Paper book lovers: Why do I love paper books?

Today, as the wave of digitalization sweeps the world, e-books have become the first choice for many readers with their convenience and massive storage advantages. However, in this fast-paced era, I have a special liking for paper books. This love has long been deeply integrated into my life and has become an indispensable part of my spiritual world. The paper embossing stamp records the imprint of the books I have read.

The charm of paper books lies first in the unique reading experience they bring. When I gently open a book, the faint scent of ink comes to my face, as if the words are whispering, leading me into a whole new world. The texture of paper is warm and real. When you rub your fingers on it, you can feel the subtle texture. This tactile enjoyment is something that the cold electronic screen cannot give. During the reading process, I can stop writing at any time on the blank space of the page to record the instantaneous insights and thoughts. Those handwritten notes not only carry the author’s thoughts, but also interweave my insights and emotions, making reading a dialogue and exchange of ideas. I use custom embossing stamps to leave my own footprints on every page of the books I have read.

For me, paper books also have incomparable collection value. Every book is like an old friend, accompanying me through different years. They are arranged neatly on the bookshelf according to my own wishes, or classified by theme, or placed according to the order of reading. This is not only a treasure trove of knowledge, but also a witness to my life trajectory. In my spare time, I just need to sit on the sofa and take a book from the bookshelf at will to start a wonderful spiritual journey. In the world of books, I can experience the joys and sorrows of the protagonists in literary works and feel the complexity and beauty of human nature; I can travel through time and space, witness the rise and fall of history, and draw strength from the wisdom of the ancients; I can follow the detective’s footsteps in the world of suspense and reasoning, uncover the mystery step by step, and experience the collision and excitement of thinking. This feeling of freely shuttling in the ocean of knowledge cannot be replaced by any other form of entertainment. It satisfies my curiosity and desire to explore the world and makes my heart full and rich.

My reading journey originated from the influence of my family. My grandparents are people who love reading. They always hold newspapers in their spare time and immerse themselves in the world of words. At that time, I looked at their focused expressions and planted a seed of reading in my heart. Later, under their influence, I had my first book – “Journey to the West”. At first, the classical Chinese in the book was obscure to me, but with my curiosity about the story and my love for words, I insisted on reading it. Gradually, I was attracted by the fantasy adventure plot in the book and moved by the vivid characters, and therefore fell in love with reading. Since then, books have become my close companions on the road of growth, accompanying me through countless days and nights, and witnessing my transformation from an ignorant child to a person who loves reading.

Going to a bookstore is a great pleasure in my life. The moment I stepped into the bookstore, it was as if I was in a palace of knowledge. The air was filled with the breath of books, and there was a quiet and solemn atmosphere around. Walking between the bookshelves, my fingers gently slide across the covers of the books, feeling the different temperaments they convey. Here, I can browse the books of interest at will without being bound by time, and let my thoughts wander among the words. Whether it is a large bookstore in a bustling urban area or an independent bookstore hidden in a street corner, they all have a fatal attraction to me. Every time I leave a bookstore, I always carefully select a few books I like and take them home to enrich my bookshelf and enrich my spiritual world.

Although I have read a lot of books, I am not good at speaking, and I can’t share the essence of the book and my own insights with others vividly like some book bloggers. Some people question the meaning of my reading, thinking that if the books I read cannot be converted into output, then reading loses its value. However, I don’t think so. In my opinion, reading is a kind of inner practice. The emotional resonance and ideological enlightenment it brings have long been quietly integrated into my blood and become a part of my soul, subtly influencing my values, way of thinking and way of dealing with people. The characters, plots, and truths in those books are like stars, flashing in the long river of my life, illuminating my way forward.

Nowadays, watching children addicted to electronic products, my heart is full of worries and emotions. In this era of information explosion, the temptation of electronic products is everywhere. They attract the attention of many young people with gorgeous pictures and rich functions. However, the spiritual nourishment and deep thinking brought by reading books, especially paper books, are difficult for electronic products to achieve. I know that reading is the input of knowledge, while expression and sharing are the output of knowledge. Only by combining the two can the value of reading be truly realized. Therefore, I am eager to learn to express myself better, and pass on the wisdom I have gained from books by writing reading notes and communicating reading experiences with others. I hope to be a role model for my nephew, guiding him on the road of growth, to stay away from excessive interference from electronic products, calm down, pick up a paper book, feel the joys and sorrows in the world of words, experience all kinds of life, and gain his own growth and perception.

Paper books are a place of deep emotional sustenance for me, and an indispensable spiritual nourishment. Paper embosser stamp is the tool I use most frequently when reading books. In this complex world, I would like to always stick to this love, let the fragrance of paper books accompany me through every stage of my life, and continue to grow and explore in reading, so that my inner world will become more fulfilling and profound.