I prefer to read (Week 295)

How long has it been since I last posted in this Weekend Experiences community! But among this week’s Weekend-Engagement topics 295 were books, and I couldn’t help but share my love for them with you.

Here I am, answering the call of host @galenkp to respond:

Would you rather read a book or listen to one as an audiobook, and why? Bonus points for telling us about what type of books you like to read or listen to and why.

The current boom in audiobooks may lead us to think that they are a recent invention. The cause of such confusion may be related to the evolution of the medium and the means of its reproduction. But from my personal experience, which spans more than six decades, I can attest that audiobooks have a history to tell.

I remember as a child, when I visited my aunt and uncle's house during the summer vacations, one of my entertainments was listening to children's stories recorded on vinyl records. They had a record player at home and a collection of records with classics of children's literature. I especially remember a story called “The Wedding Rooster.” I can't count how many times I listened to the adventures of the rooster as he tried to get to his uncle Perico's wedding on time.

Despite those fond memories, books have always been on another level for me. There was no bookstore in the small town where I was born. Whenever I traveled somewhere else, bookstores were a must-visit. Back then, books were very cheap, and it wasn't difficult to get my parents to buy me the ones I asked for. Afterward, I just wanted to go home to enjoy the pleasure of having a new book in my hands.

Books have always been with me. They have been a refuge where I have found knowledge and entertainment. Reading a good book makes other ways of spending my free time lose their appeal.
I prefer books in their traditional format, on paper. You just need to open them and immerse yourself in their pages. I have nothing against digital books, but remember that I am a migrant in the world of zeros and ones.

Starting on the first page, without yet knowing the mystery held by the pile of pages that follow. Moving through the story, turning the pages of the book one after another. Experiencing the anxiety of wanting to know the outcome. Feeling the emptiness that remains after reading the last sentence. An emptiness that will be filled by a new book, so that everything can be repeated as if for the first time.

I read a little bit of everything. My literary horizons are broad and have changed over time. If I had to choose, I would say that historical novels are my favorite. I like fiction, but I enjoy it more when I know that the story is based on real events. It is an enjoyable way to learn about the past, where important historical events and their protagonists become closer to us.

I am sure that you, my readers, share my love of reading. That is what is important, regardless of the format you prefer to discover the message.