Meagan Spooner
Absolutely brilliant. This is the sci fi I’ve been waiting for! Action, romance, twists and turns–this book has it all!

Beth Revis, New York Times best-selling author of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

Meagan Spooner
2017-11-06T11:42:38-05:00

Beth Revis, New York Times best-selling author of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

Absolutely brilliant. This is the sci fi I’ve been waiting for! Action, romance, twists and turns–this book has it all!
"A literally breathtaking archaeological expedition. Spooner and Kaufman prove once again that no one does high-stakes adventure shenanigans like they do."

E. K. Johnston, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Star Wars: Ahsoka

Meagan Spooner
2017-11-06T11:44:34-05:00

E. K. Johnston, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Star Wars: Ahsoka

"A literally breathtaking archaeological expedition. Spooner and Kaufman prove once again that no one does high-stakes adventure shenanigans like they do."
One of the most intense, thrilling, and achingly beautiful stories I’ve ever read. Kaufman and Spooner will break your heart with skilled aplomb, and you’ll thank them for it. Absolutely incredible! If I have to, I will come to your house and shove this book into your hands!

Marie Lu, New York Times best-selling author of the Legend trilogy

Meagan Spooner
2017-11-06T11:48:19-05:00

Marie Lu, New York Times best-selling author of the Legend trilogy

One of the most intense, thrilling, and achingly beautiful stories I’ve ever read. Kaufman and Spooner will break your heart with skilled aplomb, and you’ll thank them for it. Absolutely incredible! If I have to, I will come to your house and shove this book into your hands!
With rich, complex characters and a dynamic—and dangerous—new world, THESE BROKEN STARS completely transported me.

Jodi Meadows, author of the Incarnate series

Meagan Spooner
2017-11-06T12:09:41-05:00

Jodi Meadows, author of the Incarnate series

With rich, complex characters and a dynamic—and dangerous—new world, THESE BROKEN STARS completely transported me.
Intense and absorbing, Skylark transported me to a world of magic and danger unlike anything I’ve read before. I loved Lark, and was riveted by her journey of survival and self-discovery. Dark, original, and beautiful, this is a novel you don’t want to miss.

Veronica Rossi, author of UNDER THE NEVER SKY

Meagan Spooner
2017-11-06T12:13:28-05:00

Veronica Rossi, author of UNDER THE NEVER SKY

Intense and absorbing, Skylark transported me to a world of magic and danger unlike anything I’ve read before. I loved Lark, and was riveted by her journey of survival and self-discovery. Dark, original, and beautiful, this is a novel you don’t want to miss.
Skylark's rich narrative and plucky heroine will transport you into a mesmerizing and horrifying world.

New York Times bestselling author Carrie Jones

Meagan Spooner
2017-11-27T09:17:02-05:00

New York Times bestselling author Carrie Jones

Skylark's rich narrative and plucky heroine will transport you into a mesmerizing and horrifying world.
With its blend of dystopian, steampunk, and generally fantastical elements, Spooner's follow up is even stronger and more gripping as the debut and is sure to ensnare further loyal readers.

Booklist (Starred Review)

Meagan Spooner
2017-11-27T10:01:57-05:00

Booklist (Starred Review)

With its blend of dystopian, steampunk, and generally fantastical elements, Spooner's follow up is even stronger and more gripping as the debut and is sure to ensnare further loyal readers.
This intriguing dystopian adventure's depiction of the stand this strong female protagonist takes against the horrors of her world is fast-paced, compelling, and un-put-downable.

VOYA

Meagan Spooner
2017-11-27T10:05:07-05:00

VOYA

This intriguing dystopian adventure's depiction of the stand this strong female protagonist takes against the horrors of her world is fast-paced, compelling, and un-put-downable.
Once again, the worldbuilding is superb, the characters fully fleshed out and intriguing, the battles riveting, and the edge-of-the seat suspense compelling. Teens looking for a well-written dystopian adventure with steampunk elements in the magical machines created by the Architects will enjoy spending time with Lark and her companions.

