Being so interested in other person’s life may not sound morally correct! But then when it comes to books, I have often experienced this inquisitiveness. It is like as though I have disoriented myself from this part of the world I’m living in and watching the characters live out their life by being there right next to them yet invisible.
Somehow this magical feeling eludes me when I read something online. To me, a book is a document of lives. Older the book, greater is the charm. When I stumble across an old book on a silent & boring afternoon, it has always given me the feeling of having found an old diary of my ancestors! The yellowness of the pages and the smell which tickles my nose promises that many readers have laid their hands on this document. The reason why the book is in my hand is because the unknown readers of the past had wanted to hand it over to me![too clichéd! But can’t help feeling that way!] To carry along the emotions expressed, the mystery unraveled and after all to help the characters live their lives once more before my mind’s eye. Percy, Elizabeth Bennet, Darcy, Dagny Taggart, John Galt, Kannagi, Tharini and many more have thus lived their lives in my small bed room. I had remained a loyal spectator giving them their respect by not diverting my attention while they are thus performing. I have cried, laughed out loud and have even remained gloom with a heavy heart for days while reading a book. I have experienced the similar emotion underwent by the character. Books make me feel alive!
May be this is why, even if a novel has a happy ending, I am sad-for now the characters have grown my favorite and time has come for them to leave…
Where’s my next book?….
An Indian Woman's Noisy Ranting 
Characters really make the story for me. You do feel connected to them as you share their perils and joys and ultimately, it is sad to say good-bye but you are also glad that a great character isn’t put through a mediocre sequel. Having spent hours at second hand books sales and markets I know what you mean about the look, feel and smell of old books. They just have a charm and wonder that is a tangible experience that reading online doesn’t quite match though a good story is a good story, regardless of the medium.
Thanks for sharing your feelings here. It made me want to dig out some of my older books and have a read.
Comment by cassandrajade — November 10, 2009 @ 1:19 pm |
🙂 I love second hand books. I get this urge to read second hand books and now & then I dig out loads of old books from my shelf and have it round me -whether I read it or not.
Comment by Lavanya — November 11, 2009 @ 1:33 pm |