By Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief
for Southern Writers Magazine
Wouldn’t you love to do that for the people you
love and care about? I know when I begin reading a book, I slide into the world
the author has created, it’s as if I am sitting there watching a movie. I don’t
think about anything going on around me. Even if you talked to me, odds are I
never looked up just grunted and doubtful I heard what you said. Here is the link to Southern Writers Magazine's Holiday Catalog.
Neil Gaiman said, “Books make great
gifts because they have whole worlds inside of them. And it's much cheaper to
buy somebody a book than it is to buy them the whole world!”
I
am sure you agree it’s cheaper to buy the book, than the world. There are worlds
inside of books the authors have created. I remember as a youngster, reading,
and being transported into another country, another time period; I met people
in these worlds that didn’t exist in mine.
I
would rather sit and read a book, than do almost anything, other than writing.
Garrison Keillor said “A book is a gift you can
open again and again.”
You know some of my family and friends just
can’t understand why I won’t throw away, take to
Goodwill or give to other people the majority
of my books. They remind me I’ve already read the books; some I’ve had for
40 or 50 years. Well, what can I say? I love my books. Yes, I’ve read them all,
but lots of times, I go back and reread them. I justify my keeping them by
letting them know one of these days I will retire and I will be able to reread
them again. But perhaps one of the reasons is as Garrison Keillor said. Maybe I
keep them because it feels like a gift waiting for me to open it again.
I think Alan Bennett said it best. “A book is a device to ignite the imagination.”
These are some of the
reasons I think giving books as gifts is important. What about you? What are
some reasons you think giving books is important?
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