image David and others may see some double entendre in Barnes & Noble’s new Nook<, but not me.

Maybe I’m just hopelessly naïve, but not only does the Book Nook in my hometown represent my earliest childhood memory of a bookstore, but I also have a two-year old in my house.  So naturally the first thing that came to my mind was Dr. Seuss:

    We took a look.

    We saw a Nook.

    On his head he had a hook.

    On his head he had a book …

(I didn’t have to Google that quote, I’ll have you know.  No, I have the entirety of One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish memorized.) 

Think the Marketing folks in at B & N are big Seuss fans?

8 COMMENTS

  1. It might explain a lot… though you’d think the “nookie” connection would have warned them away from it (you should see the MobileRead comments on that). Personally, I think they should have done a lot more work figuring out what they were gonna call it…

  2. I don’t see whats wrong with the name “Nook”, I think its kind of cute.
    The first thing that comes to my mind is “Book Nook”, which every library in our area has. I nice, warm, comfy area with big couches where you can curl up somewhere and read your book in a cosy little nook.
    The word Nook was around with its intended meaning long before people started saying “nookie”, and the word Nook has long been involved with reading and books.

    nook – definition of nook by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus …
    A small corner, alcove, or recess, especially one in a large room. 2. A hidden or secluded spot.
    nook/no͝ok/
    Noun: A corner or recess, esp. one offering seclusion or security: “the nook beside the fire”.
    nook definition – Dictionary – MSN Encarta
    nook [ nk ] (plural nooks). noun. Definition: 1. private place: a quiet private place. 2. small corner or recess: a corner or small recess in a room …

    Three definitions from three different sites. And how does a Nook relate to a Book? Because nooks were the perfect place to read books. Safe and secure and away from the rest of the world. In my childhood home, we had a small window alcove which mum called “the book nook” and its where I would sit in the sun on warm days, reading my books and on cold days, I would snuggle under blankets with a big pile of cushions and also read my books.
    So I think B&N gave their e-reader a perfectly lovely name. Makes perfect sense to me anyway.

    But of course, modern society will immediately jump to the “nookie” conclusion and give it flak.

  3. I, too, after having my brain go on overload remembered One Fish, Two Fish and I should since I read it a million times to my kids. I’m so glad so many others have had the same thought. I do like the thought of a cosy spot to read, so which ever was the thought of the employee, it was a good choice.

The TeleRead community values your civil and thoughtful comments. We use a cache, so expect a delay. Problems? E-mail newteleread@gmail.com.