Spine Cracker

Books.
They are such powerful and magical creations. They hold such majesty and beauty between their pages. I honestly don't understand how people cannot enjoy reading a book.

I've always been a reader. I've always relished the adventures that they had in store for me. I was read to as a child. A few chapters before bed. Rowling, Tolkien, Adams, Snicket. And as soon as I was old enough for my parents to allow me into town on my own with my own money I would spend it on new books. New adventures. And I would embark on these alone.

I was a spine cracker. I would hurry the first few chapters of a new book especially so that I could put the first crack in the spine of my paperbacks.

But a few years ago, I was stood surveying my shelves. I was originally contemplating my next read, but the more I looked the more I noticed how ruffled my books were beginning to look.
I realised that, while cracking the spine was making them look dog eared and well loved, I was also damaging them.

I wanted my books to look well loved, but I didn't want to ruin them. I could always patch them up, get them rebound in the future... But why should I make myself have to do that? I could just take better care of them and make them last a whole lot longer while still loving them to death.

Do we not treat those that we love with care and dedication? "So why not the same with my books?" I thought.

I haven't cracked a spine since. Not on purpose anyway. There have been a couple of accidents, but for the most part my books have remained beautifully unsullied.

I'm not a spine cracker any more. And, though I thought I would, I don't miss it at all.