An avid advocate of literacy and reading, Ray Bradbury loved book stores as much as he loved libraries. He once told me that he could rarely pass a book store without stopping in and buying something. And that when he came home with a new purchase, his wife Maggie would say, "Did you really need that book?", to which Ray would reply, "Yes, I really needed this book!"

I myself have tried reading e-books, but found that I simply did not enjoy that nearly as much as browsing in a book store, and reading a purchased paper book that I am holding in my hands. I thought today's PEARLS BEFORE SWINE comic strip captured that feeling perfectly:

https://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2021/05/16

As today's BLISS comic demonstrates, everyone can enjoy a good book! Support your local book store!

https://www.gocomics.com/bliss/2021/07/20

Richard is right—there's simply no magic in finding an ebook.

On the other hand, I have vivid memories of the occasions when I found some of my favorite books—what store they were in, even where exactly they were on the shelves.

Make no mistake, I do read ebooks. They are sometimes more convenient because it will take too long to order the physical book, or the physical book is too unwieldy, or where you don't really want the whole book, but just want to read a certain chapter or section.

But nothing beats an actual paper book.

Today is National Book Lovers Day. Celebrate the Day, and Ray Bradbury's passion for books, reading and literacy, by reading a good book...and not just today!

https://nationaldaycalendar.co...lovers-day-august-9/

And for National Book Lovers Day, you may need to instruct some on how to read a book, as today's very funny PRICKLY CITY comic strip demonstrates!

https://www.gocomics.com/pricklycity/2021/08/09

Below is a link to today's great PRICKLY CITY comic, explaining at least one significant advantage of paper books.

https://www.gocomics.com/pricklycity/2021/08/10

Shades of Calvin and Hobbes! Thank you for sharing these!

--JC

Re-reading some of the comic strips in the above postings reminded me of an actual occurrence on a plane several years ago. I was sitting in my seat awaiting take-off, reading a hard-cover book. A stewardess came down the aisle, and told a passenger sitting directly opposite me, on the other side of the aisle, that she needed to turn her e-reader off until after take-off. That passenger then pointed to me, and told the stewardess, in all seriousness, "Well, make him put away his book, too!"

"There is more than one way to burn a book."
~ Ray Bradbury

Not playing outdoors and not turning pages indoors....
https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/n...not-enough-play-time

See: Fahrenheit 451 Coda, 1979 Del Rey Edition
https://katherinesmithth.weebl...r_fahrenheit_451.pdf

The link below will take you to today's FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE comic strip. I have the exact same problem every time I walk into a book store!

https://www.gocomics.com/forbe...rforworse/2023/11/28

This August 7, 2017 FRAZZ comic strip was posted by this Board's jkt on the original date of publication, but I am re-posting for any newcomers. And I still prefer bookstores and paper books!

https://www.gocomics.com/frazz/2017/08/07