The Smell of Old Paper

I love the smell of old books. There's a slightly musty/dusty smell to them that I find intriguing. My mom hates it.

Growing up, I found her old Hardy Boy books and read some with my dad as "bed-time" stories. About two years ago, I found a couple at the used book sale at the Neenah library and snagged them. 

Really nice ones with dust jackets.

Lately, I decided to start reading my mom's old books, and my "new" ones. The books are interesting as both entertainment reading, and from a cultural/historical reference. Sometimes they use really old fashioned words like besought instead of plead, begged, etc,. It can be puzzling to figure out what the author means sometimes. In the late 80s to 90s, updated "modern" versions were published that I read as a teen, but the original series (now) seems more interesting to me. 

I've also discovered the Rick Brant Science Adventures (supposedly the inspiration for Johnny Quest cartoons), and the Tom Swift Jr. series that look interesting, and bought two from Half-Price Books. Both are essentially early sci-fi. Some of the science of the Tom Swift book is laughable - their idea of zero gravity is totally off, but understandable given its publication in 1955 - but other aspects are quite accurate.

When I read these books, I always find myself imagining what it would have been like to grown up at the time they were written. And I wonder, is there a book series that some kid is going to read 70 years from now, and use as a reference for life in the 1980s and 90s? What will that person think of our ideas about science and technology? Will they find our way of life "quaint"? I guess I'll have to wait and see.