Books are good for your soul…

Books good for your soulI first saw this great image on Twitter, where @mdonnellywriter tweeted it alongside the wise observation:

Books help us in so many ways. Watch the readers after lunch, and then the no-lunchers, and the phoners. Who’s calm?

It’s so refreshing to see people with a book on their lunch breaks, or on a subway car or a commuter train while most people are tapping out compulsively on their cell phones, growing stressed before the work day even begins, or during the lunch break that’s supposed to help them recharge.

It is true that books are good for your soul. If I’ve had a tough day at work, if I’m fed up or exhausted, a good book never fails to put me in a good mood.

And yes, they most certainly allow me the little escape I might need from the hectic demands of my day.

I couldn’t agree more – books aren’t only good for your mind, they’re good for your soul. We may live in an increasingly interconnected world, but that doesn’t mean we have to choose to be connected all the time. Take a little time each day to disconnect, grab a cup of tea and a good book, and enjoy the mini-escape from the daily routine.

This quote reflects my own bias for physical books, but it beautifully describes the key position books occupy in the life of the reader. See this lovely quote from Susan Hill’s Howard’s End is on the Landing: A Year of Reading from Home:

I love the book. I love the feel of a book in my hands, the compactness of it, the shape, the size. I love the feel of paper. The sound it makes when I turn a page. I love the beauty of print on paper, the patterns, the shapes, the fonts. I am astonished by the versatility and practicality of The Book. It is so simple. It is so fit for its purpose. It may give me mere content, but no e-reader will ever give me that sort of added pleasure.

What do you think, readers? Do you agree – Are books good for the soul?

6 Comments

  1. Nicola Layouni on October 3, 2014 at 10:28 am

    Morning Kimberly! 🙂

    Yep. I couldn’t so without my books… actual physical books with pages. Because of editing and stuff, I will have to cave and buy a Kindle at some point, but I’m in no hurry.
    Real books are a mental band-aid, a kiss-it-better for the stresses of the modern world. Valium without the side effects. My oldest friends. 🙂

    X

    • kimberlysullivan on October 4, 2014 at 10:35 am

      GREAT comment, Nicola. Love your imagery of the mental band-aid and the Valium without the side effects. : ) But it is great how you can crack open a good book, and forget all the chaos around you. Speaking of which – are you working on book three? : )

      • Nicola Layouni on October 4, 2014 at 11:09 am

        Lol! 🙂 I’ve made a start on it, hon. 🙂 How about you? Any takers on Janet? 🙂

  2. kimberlysullivan on October 5, 2014 at 9:59 am

    My turn for LOL. Poor Janet is languishing away in a drawer, neglected and unloved, the victim of other projects. : ) One of the day she’ll make it out in the world – following in the footsteps of Martha! So glad to hear you’re working on your next project. Brava!

  3. evelyneholingue on October 8, 2014 at 11:37 pm

    100% with you on that one, Kimberly. Yes, books are wonderful for a variety of reasons. We often forget the most basic and yet in my opinion very important: the pure enjoyment of a story that takes us away from our routine and in doing so triggers peace of mind and pleasure. Like you, my response to stress is always a book. In fact, I always read before falling asleep. It has to be a book. In the rare occasions I have read on my computer or tablet, my sleep has not been as restful. So there must be something with the paper and its smell, the weight of a book between our hands that make us relax and feel good.
    A small anecdote: I received yesterday a proof copy of my new novel for kids. The pleasure of holding the book wasn’t simply due to my joy to see my work in print but simply to the realization that the choice of paper, the cover design and the number of pages made a wonderful object to enjoy.
    Great post that makes me want to read Susan Hill’s Howard’s End is on the Landing: A Year of Reading from Home.

    • kimberlysullivan on October 10, 2014 at 9:45 pm

      Great comment, Evelyne! Sorry I missed the comment earlier. Really good reflections on the importance of reading… and who would know that better than a YA author? Having seen your book cover, I think the pleasure must have been due in large part to that gorgeous cover.

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