Comments on: How times change; how books change http://UnhinderedByTalent.com/Phi/archives/2008/05/03/how-times-change-how-books-change/ Not all battles are fought with a sword Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:09:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bill Tozier http://UnhinderedByTalent.com/Phi/archives/2008/05/03/how-times-change-how-books-change/comment-page-1/#comment-32449 Bill Tozier Sun, 04 May 2008 14:14:14 +0000 http://UnhinderedByTalent.com/Phi/archives/2008/05/03/how-times-change-how-books-change/#comment-32449 Playing with <i>Hard Times</i>, I suddenly discover that it has reached out and glued itself to me. Captures (and destroys) all keystrokes, so as I flip through browser windows with Cmd-`, I get <i>stuck</i> there. Can't even close the window with Cmd-W. This would be technical and contextual gibberish, except that it's somehow not as <i>booklike</i>, is it? It's well-set, and nicely designed, and consistent and pleasing. But insofar as it's booklike, it's glued itself to my hands secretly as I pull it down from the shelf. But I like the content quite a bit. I wonder if a book that changes is no longer a book. And I don't feel that's bad at all. Playing with Hard Times, I suddenly discover that it has reached out and glued itself to me. Captures (and destroys) all keystrokes, so as I flip through browser windows with Cmd-`, I get stuck there. Can’t even close the window with Cmd-W.

This would be technical and contextual gibberish, except that it’s somehow not as booklike, is it? It’s well-set, and nicely designed, and consistent and pleasing. But insofar as it’s booklike, it’s glued itself to my hands secretly as I pull it down from the shelf.

But I like the content quite a bit.

I wonder if a book that changes is no longer a book. And I don’t feel that’s bad at all.

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