Sunday, April 3, 2011

THE PERSONAL TOUCH

I love the convenience and versatility of my Kindle.  Yes, you can add notes to any content on this clever machine—but that action is somewhat sterile.

Take a look at this tidbit of the conversation John Adams had with English feminist, Mary Wollstonecraft, over 200 years ago. 


No, they weren’t in the same room.  Not even on the same continent.  But Adams manages to succinctly convey his not always high opinion of Woolstonecraft’s book Historical and Moral View of the French Revolution.  Our feisty Founding Father read and then according to the John Adams Library site wrote his “passionate commentary and lively dialogues with the authors in the margins.”  The act is sloppy, intimate, and certainly changes the look of the book.

My wonderful father-in-law, Willard Figley, left this earth almost a decade ago.  One of his treasures has a permanent home on my desk.  It was the most important book in his life . . . his Bible. 

He wrote his thoughts on many of the wrinkled and worn pages.  His Bible looks used, touched, treasured, and loved.
My Kindle looks the pretty much the same as the day it arrived in the mail three yeas ago.

3 comments:

  1. All books should be so loved. (Great) Uncle Willard is deeply missed

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  2. Willard's Bible is a treasured daily reminder of him. i'm glad I could share it with you.

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  3. Uncle Willard was a very wise man and much fun to engage in great conversation. What a treasure you hold - What an inspiration!

    Missing him and all of you !

    love,
    cuz t

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