{"id":636,"date":"2014-07-28T13:34:40","date_gmt":"2014-07-28T08:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital-banjara.com\/blog\/?p=636"},"modified":"2015-03-31T14:08:23","modified_gmt":"2015-03-31T08:38:23","slug":"forgotten-art-reading-real-book","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digital-banjara.com\/blog\/forgotten-art-reading-real-book\/","title":{"rendered":"The forgotten art of reading a real book"},"content":{"rendered":"

We seem to have forgotten about the joy of reading a real book.<\/h2>\n

Being the tech geek that I am, a few years ago, I got addicted to reading books on my iPad.<\/p>\n

I had downloaded the Kindle app for iPad and realized that it was a lot easier, cheaper and convenient to carry a library of books with me, wherever I was.<\/p>\n

Add to that the numerous customizations that it offers by way of the layout, color, font and font size, and I fell in love with the idea of reading off an electronic device.<\/p>\n

Over the last two years, all my reading has been through the Kindle app and I have been at the forefront in my circle in recommending it to everyone who\u2019s willing to listen.<\/p>\n

\"reading\"<\/a>

The forgotten art of reading a real book<\/p><\/div>\n

Then, two days ago, while having dinner, we had a discussion about the opening lines of one of my favorite books\u2026 \u2018The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy<\/a>\u201d by Douglas Adams<\/a><\/p>\n

To prove my point, I reached for the hard-bound book that I had purchased over 16 years ago.<\/p>\n

What followed was a heady dose of nostalgia and rediscovery of\u00a0a forgotten joy.<\/p>\n

The intoxicating smell of paper.<\/p>\n

The solid weight of a \u2018trilogy in five parts\u2019.<\/p>\n

The rough but alluring feel of an old book\u2019s leaves.<\/p>\n

The glaring inconsistencies in printing.<\/p>\n

The flipping through of pages, to find a particular line or phrase, instead of clicking on \u2018search\u2019.<\/p>\n

The joy of getting waylaid and ending up reading something else.<\/p>\n

It is like reminiscing about the first time you met your spouse or lover.<\/p>\n

Like meeting with a close friend after decades.<\/p>\n

Like finding a little treasure you hid away when you were a kid.<\/p>\n

Like stumbling upon a photo album from your childhood.<\/p>\n

Technology has brought us many advantages. But nothing can beat the joy of reading a real book.<\/p>\n

I am in love\u2026 all over again.<\/p>\n

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photo credit: Martin Gommel<\/a> via photopin<\/a> cc<\/a><\/p>\n

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