VOYA Magazine, starred review

Meagan Spooner
2017-11-27T10:27:43-05:00

VOYA Magazine, starred review

Once again, the worldbuilding is superb, the characters fully fleshed out and intriguing, the battles riveting, and the edge-of-the seat suspense compelling. Teens looking for a well-written dystopian adventure with steampunk elements in the magical machines created by the Architects will enjoy spending time with Lark and her companions.
An extremely entertaining tale of past, present and future leaving the question: where does humanity stand when the best laid plans backfire?

Children's Literature

Meagan Spooner
2017-11-27T10:29:04-05:00

Children's Literature

An extremely entertaining tale of past, present and future leaving the question: where does humanity stand when the best laid plans backfire?
A haunting and romantic exploration of love and what sacrifices come with freedom.


Marie Lu

Meagan Spooner
2017-11-27T15:17:04-05:00

Marie Lu

A haunting and romantic exploration of love and what sacrifices come with freedom.
Amazing. That one word describes the whole book.

VOYA

Meagan Spooner
2017-11-27T15:18:24-05:00

VOYA

Amazing. That one word describes the whole book.
Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner prove they are two living goddesses of writing, creating two compelling worlds with high stakes and gripping emotions.

Sarah Rees Brennan, New York Times bestselling author of the Demon's Lexicon trilogy and the Lynburn Legacy series

Meagan Spooner
2020-08-11T09:05:59-05:00

Sarah Rees Brennan, New York Times bestselling author of the Demon's Lexicon trilogy and the Lynburn Legacy series

Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner prove they are two living goddesses of writing, creating two compelling worlds with high stakes and gripping emotions.
0
0
Meagan Spooner

Books as Fingerprints

It used to be that hardcopy book people would get this insane fire in their eyes when someone would ask them about e-readers or e-books or the future of publishing. It’s that “I like the weight of them” look, the “it’s the way they smell” look, the “you can pry my hard copy books out of my cold dead hands” look. In just a few short years it seems that’s kind of calmed down a little bit. I know I have. I used to be adamant that I’d never own an e-reader, but now—especially that I do so much reading of books in digital manuscript form—I can see the appeal. And I’ll probably even get one, too.

But I’ll also never stop buying physical books.

I like to physically own the books that have changed or influenced me in some way. I like to be able to see them, touch them, smell them. I like to run my finger along the spines of the books in my book case, feeling the different textures. I love them like little parts of my own self. I get distressed when other people talk about getting rid of books or downsizing their collections because I simply cannot imagine cutting out little parts of myself to throw away.

When I look at my bookshelves I see a vast and varied fingerprint—these books are what made me who I am today. No one else has this exact collection. It’s unique. And each of these books means something important. I hid in their pages as a shy kid. I imagined myself writing their words as an ambitious teenager. I learn from every chapter and sentence now, as an author. Books I’ll never read again because my tastes have changed, but that I loved when I was little. Books by friends who are going through the same journey I am now. Books missing covers and with the bindings falling apart because they spent so much time rattling around in my backpack. Books that are water and smoke-damaged, like THE GIVER, one the few books to survive my house fire as a kid.

When I walk into someone else’s home, my eyes are immediately drawn to their bookshelves. You can learn so much about a person by what they read—or what they choose to display about what they read. When I look at my own shelves it’s like looking in a mirror of the mind. I can see all these tiny pieces that are a part of me now. I can see myself made up not of atoms and molecules and DNA and neurons and electrical impulses, but of words. Words that have come from me, and words that have come from a thousand people all around the world all sitting down to write.

And I just can’t get that from looking at a screen, no matter how convenient it is.

 

A section of my own bookshelf, my own fingerprint. Someday I'll have a study/library with enough shelves that I can put up ALL my books, not just a selection.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

26 Responses to “Books as Fingerprints”

  1. Every inch, every word of this post I agree with. I love the convenience of an e-reader (although I don’t have one–yet), but when I love a book, I want it living in my house because it’s part of me.

