Books versus Electronic Readers

I have two main loves, well besides my husband that is and one is gardening, the other reading. I can be found either in my front yard which is pictured above or in my back yard most of the spring, summer or fall. If  I'm not on my knees or bending over from the waist gardening you might find me in a comfortable lawn chair in my screened in gazebo reading.

During the winter months it's a surprise I don't wear out the left end of my couch, nearest the lamp sitting on a small maple table that used to be my mother's. The table has a drawer holding my diary and packed full of bookmarks. (and don't tell anyone but there are chocolate Turtles in there too)..On the bottom shelf of the table are piles of books..Under the table is a wicker basket..you guessed it...full of books.

I don't usually have two on the go at once but right now I do. Most of my books I buy cheaply either at our downtown library sales or at the Salvation Army. Scooping up treasures still thrills me! As soon as my husband comes home from work I just have to share how lucky I was to find for example: "The Good Wives" by Louisa M. Alcott who wrote "Little Women" and "Rose in Bloom" two of my favorite books. "Little Women" was also a wonderful movie.

Or I might be excited as I found another book by Luanne Rice or Bonnie Burnard who wrote "A Good House" another super read..One of the books I'm presently reading is actually a book for teenagers called "Alma" and the author lives in Orillia just a half hour away from me. Another book I'm enjoying is called "The Bridge Club" as the author mentions many places within Muskoka that I've either visited or know of..how fun is that when an author mentions places I actually know.

As I was reading "Alma" the young girl in the book arrives at the library and opens the big heavy double doors. What a memory that evoked in me as I never, ever got over the thrill of opening the big, heavy wooden doors of the library back home in Norwich as a child or later as a teenager to peruse all the glories contained within those walls. It didn't hurt in later years that my mother worked there as a librarian as she gave me some of my most precious keepsakes, some old discarded books.

 My husband purchased for himself a Kobo E. Reader just before Christmas..it is a refurbished one he found online but he loves it. He has downloaded hundreds of books and signed up at the Orillia Library so he can download books from them. The only hindrance there, he must read them within a two week period or they disappear! No worries with my beloved paper books. I used to visit the library but it's a half hour walk downtown and some winter days are too cold and treacherous for walking..I ended up with so many late fees. I found purchasing books cheaply and stacking my book shelves with them, okay... they are stacked up almost everywhere, suits me very well..

Once I finish one I pass it on to family and friends.  I finally decided this winter at my husband's suggestion to start a diary of the books I've read to which I also note how much I enjoyed it...or not. My husband is trying to get me to swing over to the Electronic Age but I've dug in my feet so far. I need to hold a book, turn the pages and have them beside me, I just like paper! The feel of it, the look of the different styles of print, the beautiful covers.

I'm coming ever so slowly into the electronic age, more slowly than most.  Don't have a lot of expertise on the computer, don't own an I Pod, don't understand all the Cyber lingo, don't want to. Some of us have to remain old fashioned and behind the times so as our grandchildren come along they can have the excitement of showing granny what it's all about. I don't even know how all their new toys work! As long as my husband is in the know with all the new electronic gadgets, I'm content..

There are some "new" things I will try gladly like the new sturdy, weeding tool my British penpal airmailed me this week. Once all this snow is gone and spring is here, you'll find me out back figuring it out.