For the first time, Kindle electronic book sales have zoomed past hard copy sales through Amazon, and the writing appears to be firmly “etched on the wall” or, to turn a new phrase, “downloaded on the tablet” for the printed book. The future appears to be digital books you can't really touch, bookmark or stack on a shelf, but they sure are cheap and instantly accessible.
So what is so good about having something made out of dead trees anyway, as a venture capitalist I met on a plane said to me recently? 1,052,803 books were published in 2009 (latest available figures) and amazingly,

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San Luis Obispo may be getting a media-driven reputation as the "Happiest Place in America," but despite the hyperbole a serious homelessness problem exists and certainly not everybody on the streets is overjoyed.
Dan DeVaul has been in a contentious struggle with the county for a number of years over sheltering and rehabilitating homeless and indigent people who have no other place to turn but his "sober living center" on 72 pastoral acres bordering SLO City's urban growth boundary.
It has come to this:  in days at least 20 families and individuals may be evicted from "temporary" cabins as a condition of the county to allow DeVaul to build an 8000 square foot residence for them and others. DeVaul does not see the point in throwing his generally productive clients out

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Being an avid reader, I have the ability to escape my surroundings and emotions a few sentences into any story. Yet the best stories provide a distinct moment of clarity for each reader. This epiphany leaves the reader long after the book is done; it is a thought that can scratch at your brain or soothe your intellect.
In Matthew Dicks’ 2009 novel, Something Missing, professional thief Martin Railsback Jr. steals only what goes unnoticed from his “clients.” From laundry detergent to diamond earrings, Railsback spends years getting to personally know each client before stealing neglected items. With strict guidelines on conduct and daily lifestyle, Railsback grows to be an anti-social young man in order to preserve his career. Yet after a spontaneous situation leads him to emotionally contribute to clients’ lives for the better, he begins to acknowledge what is missing from his own life.
What draws me to this book is the idea that there are items in my home that would easily go unnoticed if taken. After much thought, I have come to the simple conclusion that I need to stop buying things I will never use. This understanding has no ties with being wasteful or a smart shopper, but the inability to enjoy the things I work hard to purchase.
Right around the time Railsback began to notice intangible things missing from his life, I did as well. Friends, family and laughter can sometimes fall to the wayside as daily responsibilities demand full attention. While I have yet to find a cure for this lifestyle, the best I can do to alleviate symptoms is maintain a balance. Much easier said than done, a balance of responsibilities and youthful actions can help fight all consuming adulthood.
Marisella Rodriguez is attempting to read one book a week throughout summer.