25th Nov 2007
No more books, just sunday papers
Its one of those stay in and read the papers Sundays. They are heaving with interesting articles on the new government in Oz, the breast screening scandal in the midlands, Obama’s edging ahead of Hillary in Iowa as well as the intriguing story of Justine Delaney - Wilson who’s interview with a government minister in which she alleges he confessed to taking cocaine is still raising as many questions as answers.
The latter is disturbing. In a verbatim reproduction of an interview with the Sunday Tribune Ms Delaney Wilson is to be blunt all over the place. Journalists are at the epicentre of democracy. They are entrusted with fact and have a duty to report the truth. On an island where so many of the other ‘estates’ of government are treated with cynicism by the general public it is essential that this matter be resolved for the journalist’s sake and for the sake of her profession.
There is also news this Sunday of the death of the book. Amazon launched this week the Kindle, an electronic book reader about the size of a paperback and which weighs about 10oz. It can hold up to 200 books and reviews suggest its screen quality and definition is very good. They also commend its lower power requirement meaning the batteries will go on and on allowing the avid reader plenty of time away from his or her nearest plug. Brilliant I thought. A gadget that I can fit in my pocket capable of holding a small library. That was until I started reading the small print. Like down-loadable music a Kindle book cannot be passed around like a favourite read, with the endless opportunities to discuss with friends which inevitably ensue. Nor does it feel or smell like a book and you cant run your fingers down a shelf full of kindles looking for that great quote.
Last month a close friend of my late father’s family returned a present my grand father had given to her late husband. It was a beautiful leather bound copy of Byron’s works. A few Google searches later and we knew it was printed between 1850 and 1870 and is now worth several hundred pounds. What I also know is that it links me, an avid reader, to at least two previous generations of readers and their families. Its was a beautiful gift and one which I will treasure. No Kindle download will ever bring that satisfaction nor create the same talkability amongst friends and family. The book is one of the oldest communication technologies in the world. It revolutionsied launguage, politics and learning. It changed the course of human history and opened our eyes to the world. I for one hope it is printed for ever!
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