What is in a book?
Ever since eReaders have come out, reading is on an all-time high.
More and more people are filling their days with reading across every genre with their trusty electronic devices. But for the true book lovers, we never stopped reading, and still prefer a paperback to a handheld computer. There’s something about the feeling of a book in your hand, the sound of the pages turning, and smell of fresh printing ink.
For me, my love of books never died and didn’t pick up more when I got my first Nook. I’ve always been an avid reader since before I could ever remember. My grandmother told me that when I was younger, around 5 years old, I had grabbed the same ol’ huge book full of nursery rhymes, climbed on my grandfather’s lap, and was ready for story time. Only this time, I was the one who started to read. I think this is when my love for books really happened.
I love seeing words come to life, like a movie playing in my head, and I never want it to end. Growing up, I got my hands on every book I could from the library. By the time I was 12, I had managed to read every Nancy Drew/Hardy Boy book in print. I loved a good mystery story. Which is probably why I love the suspense element I add to my own writing.
I picked up my first Harry Potter book when I was 12 as well, and that’s when I really loved reading. As I grew older, my love of books remained. My friends made fun of me on nights that I wanted to stay in and read then going out. On the bus to away sporting events, I was always curled up with my latest book. And at night, when I should’ve been sleeping, my light was on and I was absorbed into a book.
But what is in a book? Is the genre? The characters? The story? Or even the author?
I’d like to say it’s all of it. Readers choose books based on the genre they like. Unless, they are like me and will read just about anything. I think a book is a means to an escape. The author provides us with characters and a story we love. One that is consuming and can’t stop until the last word is read.
A book is something that makes you feel every emotion put into it. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it keeps you sitting on the edge of your seat, and it makes you downright angry. It’s the ability to take you to another place, another time, and temporarily live in the characters’ lives. It inspires us to use our imagination. Books take us on an adventure. They gives us hope and they gives us love. That’s what makes a book.
That’s why I love to read. That is why I teach my children to love and cherish books. Not to scribble and destroy them. It’s still a work in progress, but my toddler is getting there. I hope to instil into them what books really are all about. Love. Fear. Hope. Adventure. Inspiration. Imagination.
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