    • Meagan says:

      So lovely to have a kindred spirit on this! I think it’s extra important to me because I’m a writer… I think I hope that someday, a book of mine will be important enough to someone that it becomes a part of them, too. If that happens even just once, I’ll have done my job.

  2. Timothy says:

    I love that analogy!

  3. Totally, totally agree. I use my Kindle more for reading friends’ mss, though in the past few weeks, I’ve actually really, really warmed up to it for buying books (I was reading a series of UF novels and it was SO AWESOME to be able to just CLICK and have the next book instantly there for me to read). That being said, I think I’ll always prefer hardcopy books just a tad more for EXACTLY the reasons you listed. Beautiful, beautiful post, Meg!!!

  4. Amie Kaufman says:

    My kindle is perfect for reading MSS, and for books that I think I might just rip through once. Anything I plan on re-reading or lending, I need in hard copy.

    There’s more to it than that, though. I was recently reorganising my bookshelves, and I realised that I was definitely keeping various books — whether from my childhood, or books I probably won’t read again — because I feel that they identify me. It’s this combination of books, this particular reading history and journey, that made me who I am. In some cases I even kept more than one edition of a book, because the act of owning each one is a part of my identity. Great post!

    • Meagan says:

      Oh, YES to the owning of different editions! I often own two copies of books–one for me, and one for lending. In the case of THE LAST UNICORN, I actually own four distinct and different editions.

      I covet your bookshelves so bad. Someday I am seriously going to hire your husband to come build me bookshelves into my own walls. When I have my own walls.

  5. Thara says:

    This really resonates with why I like paper copies of books– it’s not exactly the same but it’s similar. I only like to buy books once I’m sure that I love them. So I don’t have too many, but any book I buy is one that has a special meaning to me and is one that I am bound (hur hur) to read a million times over. I usually have a Kindle copy as well as a paper copy, so that I can carry the stories around with me, but a paper copy is a special kind of honorific I place on a book that means a lot to me in some way. Perhaps my fingerprint is a bit of a different type than yours, but it’s still a fingerprint, I suppose. Good post!

    • Meagan says:

      I totally think it’s the same principle at work, though. I do the same thing if I read a book that I borrowed from someone else, or if I read it in manuscript form before.

      I think it also makes a difference when you move around–carrying a ton of books makes moving SUCH a pain. So it makes each book you do own that much more important.

  6. Alexa says:

    I love this post! And I completely agree I adore looking at my bookcases and seeing old friends and new discoveries there. I love having a nosey at other peoples bookcases too!

    I got a Kindle last year as a present and it is fantastic. I love being able to buy a book straight away and I love how light it is to take out with me. But I have bought at least five books in hard cover after reading them on the Kindle because I wanted them on my bookshelf 🙂

    • Meagan says:

      I soooo love looking at people’s bookshelves. I’m like that with DVDs too, actually… I love seeing what people actually end up buying.

      Yeah… the convenience of the Kindle is pretty tempting!

  7. Kari Marie says:

    I LOVE THIS! I never thought about books as fingerprints. Right now I have a box of books I was planning to donate, but I might have a different look at them now. For sure there are books I will never read again, but each of them carries something memorable. I’m betting if I picked up each one I could tell you what my favorite part about it was, even if I will never read it again. Egads, now I’m wondering what someone would think of me if they evaluated my collection. LOL

    What a delightful and thought-provoking post! Thank you.

    • Meagan says:

      I’m so glad you liked it!

      Donating books is great–I do it, too! But the ones I keep are all important to me in some way. They’re the ones that even if I’m not planning on rereading them, they’ve still touched me in some way as I’ve grown up. 🙂

  8. Petra says:

    I couldn’t agree more. I was just talking about my undying love for physical books over ebooks. I love anything tech and people who know me might assume I’d go for ebooks, but I never will. When I hear people talking about the possibility of ebooks replacing books completely one day, it’s very unsettling, but have a feeling that it might be the reality one day. Maybe not with my generation, but the next.

