Let's Talk with Debra H. Goldstein
Taken from the Comics
October 26, 2023
Every week, my husband receives a sheet with cartoons from The Far Side, Maxine, and other pictures of signs that are in the public domain. He doesn’t waste his time perusing them, but he does pass the page to me as I find them a real hoot. Why? Because of the truth in them.
Think about some of the slogans this week’s batch offered. Word jokes included: “Tried calling the tinnitus helpline. No answer. Just kept ringing.” “Have you noticed ‘the’ & ‘IRS’ spells theirs?” Ones with pictures offered a woman rummaging in her purse thinking “I wish had a google map of the inside of my purse” and a man repeatedly failing while trying to login to his computer mused: “I miss only having to remember the combination of my locker.”
All so true. As a writer, the one that hit home the hardest was of a little boy holding a book while standing in front of a librarian as she explained that it turned on by opening the cover and instead of swiping, one simply flipped each page. A real novelty. Also, a truism as I watch my young grandchildren easily use their thumbs to flip pictures and pages on their parents’ phones, iPads, and their own reading devices. They even have a plugged-in box that one pops a character figure into a designated slot and a recorded voice starts telling the fairytale associated with the character from wherever it last stopped.
Is this reading? Sharing words? Something to be frightened of? Or, is it simply a matter of me missing the good old days where the feel of a book’s page excited me? How do you feel about the change in reading “devices?”
The last joke of the day is a teenaged boy talking to a teenaged girl as they stand before an anchored wall phone. “Check this out – It’s the latest thing. It’s called a landline. It’s got a cord and it’s bolted to the wall. You will never lose your phone!”
Have we lost something in the name of progress? Leave a comment as I’d like your thoughts on this.
Our next Booklover’s Bench runs from November 1-22. On and after November 1, THIS LINK will take you to the contest.
If you would like to learn more about author Debra H Goldstein, VISIT HER WEBSITE.
Posted in Let's Talk, with Debra H. Goldstein • Tags: Debra H Goldstein, Let's Talk, Taken from the Comics | 19 Comments
I believe a story should be shared in any method that works. I love my e-reader. I enjoy audiobooks. I also like graphic novels, plays, and movies. Telling the story is the important part.
True…
I never thought I’d enjoy reading on an e-reader, but as my eyes have grown worse, and the type in books has gotten smaller, I find the e-reader enables me to read longer without eye strain. The only books I buy in print now are gifts for the grandkids.
I also found the e-reader means I can have more books with me when I travel without the weight they used to take up.
Thank goodness for e-readers. I agree with Lois about the eyes and the size of the type, but the density of type is now less than it used to be, i.e., it’s fainter on the page. All that adds up to me switching everything I can to electronic devices—sadly, that even includes my National Geographic subscription, which I’ve just switched to digital only.
Sorry to hear that. How do the pictures come out on the digital?
A book in my hands feels like a companion as I read. but I use my reader more and more ofter because I hardly have space for any more books. thank for the giggles, today, Deba!
When I gave away most of my library, I kept one tall bookshelf (TBR). I have more TBR on my e-reader now and have hardly made a dent in the shelf.
My grandson has that story book where you plug in the figure and it reads aloud. I figure it’s similar to audiobooks and another form of storytelling. As long as he gains an enjoyment of reading, I’m not fixed on the media. The most gratifying way is still to page through a real book, though.
I agree on the story box, but when one kid puts in a character for two minutes and the next puts in another character, I’m not sure they are getting the benefit out of it.
I really enjoyed reading this post. I am resisting e- readers although I do have the kindle app on amazon (it was free) and every time I see an offer for a free kindle book on amazon that I might like I buy it. (again, free).Maybe someday I will actually try to read one. Although I cannot ever imagine actually paying to read a book on a device I own.
One thing is that the kindle books are often cheaper than the hardcovers — plus they stay in my kindle library.
I’m a big ereader fan. That being said, according to several demographics people, the people most likely to read paper are actually the younger readers. A lot of kids still prefer paper. Who knew?
who knew if right… thanks for stopping by.
As long as I have a book to read, I’m not going to complain about the vehicle. I still love books written on paper the best. And I love the jokes, too!
I was initially very resistant to e-books and particularly Amazon, since I feared they would lead to the demise of bricks and mortar bookstores. After some scary years, bookstores seem to have rallied and in Tucson, where I live, we have a good selection of indie bookstores to patronize.
As far as the books themselves are concerned, I am a convert to the e-book format and now read about half and half print copies and e-books.
I still will do almost anything to avoid using Amazon, though! I see them as on a par with Walmart, which I also avoid completely.
Once upon a time, hearing a story was the only option for most people, and oral tradition has always been a major part of the human experience. That said, if you’re trying to nurture writers as well as readers, I think it takes the written word to do that. Whether it’s a real book or a reader doesn’t make much difference, but I think the tactile experience of an actual book brings home the idea that books and the ideas they contain are lasting.
Aack! Thought I’d commented before. I have physical bookshelves of “keeper” books. But truthfully, they are something between a room decoration and dust catchers now. All my reading is done on my kindle now. I like the fact that it is so handy that I can take it with me everywhere and it tucks right into my purse.
I prefer real books but will gladly read ebooks or listen to audiobooks, too.