I like my Kindle.
It's light and therefore great for travelling with, it's easy to read even in bright sunlight but it still doesn't have quite the same hold as a paperback. There is something that feels irreplaceable about an actual book - the smell of the paper and the feel of turning an actual page.
As I sat on a train recently next to a woman reading a kindle who every few minutes laughed out loud at whatever she was reading, it dawned on me that one of the key things you miss out on with an e-book is the cover. I, being a nosy bookworm, wanted to know what she was reading that made her laugh so often. The alternatives were ask her or go without knowing. Had she been reading an actual book, I would have known what she was reading instantly, whether I had wanted to or not. You can't help but notice things like this. I realised that publishers are losing out on the most amazing free source of advertising - people reading in public! Whilst you're told not to judge a book by its cover, let's face it, we all do. When you think back to a book you loved, you can see the characters, feel their emotions but you can also recall the cover. You miss this with an e-book.
It is sad to think that, one day, the paperback will probably not exist. I therefore find myself clinging to the present and try to read the physical book whenever I can.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the ebook v physicial book debate....please do comment below :)
It IS all about the smell of a book! I enjoy my kindle for quick easy reading but when I want to curl up in bed with a book, it has to be a literal book! Though the ebook means i can have a book instantly, which is helpful.. I don't think the paperback will ever be wholly replaced..well.. I hope it won't! x
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of people who will take a book over an ebook any day. It's true that there are a lot of experiences that a good ol' book can provide you that your Kindle cannot, but I guess it goes the same way and vice versa. There are a lot of pros over having to download ebooks in a lightweight Kindle, than having to carry a load of them when you're not even sure how much of your reading list will you get done over a vacation. I guess it's all a matter of where, where and how much you'll be reading, right? Anyway, thanks for sharing that! All the best to you!
ReplyDeleteLillian Walker