If I’m being honest (and I usually am), I must admit to being one of the gadget-lovingest geeks I know. I get kinda drooly over major improvements to computers. I go googly-eyed when upgrading my cell phone. If I’m gonna spend money, there is a good chance that I’ll spend it on tech.
Except…I don’t own an e-reader. Or a tablet. And I don’t plan on purchasing either. If I ever have children, they’re going to feel mightily deprived because they will learn to read from real books, not those LeapFrog monstrosities that define reading as a digital voice dictating the text.
The other day was the final straw that made me throw up my hands in exasperation. It was a television commercial for a new computer. The gist of the ad was that the little girl was showing her mom all of the artistic creations she made with this machine.
What happened to colored pencils and markers and paint? What happened to experiencing something away from a computer screen? And yes, to those of you who know me, I realize the irony of making that statement.
I think digital art is awesome. I have a Wacom tablet, which I have not mastered, but plan to. Still, I have spent my life dealing with traditional media and digital media, and there is something about creating with one’s hands that is unparalleled. Especially as a child. When I was growing up, a lot of my time was spent creatively. I drew or colored or made up stories. None of which required a computer.
We live in a digital world. I get that, and I embrace it. But I cannot fathom giving up the tactile enjoyment of a book to save a little space in my carry-on bag. Imagine the experience of reading a real book: That slight crack as you open the spine for the first time. The soft rustle as you turn pages. The scent of paper and ink wafting up to you. The feeling of accomplishment as you see your bookmark slowly progress through the pages, marking your journey through the story. Can that possibly be replicated by a digital screen?
I also can’t imagine giving up the bookshelves in my home. Those spines reveal so much about their owner. The collage of colors and words and fonts that create a unique piece of artwork. The way you can instantly identify the readers’ favorites, simply by the condition of the book. A book worn is a book loved.
It is unfortunate that some authors, in order to be published, must publish only in an e-book format. I have even come across a few books I would like to read, just to find they are only available digitally. So, I leave their titles on my “To Read” list, but move on to the next entry, hoping that, eventually, a printing press will put the author’s word to actual paper.
As for my potential progeny, I mean it when I say that they will not learn to read from a computer. By the time they come around, they may have no other option if they want new books. Luckily for them, their mother is well prepared with boxes full of books and a well-used library card.
So, while my kids will have access to a computer and, at a certain age, even have computers of their own, they will also be well provided with real books and real art supplies and real toys that don’t require batteries. Poor things.