I thought it would be nice to write a few words on an uncontroversial subject, to welcome back For Reading Addicts. You know… something light and airy, unlikely to be divisive or risk the ire of the more argumentative Addicts…
I use an e-reader. Haven’t bought a paper book in years. I follow my wife into bookshops, find a nice comfy chair (Waterstones are SO thoughtful like that, aren’t they?) and nod off, like as not. Well, following the good Mrs Mc around Next, M&S, Lush and all that can be pretty tiring stuff you know… Actually I don’t ALWAYS go to sleep. Sometimes I browse the bookshelves (making QUITE sure that Patrick o’Brian hasn’t been miraculously resurrected and sneakily gone and written a new Aubrey-Maturin episode. Nope. Not yet. I live in hope). I browse the bookshelves, find myself an intriguing looking novel… and photograph the cover with my smartphone so I can go back home and order it for Kindle from Amazon. Actually, if the bookshop is good enough to provide it’s “customers” with wi-fi, I might even order the e-book there and then. I do realise that’s a little like stealing sweeties from children, kicking over people’s rubbish bins or throwing rocks at their dogs. But that’s how I roll. I’m a bad man, I know.
But I AM an e-reader convert. Mrs Mc gave me one of her Inspector Rebus paperbacks to read the other day and it felt so wrong. I had to turn my bedside light on to read the words. When I swiped the page with my fingertip all that happened was I smeared the ink. THERE WERE NO BUTTONS TO PRESS! Even the paper felt nasty and rough and smelled all wrong. I couldn’t finish the book. Hell, I could barely get to the end of the first chapter.
What I like about the e-reader concept is that I can get ANY book I like (well, almost) and instantly too (well, almost). None of that tedious talking to over-enthusiastic bookshop attendants, ordering the book and then waiting days for it to turn up. No more hanging around libraries looking suspicious and slightly menacing (OK, so I still do that last one). Of course, all that instant gratification does mean that I spend rather more on my books than I used to. But hey, we can all go without the occasional meal, can’t we? And I LOVE being able to carry my ENTIRE book collection around in my back pocket. It gives me an odd sense of security.
On the other hand, that sense of security is rather illusory, as the urgently flashing low battery warning is oft wont to remind me. And because I use a tablet e-reader (Android, not iPad, but that’s another blog entry), I do get easily distracted by incoming emails, Facebook notifications, Tweets and so-on. So I read a lot more slowly than I used to. Yes, there ARE disadvantages, I admit it.
But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. So long as you read, it doesn’t matter what medium you’re using. Either way puts you streets ahead of those unfortunate or misguided people who can’t or won’t read at all. We can all live together in peace and harmony, you paper-lovers and us ereaders. Can’t we? I bet that Vladmir Putin is a paper-book reader, isn’t he. The rotter.
This is a guest blog.
The day I would be able to eread, will simply be the best in my life. But I can’t help myself much with ereading as my head aches due to eyesight problems which I hardly face during paperback reading. Good Luck ereaders you are in a wonderful heaven with almost every book at your finger flick disposal. -Dr Ahsen Tahiri
Have you ever tried/used a Kindle Paperwhite? I experience the same issues with tablets that feature normally glass screens but have little to no issues with the paperwhite. I usually keep the brightness on the lowest setting so it’s not too bright. Some books I own with the bright white pages bother me more than my eReader.
I have been using Kindle Touch and Kindle Paper White as eBook readers for the last five years and getting as much pleasure and comfort as reading paper books. Moreover, it is even much lighter than the smallest paper books which makes reading comfortable. And finally, I don’t have to search the meaning of the words from another heavy dictionary. I love Kindle Touch and Paper White like anything.
Hey there ! 🙂
I work in a bookshop.
Therefore, one would think I’m a paper-book only kinda girl.
Well not.
I’m actually 50-50.
Well more like 70(ebooks)-30(paperbooks) now.
It all started a few years ago. I took a 12-months sabbatical from my work, and I left France for Canada.
Leaving for a year-long experience abroad without completely moving, I couldn’t pack much else than the bare necessities. And believe me, when you’re limited to a 23 kilograms bag/suitcase, books are not a necessity. It’s sad but it’s true.
