That smell can take us back to stories we've read and places we've dreamed of faster than the words on the page can, sometimes. And it's the natural, chemical result of aging paper.You can read more about it here: http://scientopia.org/blogs/scicurious/2013/01/04/friday-weird-science-the-good-old-book-smell/
I think, even if I go blind someday (a distinct possibility since I plan to live long enough to meet my great, great grandchildren and I already wear pretty strong glasses/contacts!) I think, even then, I'll keep old books around, just to smell them while some machine reads to me.
And yet, I do a lot of reading on my Kindle. I have a pretty simple one. It does have a touch screen, but it's not back lit. It can read aloud to me, but in an awful computer voice, so I don't use it. It doesn't go on the internet, or have color, but it doesn't hurt my eyes. I love that I can carry dozens of books in my purse. I love that once I get snuggled down with the Kindle in bed, I don't have to adjust to turn the page. I also love that I can adjust the size of the text as the light gets dimmer when the sun sets. There are a lot of good things about these devices, even if they don't smell good, or make that lovely crinkle noise library books with plastic dust jackets make.
What about you? What type of book (or ereader) do you use the most? What type do you like the best?
Traci Tyne Hilton, author of the Plain Jane Mysteries and the Mitzy Neuhaus Mysteries, loves to give away free books! Foreclosed, and Good Clean Murder are always free, for all eReading devices! Pop by her blog to get them today! tracihilton.com/books
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I think, even if I go blind someday (a distinct possibility since I plan to live long enough to meet my great, great grandchildren and I already wear pretty strong glasses/contacts!) I think, even then, I'll keep old books around, just to smell them while some machine reads to me.
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And yet, I do a lot of reading on my Kindle. I have a pretty simple one. It does have a touch screen, but it's not back lit. It can read aloud to me, but in an awful computer voice, so I don't use it. It doesn't go on the internet, or have color, but it doesn't hurt my eyes. I love that I can carry dozens of books in my purse. I love that once I get snuggled down with the Kindle in bed, I don't have to adjust to turn the page. I also love that I can adjust the size of the text as the light gets dimmer when the sun sets. There are a lot of good things about these devices, even if they don't smell good, or make that lovely crinkle noise library books with plastic dust jackets make.
What about you? What type of book (or ereader) do you use the most? What type do you like the best?
Don't want to miss a freebie or a new release? Sign up for her newsletter! ;)
Traci you're so right about the fragrance of books. There's nothing else like it:)
ReplyDeleteNothing at all! I believe in the link I included they mention a perfume that is supposed to smell like old books. I am sorely tempted by it. :)
DeleteI read on my iPad using different apps. The feature I like most is the ability to download samples before I buy.
ReplyDelete~Nancy Jill
Samples is a great feature! And of course with the iPad you can read from any app, which is very cool!
DeleteI love to smell books! And a trip to the used book store is probably tops on my list of fun things to do. The stores have that certain scent of book.
ReplyDeleteUsed book stores are the best! Unless they keep a cat, then I sneeze my head off. :( However, I started allergy shots finally, and so soon I can go into any used book store I want to! :)
DeleteLike you all I love the smell of books. Libraries, oh how I love libraries. But like Traci I find myself using my Kindle Touch to read, for all the same reasons. The convenience, the economical books, storage, and it doesn't hurt my eyes. I use the same reason as Ray Bradbury, when he finally gave the okay to release his books to ebook format, it is nice to be able to carry your whole library with you.
ReplyDeleteYes! The whole library in my purse...so wonderful! But libraries are so marvelous. Cozy, quiet, and full of books! Very few things are as good as that.
DeleteI love this post. The smell of books can take me back to my elementary school days when we'd march to the library and there would be that special smell of books. Thank you for posting this it has brought back pleasant memories.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Deb! The smell of books and that sound--that crinkle of the plastic library dust jackets--are a huge part of what made me fall in love with books!
DeleteThanks for finally writing about >"A Book in Any Other Format would Probably Not Smell as Sweet" <Liked it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for finally talking about >"A Book in Any Other Format would Probably Not Smell as Sweet" <Loved it!
ReplyDelete