This is how it is. I like books. I like sitting in a room with well-filled bookshelves. But I like having several hundred books contained in something the size of one slim book, and I like the ability to increase the font size and have lighting readily available. As my eyes have aged I find the last two points to be of growing importance.
Now, for a moment, place yourself in a forest glade. See the beams of sunlight that penetrate the foliage, smell the damp soil as it sinks beneath your feet, and listen to the birdsong. That is how I see reading a book. With a book you have physical presence, weight, and the smell of dust and mould and paper (yes, I do have a lot of second-hand books). Reading a Kindle is like watching a nature programme on TV. They can show you the sunbeams and record the birdsong, but there is nothing physical beneath your feet, and no scent.
That just got6 me thinking about blue eyes in animals. Specifically, why do very few animals, apart from humans, have blue eyes? How, you ask did I get to this? Simply by thinking that an orangutan on TV is less easy to bond with than one in a zoo where you can see it, hear it, smell it and make eye contact.
Unfortunately I made the mistake of looking on the internet for an answer, an error further compounded by wandering into Quora. That, for those of you who have been fortunate enough to avoid it, is the digital opposite of the British Library, being a worldwide depository for stupidity.
And with that thought on modernity and the digital age, I will leave you for now.
A pile of books
I tried very hard to read books that I downloaded. And I loved the idea of being able to search a subject or a name that I wanted to be reminded of. But I just can’t. I need a paper book in my hands that drops onto my face as I fall asleep. That’s how I do it.
And QUORA! I had no idea that was a thing – but I realize now that I have clicked on links that are absolute rubbish and I I think they were QUORA.
Same as me with writing -, I always write more creatively if I’m using a pen that has the potential to leak in my shirt pocket. 🙂
I prefer hard copy books. The house is full of them. 🙂
Many animals have blue eyes, or at least one blue eye. One of my cats has a golden eye and a blue eye.
I’m going to have to pay more attention – the only ones I can think of are magpies and jays.
Tootlepedal’s jackdaws, too.
I meant Jackdaws but wrote magpies – senior moment!
You write so eloquently about books. I am totally inquorate – i.e. never heard of it. Have you noticed that red-eye in photographs of dogs is blue?
No, never noticed blue eye in dogs – w had cats and lots of green and yellow eyes. 🙂
P.S. I am often drawn into Quora knowing what a fool I am being but cannot seem to stop myself. A rather unsavoury habit I think.
Yes, I often feel slightly uncomfortable after I leave, even after just a few minutes.
By the way – nice to see you out and about. Must get over to your blog as I slowly get back to normal.
There isn’t much to see on my blog I’m afraid. I have had hardly any time for posting in ages. I’d love to get back to it but can’t at present.
My 250 word posts take enough time, and as yours always cover so much I imagine they are very time consuming. Nice to see you here anyway, and hear you are OK.
I love books for all the reasons you have given. I love to see bookshelves crammed with books. I have a Kindle app on my phone and use it when I’m away from home so I don’t have to carry books in my bag. I find holding my phone (which is quite large) with my arthritic hands difficult, much more so than holding a book but I do appreciate the larger fonts and the lighting. Real books are much more ‘user-friendly’ in that I can go back a few chapters to remind myself of something and can usually find what I’m looking for with no trouble. I find the Kindle method of doing this difficult and uncongenial. I also try out new authors via the Kindle app; much cheaper and easier than buying a ‘physical’ book I can’t enjoy. Our library has nothing in it that appeals to me. They appear to spend their budget on buying books requested by the public and after a year or so sitting on the shelves unread they then try to sell to the public at a considerable loss in aid of library funds. Harumph! Another way of trying out new authors is buying second-hand. I often find some absolute treasures in a second-hand bookshop and then have to sneak them home without Richard seeing and find a place to hide them.
It’s a very complex issue once you start thinking of it, isn[‘t it. If I had to choose I would opt for real books, despite the disadvantages. 🙂
Jut like writing with a pen despite the pain it causes on a bad day (sometimes it’s still OK).
I know what you mean about writing with pens! I have real difficulty holding small things like pens, knives and forks. Osteo-arthritis is the culprit now.
Have you been asked if you would like to try Methotrexate as an injection and is that something you would be happy with? Have I asked you this before? I have found the methotrexate side effects are minimal now as the medication doesn’t have to enter my stomach. I have been in remission with my Rheumatoid Arthritis since changing to the injection.
No, you hadn’t mentioned the injections. The methotrexate tablets are OK now – my digestive system seems to have adjusted and they generally hold everything in check.
The psoriasis and the psoriatic arthritis seem under control and it’s just the osteo in my knuckles that causes a problem. I can grasp a pen but as I start writing the knuckles start to crack. A bit trickier at work – I have to be very careful when holding coins, particularly expensive high grade ones where dropping them could be expensive! 🙂
I have, I admit, not had a problem holding a knife and fork, as a quick glance at my waistline will confirm.
Glad to hear you have found something that is working for you. Have to say that methotrexate has been a wonderful thing for me as my hands had become almost useless before they started me on it.
I am very glad to have avoided Quora so far but can I avoid it now that you have piqued my curiosity?
It’s the white bear all over again . . .
https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-white-bear-problem-ironic-process-theory.html
Yup, whatever works for each person. I love actual physical books and find kindle offputting in many ways and will never use it nor read other lengthy things online since it doesn’t work with my brain nor preference, but others with arthritis have said they love the ease of use. Literacy in good forms is good in my view, so it is helpful that there are different means to it.
Yes, different answers for different people.
Very good comparisons! While I begrudge no one his or her kindle books, paper books are the thing for me. The library is where I get most of the books I read, and occasionally a special book will make its way to my collection.
Yes, I’m also planning on going back to the library once Nottingham gets itself sorted out with its programme of closures . . . 🙁
I love books also and I also hate quora.
I suspect we are a dying breed.