International Book Day -- April 23, 2011 -- Book Love: A Celebration of Writers, Readers and the Printed & Bounded Book

An important and timely book is being promoted by Tandem Literary and I feel the obligation (both as a book lover and writer) to promote it here.  Book Love: A Celebration of Writers, Readers and the Printed & Bound Book, by James Charlton and Bill Henderson brings to light the important issue of the future of the printed word in a world gone seemingly amok with technology.  I believe we've gone a little soft when it comes to that argument.  "Books will always be around," I hear people always say when the argument of e-readers arise.  Will they?  What will happen to public libraries, some of them facing tremendous financial cuts or closing altogether.  If an e-reader can hold 3,500 books, could the home library be in peril.  Believe me, I am not a Luddite at all, quite the contrary.  I promote books among my students regardless of whether they are traditional or electronic, but the romantic idea of the bounded paper, the permanence of ink and the conveyance of ideas have been around for so long, it would be a misery to have them be in peril and us not notice.

Several years ago, I purchased a volume titled "At Home With Books" (ironically the link is for the Kindle edition) by Estelle Ellis and Caroline Seebohn.  This book was originally published in 1995 and has quickly become a classic favorite for book collectors.  Let's hope "Book Love" become as such.  I wish you good luck and anticipate the publishing date with much excitement!!!