Clothes, laptop, vanity essentials. And I didn’t have a ereader or tablet at that time. So for a year I extensively used a library card over there.
Coming back to France after one year living with only “essentials”, I could see how much clutter I had left behind. Most of it being books. I had packed 30 boxes of them before leaving. 30.
And going back to it, I felt overwhelmed. I needed to declutter.
So I did big sorting. I only kept approximatively 1/3 of my books. The ones that were specials to me, and which I new I would re-read in the future. All the rest I donated. And I bought an e-reader.
Now I only (well for the most of it anyway) buy ebooks. And if I have a big crush on one of them, I may buy its paper version.
I do still enjoy reading paper books. A lot. But the freedom and clutter-free the ebooks allow me is veeeeeery enjoyable as well !
So I’m all for both paper and electronic version of books. As long as you enjoy reading !
Alfred de Musset wrote “Qu’importe le flacon pourvu qu’on ait l’ivresse” : could be roughly translated by “Whatever the flask may be, as long as you get the drunkenness” it’s the content that matters, not the packaging 😉
Douglas Adams said ‘Never mistake the plate for the food.’. The same sentiment, I feel. 🙂
“Whatever the flask may be, as long as you get the drunkenness”
I’ll bloody drink to that. Cheers
I vowed I would never use an e-reader! Over four years ago my children got me an e-reader–Kindle 6″ -first one out -plain, simple –just read on it!
It sat for over 6 months- not used! One day I picked it up and learned how to download and found out how easy it was and I have been hooked on it ever since! I have found a new club to get a lot of books free or reduced price except my favorites like Karen Slaughter and Iris J. and Sandra Brown, etc.
Well, after using the Kindle e-reader for over 4 years–it died Thursday! Battery inside died–can not be fixed or replaced–I bought an updated 8″ Kindle Fire–it gives me access to FB and e-mail and internet now! Still trying to find out how I get all read books in a file and keep all books not read in the file by themselves! I had over 300 books have read in a folder titled Read and over 160 books not read in current list on old Kindle-that one was easy to separate each book as I read it! New electronic and lots to learn on it! My son laughed and laughed at me but I am trying to keep up with some of technology! Not bad for 67 years old! I get a little impatient with technology-let’s just say! lol
I still have my “favorite real books” by above authors and of course Anne Rice and Stephen King and more and I still get a few paperback books a few times a year but the Kindle has made it so easy to read for me now and when I can buy books for free or a small cost that is always a plus!
As long as you read-does not matter which you use–just read!
Even though I’m a geek by profession, I still read mostly printed books and not ebooks. This even though I have access to a Nook, Kindle and iPad. I find that ereading does make my eyes tire faster, but that’s not really why I prefer physical books. The experience is better with books, I just can’t really say why. I do like that ebooks can be searched, a huge plus, but real books can be randomly accessed, a big usability advantage. I do most magazine reading now in eformat – I like the fact that there is no paper to recycle.
I felt guilty when I bought a kindle 8 years ago. But after my house burnt down 3 years ago I was thankful that I still had most of my book collection. I’m an avid re-reader of my favourite books, I love the fact that I can go shopping for a book when my hubby snores away beside me, I love that I can buy another book if I finish the one I’m reading. I also bought one for my mother 3 years ago and it has been fantastic. She has had alot of trouble with her eyesight so she just keeps upping the size of the font, thank you kindle! Reading is one of her favourite pastimes so I am thankful for the e-readers. I still love a traditional book, I steal my daughter’s novels for english very now and then and I’m a sucker for recipe books. My kindle died last week so I’m waiting on a second hand one to be delivered so I can get back to the book I was reading. I think there are positives and negatives for both forms of books but I won’t regret buying my kindle. As long as you can read what does it matter ?
I have arthritis in my fingers. My kindle (s) have made such a difference – I actually have two for no readily apparent reason. When I read paper books my fingers hurt after a while holding the book open. I still have plenty of paper books and still get more because of my obsession with charity shops jut I am reading more and more on my kindle and I always carry one with me wherever I go (at least ten hours of reading before charging and no back light glare are not to be sneezed at).