I’m sure I have mentioned it before but, I love books. I have loved to read for as long as I can remember; though I went through a period during my teens where I was too “cool” to admit it. I’m also a huge fan of performing arts, and I believe books should be added to this category.
Books are like music. You can hear a good book sing to you. The soundtrack of each chapter and page changes with the words of our favorite characters. Moving quickly across each line violins play brightly as we await a secret meeting between two star cross lovers. Or the tune can soften and slow down with the whisper of a sad goodbye when all is lose. The sound of a piano slowly fades away as the chapter ends; have you never experienced this?
Books are like a dance. Moving us so effortlessly along you feel as though you’ll take flight. Then it sends us twirling in circles nearly crashing to the ground over the confusion and despair as our character tries to rediscover who they are when everything changes unexpectedly. Your heart beat quickens as your feet try to keep up. Though you may have never read this book before you somehow know its dance. The steps are strangely familiar.
Books are like a play. You can see the performers as clearly as the hand in front of your face. The author doesn’t need to spend any time describing details of their physical appearance, but by revealing their soul we can recognize them like an old friend back after years away from home. They move normally across the stage so focused and determined that the stage falls away exposing the true scale of the world they live in. In this world you’re no longer apart of the audience, but now apart of the cast.
I love books because no two are alike. They are magical in a way that’s hard to explain if you’ve never experienced it. They are so much more than just pages, and print. They come to life, and live, and breath. All they require from us is our consideration. They’re beautiful in their differences and no matter their size, appearance, or content they all share a common goal. They merely want to enlighten, entertain, and offer us an escape. And (the very best) become a part of us forever. Books have a life of their own, and a world unknown to any until that first page is turned. They gracefully invite us to join them, and we may stay as long as we please. But when our time together has drawn to an end, we have an open invitation to return, for we are honorary citizens of this unique literature world.
The word book seems too simple a word to describes the numerous worlds, people, and experience we receive from them.