The Magic of Physical Books
I HAVE PUBLISHED two books and they are on sale at local bookstores in my community. Every two or three months I visit these bookstores to chat with the owners and to inquire as to whether they need additional copies of my books to sell. During a recent visit, I came across a short story collection from around 1917 entitled “Nonsense Novels.” I perused the pages and decided to purchase this book because the stories were quite entertaining and the book was in good condition despite being more than 100 years old. I could not help but wonder whether the author of this book imagined that more than 100 years later a fellow short fiction writer would be picking up his treasured collection and reading it in the year 2021.
As I was chatting with the bookstore owner at the checkout counter, she flipped through the pages and happened upon a business card. Apparently, sometime around 1917, a certain “Miss Marshall” had a doctor’s appointment in New York City on May 3 at “11:50 AM o’clock.” Much to my delight, this business card was so old that it did not even list a telephone number, as the doctor most likely conducted all of his interactions with patients in person.
My imagination suddenly started to run away from me, as I imagined this Miss Marshall strolling down 42nd St. on May 3, 1917, holding a white umbrella above her head to shield her face from the glowing late spring sun. Was Miss Marshall biting her fingernails down to the quick, hoping that her son would return safely from the front-line trenches of World War I? Was she trying to remind herself to stop by the druggist on the way home to pick up some aspirin powder for a throbbing toothache? What kind of medical practitioner was she going to see, and why was Miss Marshall going to see him?
There is a magic to physical books that seems to be getting lost in the shuffle of the “Internet hysteria,” as I call it. The next time you’re tempted to shop online for books or to purchase and read books on an electronic device, consider stopping by your community bookstore and browsing about. There are hidden gems in there just waiting to be found, and a good portion of antique books from the early 20th century or even late 19th century are not all that costly (even though they should be!)
Although I personally do not use the Internet unless absolutely necessary, I understand that the Internet can provide wonderful opportunities for independent writers like myself to reach a large mass of readers. But something is lost on a society that shuns independent bookstores and turns its back on literature. When I envision a possible future without the existence of physical books, it brings a sense of horror to my soul that is so frightening that I can hardly bear to give it any consideration. The feel and smell of an old book (especially a good one) is a treasure that cannot be denied. My hunch is that independent, physical bookstores will be just fine. There seems to be a growing revitalization in art forms that are tangible and real, such as books and vinyl records.
So the next time you drive past an independent bookstore, get out of your car, walk inside, and spend some time browsing. There is a whole world in there just waiting to be discovered. Just remember to leave your phone in the glovebox where it belongs before you go inside!
J.S. Lender’s books are on sale now! — reefpointpress.weebly.com
Copyright © J.S. Lender / Reef Point Press 2021
