There Is Something In Touching...A Book

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” 
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
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My thoughts, as usual, are not singular. So, read on!

The other day I was relaying a story to a friend about the first time I really knew I loved reading, like literally felt it in my bones, a visceral, bodily reaction. It happened during school, sophomore year, in the middle of class, and maybe it was the way the teacher read it aloud. I’m not sure. It wasn’t erotic in any sense (though it was romantic, having to do with nature, but was not a sexual poem or sensual words that are meant to titillate that way), and my body reacted much the way it reacts when I’m stimulated sensually or sexually.

I went to my bookshelf to see if I had a copy of said text and was dismayed to see that I had given it away to a local book collection drive, and when moving a few times, didn’t feel like packing them. I became quite sad. And I started to think about all the books I had given away, thinking at the time: I have a Kindle now; or if I need the story or quote, I’ll just look it up online; or there is no need for paper books anymore, we must consider the environment! I’m really upset with myself.

There is something organically beautiful about going back and reading a “hard” copy of a text, seeing your notes and scribbles, the weathered pages of love, your first reactions. I may still have the text at school in my office. I’m not sure. But my question to you is: Do you have that same reaction to reading? When you stumble across something that moves you, does your body viscerally react? And, do you still save your books? Or still prefer hard copies over electronic? Sigh…