I miss them already

I was finishing up on NightWatch, one of my all time favourite Terry Pratchett books. I mean..... I seriously hoard my books. They're my babies. I will miss them when they're out visiting friends for too long AND I'll go back and re-read them. Makes me feel like I'm visiting old friends :)

But back to the book.

Actually.... it's not the book. It was what caught my eye at the beginning of the book. You know the page. The one with the copyright date. The "credits"? And this line : Papers used by Transworld Publishers are natural, recyclable products made from wood grown in sustainable forests.

That, for some reason, made me pause.
I do acknowledge that I might live long enough to see books go paperless. I think that's why it struck me. I DON'T WANT to go paperless. My books are my erstwhile companions. I LIKE handling a book. I LIKE turning the pages. I LIKE rustling the paper. Waiting for a bus? Read. Queueing for my food? Read. I can read a page inbetween things and be HAPPY about it.

Oh, I know if books go paperless, there'll be all sort of devices to read them off. And they'll be small, nifty thingies you'll cradle in the palm of your hand. Or attach to your glasses. Or have plugged into your optic nerves. Or whatever!

But there is something intrinsically comforting in holding a book, feeling the paper, reading the words.


I really hope it doesn't happen in my lifetime....