Jim bought me a Kindle Paperwhite last year and I have read two or three books on it. But over the last couple weeks, I’ve been reading this by hardcover and forgot how great it feels to hold a book and turn it’s physical pages. (If you’re doing the math — it’s true. I haven’t read much over the last year or four, thanks.)  I’m also a fan of underlining too, and I could never quite get the hang of the highlighter on my Kindle. Don’t get me wrong, the Kindle is fantastic for what it is, especially when traveling; I think I just prefer to read the old fashioned way.

The other thing I’ve come to love about books is the stories they carry beyond the pages. Like, the one time I accidentally left a friend’s copy of The Alchemist on a plane. Her name was written in the inside cover. When I got to my destination, I purchased another copy to bring home with me. Then I left that copy in the car of the friend I was visiting. Eventually I was able to return the book, though not the original copy to its rightful owner. I’ve always thought about the ones I left behind. Maybe they motivated someone to take a giant leap of faith. Maybe my friend and that person will be cosmically connected somehow. I once read an article about a website called BookCrossing. You can register books you’re no longer reading, leave the books in public spaces for others to find, then log on to the website to track their whereabouts. They call it “read and release.”

You can’t deny the read and release experience that physical books provide. Sometimes, if you’re really lucky, they come with a memento from its original reader. Be it a note, a thought, or perhaps, a hilarious bookmark.

^^^ That’s right. Proof that my dear friend, Lisa borrowed a Judy Blume book in 1988 and never returned it. A few years ago she lent me her beloved copy of The Poisonwood Bible and I found her little keepsake. This explains so much about my friend, and so much about why she is one of my most favorite people. Do you use anything sentimental for a bookmark? I, myself am a fan of old ticket stubs.

These last few weeks I’ve been trying to read a book rather than an electronic device (phone, tablet, computer) when I cozy into bed at night. I’m a terribly slow reader so I likely won’t need any recommendations for a while but just in case, I’d love to hear about any books you’ve read and loved lately.