I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, I was drawn by the title and appreciative of the author taking time to explain it was taken from a reference by Stephen King who wrote that all books are ‘uniquely portable magic’. There is so much information and detail in this text which is interesting and this makes you see books at a deeper level, so not just containing collections of words or nostalgia but as tangible 3D things. The author draws your attention to the material combination of form and content that she calls ‘bookhood’ and I then find comfort in my own feelings of how I find books visually pleasing, engaging to the eye, nose and touch. I like that it is a book where you can skip to chapters of interest and I am very interested in Emma Smiths take on Kindle or ebooks as I feel that although books can be a treasured item there can be danger in our irrational fixations with them.