Reading Engages the Senses

In my 6/18/10 post, I quoted Thomas Newkirk as saying that memorizing literature helps readers "taste" the words. This reminds me of one reason I love reading in print rather than online: Old-fashioned print engages the senses. Sight of course is primary, but not just for understanding the words. The way the book looks (size, shape, color, cover art, etc.), the way the pages look (layout, margins, etc.), the way the font looks, the size of the print, illustrations: all are part of the reading experience. Sound enters with the whisper or crackle of pages turning, and with the satisfying sound the book makes when set on a table, or when pulled from the shelf. Touch: Is the cover embossed? smooth? made of paper or fabric? Is the binding sewn or pasted? Are the pages thin or thick? How heavy is the book? How does it feel when held in the hand? Smell: All books have distinctive scents, especially very old and very new ones; those scents are part of the reading experience as well. All of this is lost when reading online....