the smell of new books always manages to make me feel happier. fresher.
it's something i can't explain, but no matter what book it is, as long as it's new, it has that distinctive smell which acts like a caffeine boost for me. i remember so many afternoons that i've spent at crossword... smelling most books before i settled into a corner with a calvin & hobbes or some "indian author - fiction" book. *WHY are books categorized??*
after spending almost a quarter of my monthly income in books *the other quarter went towards food & shopping, while half went towards commute!*, i've often been asked *by my parents & now, V* why i can't buy pirated or second hand books?
well, i can't buy pirated books. i have ethical and qualitative issues with that. *i DO download movies & music off d net, tho!* so, it's only where books are concerned that i actually steer clear of piracy! also, the quality of pirated books is really sad *at least all that i've seen with frenz or peers* and sometimes, i've seen the print fade away in a few months time. i'd DIE if that happened to any of my books!
as far as buying second hand books is concerned - i believe that MY books have MY perspective attached to them. *i believe this is true for all my possessions* and buying a book which someone else has owned prior to me, will make ME read the book with THAT person's perspective. i know that defies any & all logic. but well, i believe it. and my belief is far stronger than any logic! so it just has to be new books for me. there was a bookmark i owned which sed "wear the old coat but buy the new book" somehow, that bookmark was SO me!
how & why was i thinking of this now?
well, i woke up feeling rather dull... and this feeling threatened to morph into depression on seeing the neighbour shifting out with her cat. that's when i opened a book *d inheritance of loss, if any1s interested* and smelled the pages. there! now i'm feeling all fresh, happy and alive! i haven't read the book yet. i have harry potter 7 *e-book; thanks, suruchi!* and my GRE and a prospective prof's book to read before i get down to it! but, for now, sniffing it shud serve me just as fine.
7 comments:
I know what you mean. I don't hold with buying pirated or second-hand books either. It doesn't carry the same joy of possession.
i stopped buying books long ago...another thing that changed about me after motherhood hit me....just too many things in the house....A's books, toys etc..now I mostly rent mine form the library :)
Good that you buy new books and not second hand. But what's the future of those books onece you are gone? ever thought about it?
mahogany -
i can so relate to that! there's precious li'l which makes me happier :)
orch -
that's y i'm keen on hoarding NOW! ;)
anand -
my children - be it my own, my adopted or my godchildren - would appreciate books as well. my treasures wud be a gr8 inheritance for them, don't u think? books are timeless. also. i'll be saving my kids a hell lot of money! :0)
I thought that finding the smell of new books to be good was my wierd thing. Good to know that i am not the only one :D
Your last reply to anand was cool. 'll be saving my kids a hell lot of money! .. that was fun to read :)
u know, sarfraaz... since i started blogging, that feeling of being the only weird human has kind of worn off! feels good. :)
and for me ... its been since i have found ur blog :D
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