When was the last time you gifted a book?

With all the media attention these past few months on the latest hand held electronic readers got me thinking how many people have actually given a book for a gift lately?
Can you remember the last time you bought a book for a friend or a family member who just loves a subject they can’t stop talking about it every time you see them? Has it been a while?

Don’t wait ,in a few more years or sooner book lovers may not have as many choices they once had with advance technology creeping up in the book publishing world and cost cutting occurring the future looks grim for those of us who like to curl up with a book before going to sleep.

Just the smell of a new book brings desire to read the pages, can you get that from an electronic reader? Maybe they will add a smell to their next version so you can think you are opening up a classic or rare book. But it will never replace the feel of paper between your fingers as you quickly turn the pages not wanting to stop the propelling story in front of you.

Yes I admit the thought of down loading books in a matter of minutes is thrilling but that instant gratification may not give us the true pleasure of actually holding a book in our hands.
How many times have you been on vacation on a beach and saw a book cover someone was reading and asked them what they thought of the author or the subject? People with books in their hands are more approachable and shall I go as far a friendlier than non- reading folks?

I think we can use more recycle paper as well for books to prolong the use of real books to keep them in our hands and I think from a fuel use perspective it just might be less costly than the new computer holding the data of a book? Sure you could argue energy usage to user ration outweighs the benefits going with newer technology and the consumer market will be the deciding factor in the end.

Finally from an author’s view point how will we have anymore book signing?
Sure I communicate with online forums and emails with my readers as well as this blog but it’s not the same as actually meeting the author of the book maybe even a hand shake and small talk that give us the reader insight into the author’s writing process that we truly benefit from the encounter holding a real book.

So before its too late think of someone who could benefit from a book and buy it for them and see what interactions can take place. Dare I say a long term relationship may occur with that person and an ongoing habit of giving books to each other to enjoy?

What are some of your thoughts and comments?