My granddad is a retired Independent Baptist preacher. After he retired and he and my grandma were downsizing, he passed along some books from his library that he thought I would like. Although I don’t hold to the strong, dispensational theology that granddad preached, he still had some treasures that I was blessed to receive. Some of which include the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit series of Spurgeon sermons, The Ploughman’s Talk and Ploughman’s Pictures, a first edition of John Brown’s biography on John Bunyan, David Brainerd, Beloved Yankee, Baxter’s The Saint’s Everlasting Rest, G. Campbell Morgan’s The Letter’s of Our Lord, the Autobiography of Peter Cartwright, and a couple of Tozer books. These are hardbound books, some looking pretty well-read, and most bearing my granddad’s signature with something like “63” next to it. I’ve also been blessed to find some scribbles and notes in the mix.
Of all the things that I could have inherited from my granddad, I am most blessed to have some of his books. My grandma on the other side of my family was after me at one time to be more of a “collector.” One of her favorite things to collect are dishes. I told my grandma that I guess you could say that I collect books. They are the treasures that I want my children to have one day. Since then, grandma has passed down some goodies my way as well.
When they’re sitting on the shelf the way they do, or stacked in piles with some of their friends, the presence of these books reminds me of my family. They are my precious heirlooms, even more valuable to me than they were to my grandparents. This makes me wonder about the role of digital books. While I think that there is a role for eBooks, I want to invest in actual paper when it comes to the books that I would like to pass along. Maybe if eReaders were around it would have been a lot more cost-effective for my granddad to just download the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit series. It surely wouldn’t have taken as much space; and it would save me the trouble on the occasional vacuuming I have to do to the tops of my books (does anyone else out there use this dust-removal technique?). But then I never would have discovered the treasure. And I certainly wouldn’t have the pleasure of noticing the faded colors on the hardback slips, the bent corners on the “better loved” volumes, or the thrill of finding his handwriting in them.
The digital version renders a book more forgettable. It has no presence, no individuality, and certainly no signs of love. As a shopper, it makes me consider which books are going to be my friends before I push that “download” button.
Here’s two related links–the first on heirlooms, the second on eReaders:
The Neverending Story, Why the Kindle is a Really Bad Kisser
I only have a small number of books on Kindle, and those are ones I don’t really think I’ll read again or want to loan out. I don’t feel like I really “own” a book on Kindle, so I tend to buy real books. Sometimes, I’ll like a book so much I’ll have it on both. My daughter, who reads more than anyone I know (she’s a PhD student in English) doesn’t have a Kindle, and doesn’t like digital books. Annotating a digital book is just plain cumbersome.
So true about the cumbersomeness of adding notes digitally.
Hi Aimee,
I am with you here girl!!! Nothing like a real book between your fingers and writing in your book. Oh! And the smell of old books, you can’t get that from eBook. I have some but I just can’t seem to get into them when I start reading, it’s COLD and unfriendly reading.
Hey, how’s your book coming along? Can’t wait to read you!
Mine is on the market now, working on my next on…:)
Ann, is your book in French? I’m so with you on the smelling thing, ha! ha! I thought it was just me and my mom who were weird like that
The book’s coming along well, thanks for asking. Hopefully I can post an update soon.
LOL …yep we do have a nose for books!
Yes, my two books are in French, maybe one day God willing my editors will translate one of them. Most likely the last one, but I am not to hopeful…it’s very expensive! As always, your a blessing to read.
Thanks so much, Ann. Hopefully I will have the pleasure of reading you in English one day!
I love how you put that paper books can become our friends. I just can’t see that happening with digital versions. It sounds like your grandfather gave you a treasure trove of friends.
Tim, it’s almost like they move from personal to robotic in becoming digital. Hopefully one of my kids will want all my “friends” one day…
I am trying to do more e-book purchasing, mainly because my bookshelves are overflowing! I mainly use my kindle app for fiction or books that are offered for free (I figure free is free! Ha!). All things being equal, I much prefer a real book, hardback especially.
One of my favorite gifts to give is books I’ve read and enjoyed. You just know which friends would enjoy certain books, so you share it with them. I just can’t break down and even read an e-book…yet. I-Just-can’t-do-it! :]
…and anyone walking in your home only needs to look on your ceiling to see that you also collect coffee mugs too! Still in love with real books and the smell and feel. The giving of one as a gift and the reading of one curled up in the bed or a cozy spot. I pray that never goes away!