A word from an author about National read a book day-or (why I like old books)

September 6th is national read a book day, excuse me for rushing it but of all the national celebratory days we celebrate this one I wish we could celebrate indefinitely.

I was creeping around an antique bookstore inhaling the whimsical dust when I was reminded how sad and abandoned all these ancient volumes of forgotten lore had become It was like being in an adopted pet shelter and all the cow eyed dogs and cats are following you with their eyes.The sinister portraits hanging around were having a similar affect by the way.So were the book covers I might add.

Maybe I am just losing it because of the season.There is something magical in a book, It can be said as well as that there is something scientific on a Kindle or E book. (There you see-I said "in a book" or "ON a Kindle") something revealing there, don't quite know what it is.The traditional book, especially an old one, an enchiridion sounds magical- doesn't it? It looks and feels as it evokes emotions of antiquity that are all too human to us; perhaps they remind us of our own fragility and confinement to the world ; The many lives and characters contained within the pages

.The digital books with cool design plastics and fonts share a collaboration with 0's and 1's wholly scientific not leaving much room for magic or aesthetics reminding us subtly through design format how complex the world really is and how simple we can make it through advanced mathematics. (Whew)!

Digital things distract me from the written word stressing -(my opinion only), affecting the reader like an interrupter ad,and somewhat similar to a mental commercial to those who are tuned in, echoing how infinite the future is.

Just what is the medium trying to tell us?Hard plastic shells with illuminated screens; certainly not Romance or adventure or fantasy. That is what the content is for. I think it provokes the reader to stay engaged. Television reading?

Test this theory. Try disengaging someone playing a video game on their cell phone.-( Again my own speculation),Both digital and traditional books share the same content of story at the same time bringing the reader into different directions by feel and touch. Well, I am neither a publisher nor a digital screen geek.I am biased to writing books, all formats are important to me. So If you find time over these next Autumnal weeks and you would like to try a different read I encourage you to find an old volume of forgotten lore and cuddle up to some by gone sensations . the more worm holes the better.