While rereading Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, I paused to relieve some mild eyestrain. Blinking the eyes, I focused upon three library books parked on the sofa. I had read two of them–Simon Baron-Cohen’s The Science of Evil and Jay Shetty’s Think Like a Monk. The third book, Peter Wohlleben’s The Hidden Life of Trees has been untouched since bringing it home from the library. I need to renew Wohllenben’s tome because I want to delve into it.
As I pondered the books, I wondered how many books I’ve read throughout my life. The patron database at the library could reveal how many I’ve checked out from the Norfolk Public Library. Yet, that would be an incomplete sum. I’d need to find out how many were checked out from other libraries, including the college library during my youth. How about the books that were loaned to me by friends? How many did I buy and read? What about the ebooks?
Then I became curious about how many words make up Hesses’ book. How many words are in all the books I’ve read? It boggles the mind to remember that all the books written in the English language consist of words. The words are combinations of 26 letters. The letters remain the same but are arranged in different orders. The words form phrases; the phrases form sentences; the sentences form paragraphs; the paragraphs form chapters; and the chapters form books. Then one must consider these things apply to books I’ve read that were written in other languages–I’ve only read a few.
“It is is better to know one book intimately than a hundred superficially.–essayist and novelist, Donna Tartt
Then I remembered that I’ve reread several books, so those words must be multiplied by how many times those books have been reread. I’ve reread Siddhartha maybe twice or three times–perhaps more because I love that book. It is one of the stories I want to read over and over again. Siddhartha does not have a tricky ending nor is it thrilling in an adrenaline-secreting way. It has become as familiar as a favorite pair of blue jeans. Yet, there is a magical mystery that has already been solved between Hesse and myself.
I was given “Golden Books” as a small child. I read and reread them countless times. I read most of the books in the house. I loved the map atlas and the old medical first aid book that mom read more frequently than her Bible. I was introduced to the public library at a young age and have been addicted to libraries ever since then.
During a five or six year stretch, I was obsessed with self-help books. I read them voraciously until I realized that many of them were boiler-plate formulae and said pretty much the same thing. Then I resumed reading new non-fiction books because they are my favorite genre.
You might say that I’m a lifelong lover of books. I enjoy everything about ink and paper books. There is the sensation of the pages on my fingertips. There is a special aroma about them. The stories and explanations are compelling. I’m doing my best to try to love electronic books. I love the magical communication between the minds of the writers and my own. I’m glad I have a few favorite books that I can read over and over again.
Ciao
Source: On Books | bluejayblog
Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News 
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