    • Meagan says:

      Unsettling–I agree! As a realist, I have to say that there’s probably some day in the future when physical books will cease to exist as we know them now. But I don’t think that’s going to be for a long time, yet. And I hope that even when they’re not in bookstores and so forth, I hope you can still GET physical books as keepsakes/physical reminders of the books you love!

  9. I will NEVER stop reading physical books. I got a Kindle last summer and while it’s easy and inexpensive to download all those 99 cent books, it aggravates me to read them on the screen. Without any design or page numbers. Plus holding the device begins to hurt my hand after 30 minutes. Give me something I can open and caress and gaze at! 🙂

    And gosh, I *loved* seeing my books right smack in the center of your bookcase! Wow! Next best thing to being there. You are awesome, Meg, and I’m honored.

    • Meagan says:

      I’ve read a books on my mother’s Kindle, and I have to admit my experience reading them just wasn’t the same as with a physical book. Maybe it’s something you get used to? But while I wouldn’t mind one for reading manuscripts, when it comes to total immersion… I still want a BOOK.

      It’s totally an accident of alphabetization that your books are SMACK dab in the middle of my bookshelves! I love them there, though. 😀

  10. […] This smart and thoughtful post from my partner in crime, Meagan Spooner, on books as fingerprints–why your collection of physical books matters. […]

  11. Beth says:

    This is exactly the way I feel. When I stand in front of my bookcases, I see a history of my life through books. I’m sure I’ll get an e-reader someday, but for the books I truly love, I’ll buy a hard copy too!

    • Meagan says:

      I love that this post has found me so many kindred spirits! Sometimes I feel like one of the only people on the planet who sees books this way, as identity, not just entertainment. <3

  12. Glaiza says:

    I love this post. I looked up at my bookshelf straight after reading your thoughts. I realized the books on my shelf which resonated with me the most also have tangible memories of reading them at a specific time and place whilst also being swallowed whole by the book itself in those memories.

    That said – I recently bought an e-reader to buy books that are difficult to get in Australia and e-released novellas because the computer screen hurts my eyes. Although, I’m already making mental notes to buy the print versions of the really good books I’ve read once I have enough saved 🙂

    • Meagan says:

      I love this comment!

      I will say that it was living in Australia that convinced me that I would eventually get an e-reader for certain things. I had to leave me whole collection of books behind in the U.S., and while my housemate had an AWESOME collection, there were still some books I wished I could get at!

  13. Tim says:

    Perfect post. I think books are a unique thing, not at all like the video player comparision, because when we look at them we get a sudden flash of rememberance from them, e.g: A favourite scene, a least favourite scene, some rememberance of the point of time that we read them. It’s like hanging up a trophy (although I’d rather hang something fitness relatedXD).
    Also, I think readers are a sneaky way of getting rid of the second hand book business. I love walking into a second hand bookstore:O

  14. Michelle says:

    I’m going to break with the flow here and say I love my e-Reader so much it has replaced physical books. But it’s not because I don’t love books – it’s because now I can take my entire library with me wherever I go. Recently, I found a secluded corner of the gardens in the Alhambra, near a water fountain, and was able to pull out Gabriel Guy Kay’s Lions of Al Rassan, which it reminded me of, and begin to reread it.

    I never thought eBooks would replace books for me, I always thought the romance of the smell and feel and page turn could never be replaced. But given that when I’m reading, I can have the house fill with smoke from burning cookies, or miss my train stop, and not notice… it doesn’t matter how it’s delivered, it’s the world and not the medium that is important to me.

    As to the fingerprint, the flip side to that is that it means you can read the books you’re not proud of – the guilty pleasures – without judgement. On the plane, I was reading the Mysterious Benedict Society, and no one blinked at me reading a book obviously aimed at a younger audience.

    I’m not saying you’re wrong – I’m just sharing the reasons why I went over to the dark side.

Leave a Reply