What is a Book?

What is a book? When people hear the word "book" some people may think of a collection of paper pages with a story written on them. Others may just think of a writing that gives them a feeling of being in a whole new world or story no matter what form it is in. I believe a book is simply a collection of writing written for the purpose of the writer to express thoughts or show a story in a literary form. No matter if it’s online, on a device, on paper, or read aloud, it is still a book. Nancy Jo Sales believes it is the physicality that makes a book a “book.” She also says that book will not disappear. I agree with this. Many people would rather read a physical book than read one on a kindle, including me. The reason why people may agree with Nancy is that people don’t like change. For hundreds of years books have been written on paper. Now we have technology that can be on and people don’t like this because times have changed. This doesn’t mean that they aren’t books anymore. Kindles, IPads, and internet books are just different forms. Still I like reading a book that is written on paper better than on a screen. I focus more and I can see how far I have come in the book by the stacks of pages I already read. I also feel a sense of accomplishment when I see a thick book that I completed rather than just a number on a screen. Victor LaValle states that books are merely just an item that is mass-produced. He says it’s not the book itself that makes it special, but it’s the idea of the book that should cherished. I agree that books are mass produced, but I still have worn down books that I have read multiple times. The book feels special to me because it has been around for so long. I also agree that the idea of the book is more special though. With some books I don’t really care if I get a totally new one, but some are actually special to me and I would rather keep it than buy a new one.

Post #1 Why I Read

I read books for many reasons. The main reason is reading gives me a feeling unlike anything else in the world. When I get into a book I feel like I am really there and I get feel the emotions of the characters in the book. Movies can’t give you the same feeling. I also read because it is educational and I learn new things. Books teach me new words, phrases, facts, and sometimes life lessons. I apply many things that I learn in books to my life. Reading even helps me with my writing in classes. They can teach you proper grammar and new vocabulary terms. Not only do books teach you grammar, but they can also teach you historical facts. I love to learn about Greek, Roman, Egyptian, European, and Asian history. Many non-fiction and realistic fiction novels dive into these types of histories and those are the ones I like to read. I also like to use my imagination and read fantasy novels. These books bring you into a new world and I love to immerse myself in them. Overall I believe reading improves intelligence and can help you in many aspects of life.