The Book Lover

My name is Michael and I am addicted to books.

If a week goes by without a visit to a bookstore I begin to have withdrawal pains. I used to think it a point of pride if I could go to a bookstore without purchasing a book, but that was only a minor victory. Like other addicts, I always had a stash at home. A big stash.

Years ago, when people began to buzz about electronic books, I knew they'd never catch on with true book lovers. A real addict likes the feel of a book, its binding, and its smell. Reading a great book can be a sensual experience. The author transports you to another world and that trip starts the moment you see the title, pick up the volume, sense its weight, and note the quality of the paper.

Here are some of the common signs of book addiction:

• Boarding an airplane without bringing a book is unthinkable...and you begin to rate airports on the quality of their bookstores.
• You have made pilgrimages to noted bookstores, such as Foyles in London, and/or you know all of the used bookstores within a 12 miles radius of your home.
• It is not unusual to buy a book and then not read it for ten years because until then the time was just not right.
• You've been known to read books while waiting for traffic lights to change.
• Discovering a great writer is cause for celebration, especially if the writer has already produced a sizable volume of work.
• When you see people on television who are being interviewed and there is a bookshelf in the background, you find yourself more interested in which books are on the shelves than in the interview.