The first book I remember buying was The Magic Pudding. I got it at a book sale in Metcalf South Mall when I was about 4 or 5, which probably helps explain my love of cheap used bookstores.
I never did read the book; I bought it because I liked the illustrations (I had not yet been forced into literacy, and consequently, book addiction).
For years I looked for it, but could never find any trace of its existence. Finally, a couple of years ago I googled it. Turns out its a classic in its homeland of Australia, and the complete title is The Magic Pudding: Being The Adventures of Bunyip Bluegum and his friends Bill Barnacle and Sam Sawnoff .
I plan to get it again someday (yes, I know I could download it from Gutenberg.org for free, but the fact is, I like to hold real books in my hand). When asked about the Amazon Kindle last year, designer Chip Kidd stated the concept this way:
“What no one seems to get through their thick skulls,
even after untold millions of dollars have been wasted on the concept:
PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO READ BOOKS ON A SCREEN.”
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