I was looking at my collection of books. Those that are stacked on my shelves, on each other, even on the floor. Covers are wrinkling. Dust is collecting. It’s a pretty sad state of affairs actually. I realize, I very rarely (though sometimes) will pick up a book and re-read it. I even have full series’ from certain authors and read once, skimmed twice, they sit in a pile.

Books

I ought to give them away.

I should re-read them.

Unfortunately, I probably never will.

Why?

Um … well … because of something I’ll should never admit. I can’t stand yellow pages. Yep. There. It’s out.

Many years ago, I got a stack of books from someone. Only two of three, but I took one look at the covers and said ‘no’. Why? The covers just looked ‘old’.

I got more books from another person, again, an ‘older’ set and while the covers were well maintained, the pages had yellowed as if they sat in the sun for a wee-bit too long.

Even when the edges turn, they no longer have the appeal they once did … for me.

Yes, I admit, it’s sad. I’ve given up on my paper books because they’ve ‘aged’.

However, it got me to thinking. Am I giving up on ‘old’ stories because of their physical appearance? Am I discounting a book writing in say … 2000 or 1990 or 1950 or even farther back because I can’t bear to hold the pages in my hands?

I love the smell of new books.

I can’t stand the smell of musty books — that combination of humidity and dust that covers the ‘new’ and coats it with age.

None of that affects the books on my Kindle.

Yep, there. I said it. I am a convert.

I have now downloaded books I would never borrow from the library or buy ‘old’/used copies of myself. These include:
o Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
o The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
o The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (though I have to be honest and say I have NO idea how old this one is)
o The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
o Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I used to consider myself a book snob … only wanting the newest, latest, greatest and best smelling books. No that wasn’t a typo.

Now I don’t care.

I can have them all and they ‘smell’ the same. One vs. the other.

Whether I can read them, though … well … only time will tell. Writing ‘of old’ doesn’t suit me either, but that’s another post altogether.

Someone please tell me I’m not the only weirdo out there.