As a self-described student of life and social interaction, I can sometimes see patterns of behavior that lend themselves to being predictable. When I see these things, my expected outcomes are usually on the money. It is not like I have to be right or that I get bent out of shape if I’m wrong, but nobody likes to be wrong. This time, it appears, I was wrong, about my own behavior; which is disconcerting in its own right.

Part of my career is based in using technology, so I try to keep up with trends, not that I need the latest/greatest gadgets and toys, but I stay relatively current. Part of my technological pace was to get a tablet with the primary function to download and read e-books. They have cool features, are much less expensive than hardbacks and take up way less space. Perfectly logical, wouldn’t you say? It turns out, I miss the experience of the bookstore, the tactile heft of even a paperback and the physical function of turning a page; I miss my books, and I was wrong.

Being a creature with habits, when I find a book or author I like, I tend to stick with that author and want to go through their collection. Lately I have been obsessed with completing my set of autobiographies from the band KISS. I bought and read Gene Simmons “KISS and Make-Up several years ago, loaned it to a friend and it never made it back, I had to replace it, but I have also bought and read Ace Frehley’s “No Regrets.” So now what? I have half of the bands take on their journey, I gotta get the other half and Paul Stanley’s book just came out so I bought it along with Peter Criss’ autobiography.  I’ll let you know how it all turns out when I finish reading and synopsize the experience.

The point here is that I now own first edition hardcovers of those books.  I have tried to read everything I can by Stephen King, although, since being hit by a van while walking down the road, I am not as enamored with his writing. Kathy Reichs is another that has grabbed my attention but her books have become formulaic and you can always see how her friends or family are involved in a subplot and how her life is falling into danger because of her investigation.  Don’t get me wrong, I love her stories and they are readable while being technical and thus very addicting, I just need a break.

I find myself looking to purchase books I find online, possible series to get involved in, fulfilling my collection of others I already own and wondering where in the heck I’m going to keep them if I do buy them.  I own hundreds and since our recent move, most remain in the boxes in which they were moved. One of these days, I will get this figured out. The balance between the printed page and the virtual will continue to remain in limbo as I have use for them both. Much of the information I generate for my own edification and self-fulfillment finds a home on my Galaxy Tab 2.0 but there is much I cherish between the covers.

The catch 22 is that it is more difficult to find bookstores because of the advent of the e-reader; however; the price of many books continues to drop so the printed copies can compete with the e-book sales. So to my friends at the remaining Barnes & Noble Booksellers and bookstores across the country, stay strong, there are many of us still out there, lovers of the printed word, whether on paper or screen.