Neither happiness nor misery

"There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, - nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness."

I love books and I particularly love old books. This is my treasured copy of The Count of Monte Cristo. I have a new copy, which is the one I've read, but I prefer this 1908 edition, partly because it has beautiful illustrations throughout. It's my favourite novel and if it were possible to meet a character from a novel, then for me, it would be Edmond Dantes.

I understand the appeal of Kindles and other book readers, but for me they can't compete with a book. A proper book, made of paper not pixels, with binding not batteries.