There is just something about a book...

A few weeks back, when I went to our base library to scrounge through their books, I chatted a bit with a woman that was in charge of putting together the wonderful opportunity for us to get free books. She had said to me, "There is just something about a book." That statement has been popping up in my mind a lot of times since, leaving me to ponder, what is it about books, for me? I imagine that what makes books so special could be different and personal for each person, and I decided to put to words what it is about books that catches me every time.
For myself, I think it is just simply the record of something. The record of a moment, a time, an event, or a story. I am just so drawn to people of the past, the way they lived, learned, thought, and what they experienced. I think it makes me feel more connected on this planet, to know that others from even long ago have felt the same things I feel. I think I am an old soul (well, I know that I am), so feeling connected to the ancient part of our world is somehow deeply important to me. It grounds me in a way. My tastes, my interests, my desires or goals can sometimes make me feel like a fish out of water, but I can feel right at home amidst the pilgrims or walking amidst Charles Dickens' world. I sometimes get these old books more than what I understand swirling around me in the moment.
I also love to sit down and read something that is so incredibly old, knowing that what I am about to embark on is something that so many people from the past have also enjoyed. This is again in relation to people from long ago. I sometimes struggle to fathom that so many ears have heard these tales. It makes me wonder what the people looked like, what their lives were like, how the story made them feel. This is a huge part in why I am in love with fairytales. I can even be bought to tears at a creative retelling of a fairytale (such as Disney's Enchanted). I just find it so incredible that these tales are still so alive. And I guess to me, books are just the ultimate record, printed onto pages for future generations. Pages that will transport the reader back to those that wrote it and everyone that has read it since, creating a personal connection or bond that cannot be broken for as long as the language exists. For me, I breath in the words and they find a place to nestle in among my thoughts, among my heart, and when I am feeling lonely, disconnected, or depressed, the voices rise to be heard, bringing me comfort through embraces from long ago.
What is it about a book to you?