The way I jumped to write this was insane. And I’m happy the #KISS Blog Topics have catered to book lovers this week. If there’s anything I love more than books, it’s got to be more books. And when it comes to this, I spare no expense. If I know its quality and the information in it is worth more than the price, why deprive myself of it?
Minimalism and my love for books is something that I’m not quite sure see eye to eye. Because I’ve done some things in the past and still do now, that tells me I’m not so much of a minimalist when it comes to books. From the age of five, I found out that my Dad’s study was the ideal place to hide during hide and seek. And that’s because for one, the cousins never thought to look in there and number two, I would never come out. I'll get lost in them instead. Big books. Little books. I wanted to gain everything. All at once.
And so, I carried that book hunger to high school. And I remember now a few unsavoury things I’d done cause maybe I begged someone for a book and the person lied or insulted me for it. Let’s just say, that one or two times, the books may have suddenly disappeared afterwards. I’m not proud of it. But it happened, you know. And it was just how much I adored them.
I think my grandest gesture in high school, at least as far as I remember, was when school was coming to a close one time. And for anyone who stayed in a boarding school, you’ll know that every allowance given by your parents or you manage to save up is priceless. My parents had sent five thousand naira to last me for the remaining weeks I was to be in school. That’s about $6 or $7. Really big money then and that too for a student.
Then coupled with the other $6 I’d saved from days of staying hungry, I took it all and went to my friend’s Mom who operated a sort of bookstore that wasn’t privy to the school authorities and dumped it there. I remember getting about 12 books for it and I could have wept for joy. I was so happy and the incredulous looks my friends gave me like I had tails sprouting from my ears didn’t faze me. Did I spend many days hungry in school? Yes, I did. But was it worth it to me, Absolutely.
Fast forward to now, I don’t have access to buying hardcopy books like I used to and I do miss paperbacks dearly. I’ve got scores of eBooks and can I just say, it doesn’t feel the same. Apart from the musty smell of books, especially the brown-paged paperbacks which are quite addicting and mildly comforting, I’m more invested in physical books. I finish them faster and having them on a shelf just adds this colour and satisfaction to my life that eBooks can’t beat.
Although, frankly, I’m quite grateful for eBooks cause, imagine a world where it’s just physical books. So, in the absence of them or if you don’t have access to them, how miserable would that world be? E-books have saved my life a lot because at least I have something to fall back on and can still hide in that safe space that is books, but it’s easy to get bored on your Kindle, scrolling and scrolling and tapping at the books till you get into a book slump.
So while I can agree on how strong my minimalist tendencies run when it comes to some things, it just seems to be absent where books are concerned. Because, I believe that minimalism is basically using less to ensure a simple, vanity-free life. And what’s your biggest investment in that if not reading books and acquiring the skills needed to make that life a reality?
I’m looking forward to having my own true personal space and also being in an environment where I’ll be able to have access to physical books like before. But till then, I’ll make do with the loveliness that is eBooks and be grateful for it. I can still enjoy myself with it and I know no matter how much change goes on around or within me, it’ll never affect my love and hunger for books, because that one is just me, you know. A connection I’ll always be grateful for.
Jhymi🖤
All images are mine.
