loreta said:Luc, I am of the species that if I don't have books I think I will die. I understand what you are saying and I also agree to a certain point. The knowledge of a book is part of our being but we evolve, we change so also our knowledge. An example: I am not the same person now reading the Wave then 4 years ago. So my knowledge now is growing a little bit thanks that I am able to re-read the Wave.
A life without books, for me, has no sense. I know also that when a catastrophe happens, things more vital have to be deal with, but with a book, always. Even if it is just one book.
That reminds me a very sad story, about Elly Hillesum that loved books and she learned, when going to a concentration camp, to live without them. Her favorite author was Rilke. Before going to a concentration camp, when writing in her room, surronded by her books, sometimes she made reflections about how maybe in the future these books will not be there anymore. She was a very strong woman, spiritually I mean. So she gives us insights on how to learn to adapt ourselves in any circumstance that will come. On how to accept to leave what you have, free yourself of some material objects. At the end, when in the concentration camp, she was happy just looking the sky and the clouds.
Thanks for sharing loreta. And I understand what you are saying - I had the same experience, reading a book for the second or third time with more understanding (from experience) makes me feel sometimes as if I hadn't understood anything the first time I read it! And yes, even in hard times, there should always be some time to read... I guess what I was trying to say is that I used to panic a bit when I thought about a grid/internet failure and what I will loose, and it is a good mental exercise for me to look back and realize what I've learned, what nobody can take from me anymore, and what I can still learn now. But you're right, that doesn't mean we should not worry about these things and prepare accordingly, so that we will still have a little treasure with us even when everything is in shambles :)