Hemingway was right: ‘There is no friend as loyal as a book.’ They are valued companions, fellow travelers, and I need them close at hand. By Douglas McCollam 1:30 AM on May 16, 2021 CDT When was the last time you held a book in your hand, ran your finger down its spine and silently rejoiced in the turning of a page? Or wandered aimlessly through the stacks at your local library, the smell of aging parchment filling your senses and touching that part of your mind that offers instant access to your memories? Sadly, in our brave new world books are increasingly recorded as ones and zeroes on distant hard drives, dwelling deep in the cloud, safe from the ravages of water, wind and time.