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Health & Fitness

Nancy's Reads & Reels: Surrounded By Books

I value books as objects, but even I have to give some of them away.

What makes you reach out and pick up a book at a bookstore or look at book covers on Amazon? No book covers are available on Kindle or Nook so maybe they don’t matter.

The thing about Kindle or Nook is that you don’t have the actual book to study the cover and admire the artwork.  Publishers and writers give a lot of thought to the cover of a book. I like to go back and look at the books I’ve read and ponder what they were about or look up something.

“The Catcher in the Rye, a story in covers,” recounted J. D. Salinger’s demand that his picture not appear on the cover and that the paperback cover should be red with the title in yellow. The article appeared in Salon some months ago and got me to thinking about book covers.

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Here’s another point about books as objects: why get a book signed by an author if you don’t value books as objects? What about opening up a book and seeing, “Jeanne — Merry Christmas: May all your future Christmases be as lovely as this one. You deserve more for all you have done for ‘Mickey’ 12-25-43 Stan.” I look at that inscription and it almost tells a story.

Books are collectibles but even if you don’t want to collect them books should be an important part of your home décor. Children who live in a home with books and see their parents reading books are more likely to want to read. Parents reading on a Kindle or Nook — I have my doubts.

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I’m debating on books to keep and books to donate to the library. Some books have sentimental value, some books I know I should read but probably won't, some books I do reference on occasion, some books I want to pass on to my grandchildren, some books I just can't seem to let go of for no particular reason.

Years from now will children recall snuggling up to mom or dad as they read to them from their Kindle, Nook or iPad?

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