A new View?

I was adamant but a mere 2 weeks ago that reading a book was far more engrossing than reading a Kindle or its ilk.  Why on earth would anyone with a traditional academic background think to pervert the process by engaging in this electronic farce?!?  Were not those of us educated in the ‘real’ collegiate world of bricks-n-mortar edifices taught to turn away from the transient and opaque?

Imagine my surprise as my wife and son, now reading electronic versions of their respective books, are now speaking of the convenience to reading in this more modern style.  At first I threw off their foolishness and blamed the lack of perspective for their inappropriate endorsements.  But to my chagrin, I have found myself asking more particular questions about how this and that works concerning their new found hobby.  Can I become a traitor to my long held views on what is worthwhile and what should be thrown on the heap of ridiculous prepackaged useless commodities of modernity.  Not sure but I think that maybe my sarcasm is an indication of a leaf potentially being turned.

There will always be a strong soft spot for the mental picture of the well-worn oak desk and burgeoning bookshelves of an English literature professor who has spent half a lifetime reading, studying, and finally becoming the embodiment of these classical works.  The sterile picture of a computer chip which contains a hundred times more words does not illicit the same endearing loyalty or engender the same sense of warmth.

But who knows, maybe this time next year I will be walking around campus with my IPad 27, boxed up my books and burnt my bookcases,  and will never look back.