By Shannon Morgan
Staff Writer

The library- where kids go not to read books, but to play on the computer. Where adults go, not to read, but to check their emails. Where students go, not to browse the shelves, but to work on homework or get tutored.

What is missing? Reading books.

No one reads anymore for pleasure. They read, not because they love to discover new things, but because they have to.

Nowadays, books are often read on a Kindle or other various electronic devices. People cannot even turn the pages physically. Instead, they just slide their finger across a screen, and then when you get bored, you go check Twitter or emails. They do not get to experience the crispness of a fresh page or the smell that can fill you with happiness (or at least it does for weird people like me). Most of all, books will not go through the physical wear and tear, something readers can become increasingly attached to.

Books that are not worn are not loved.

In an era where technology dominates the mind, books are seen as archaic and decrepit. Most adults and teens will turn to their phone or laptop first, and now even young kids are beginning to pick up mommy or daddy’s Kindle instead of a good ol’ fashioned picture book.

What happened to reading for pleasure? What happened to escaping to another place, where you meet characters that you fall in love with and ones that make you angry just to look at their name? Books are honestly just like television, yet their are so many more plots, ideas and you do not ever have to worry about bad acting.

It is funny because you would think after a few years the idea of reading to kids would sound less boring and more interesting. I cannot believe kids still give you a weird look when you say “I like to read”. Reading is the gateway to knowledge and exploring, without ever leaving the room you are sitting in.

I am a strong advocate for books, and I am sad to say that I am alone in my quest to get people to read books, so we can discuss ideas, themes and any topics that actually make you think, not just skim the surface of the beautiful gift God gave you: your brain.

Now I will end my plea for more people in the world to give books the respect and love they deserves. If anything, I do not care how you read, electronically or with a physical book, but just read.

As of right now, I will read the book I just purchased tonight, “Allegiant” (the final book in the Divergent trilogy). It should be amazing, and I am itching with anticipation to read it. I am ready to escape into a world that is not this world and laugh and cry along with the characters in my book.