When e-books started becoming a “thing” several years ago, I swore up and down that I would never get one. Books in their physical form have always held a sort of magic for me, and no matter how much I might love my other electronic gadgets, I couldn’t imagine giving up the pleasing feel of holding an actual bound book in my hands, or the satisfying sight of their colourful spines lined up on my shelves.
But then Peter received a Kindle for his birthday one year, and fell in love with it. He appreciated being able to control the size of the text, but was particularly thrilled with the realization that with his e-book he could have an entire library available at his fingertips, all contained within one small and extremely portable device.
So (still rather skeptically) I decided to buy one for myself and started building up my library of e-books… and was quickly enthralled. I revisited classics I hadn’t read since I was a child, bought books I remembered reading and loving but not owning, and generally went a little e-book crazy. Oh, I didn’t give up my paper-bound books – and still maintained that I loved them the best – but anything new to my library was purchased and devoured on my Kindle.
Then some of the quirks of using an e-reader started to annoy me. While I loved the ability to highlight unknown words in the text and immediately have a dictionary definition pop up, flipping back a few pages or chapters to remind myself of the details of some point that now had bearing on the current passage I was reading was cumbersome. And trying to find a specific reference without the “page memory” I always had with physical books made contributing to book club discussions a little frustrating. Not surprisingly, after a time I found myself longing for my “real” books again and so, a little disillusioned with the whole e-reader experience, I set my Kindle aside and returned to my first love.
Until a short while ago when, inspired by a movie viewing of Jane Eyre, I remembered that I had a copy of that book on my Kindle and decided to dust it off and give it another try… and some of the old love I remembered feeling began to return.
That might have been it, if it hadn’t been for last week’s combination of sickness and inclement weather that prevented me from getting to the library to pick up a couple of books I’d reserved. At first I was frustrated, then suddenly realized that I didn’t need to let such petty details prevent me from getting my hands on the books I wanted to read – I had my Kindle, after all! I bought the books, had them instantly delivered, and was in short order happily lost in their depths.
So now I’ve come full-circle.
I realize that I love physical books for their smell, their tactility, their presence.
I realize that I love e-readers for their portability, their added features, their almost-instant gratification.
I realize that I love READING BOOKS: whether physical or electronic, purchased or borrowed, it’s the words and thoughts and knowledge contained within that’s important to me.
And I will continue to devour them… in any form.
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Twitter: Elle_CraftWKids
February 16, 2015
I had a similar problem acclimating to my Kindle as well. I received my 3rd Generation Kindle for Mother’s Day (back then it was the newest) and actually didn’t read a book on it for quite some time. I felt guilty that my husband had bought it and I wasn’t using it, so I tried it out. The features I like best about an e-reader are being able to enlarge the font, the dictionary and highlighting quotes or parts I want to remember. However, if it is a self-help book I find I prefer reading a physical book because it is easier to page back to parts I’d like to refer to. Most of my reading is done on my Kindle and I especially like reading in bed better with an e-reader than a physical book. Great post! 🙂
Elle recently posted… Musical Monday #14 ~ Try by Colbie Caillat (Self Esteem)
Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 17, 2015
I’m much the same – I think self-help, or anything with pictures/diagrams, is much easier to use when it’s a physical book. I guess it’s nice just to have options!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 25 – In any form
Twitter: BatteredHope
February 16, 2015
Interesting. I relate totally and choose which ones I read on my Kindle and which ones I want to hold in my hand — those are the ones I got for Christmas and were on my list. Also interesting is how many Kindle eBooks I sell versus paperback. I sell more paperback, by far.
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 17, 2015
Very interesting – I would have thought it would be the opposite! I guess you just never know!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 25 – In any form
Twitter: snarkymommawith
February 16, 2015
I have a Nook and Love it. We actually have several. My son has one, we share an account so we can share books, my granddaughter uses one of my older ones to play learning games and watch movies.
I have a Kindle also but haven’t used it yet. I like to read in bed so I use my glow reader there.
The weight of regular books got to be to much for my hands. The reader saved me. I was reading a book every few days until the stroke. Now its longer but I still love it.
snarkymommawithlove recently posted… Coffee, Birthday Cake and Red, Red Roses!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 17, 2015
That’s excellent that you have an option that works for you! And nice to be able to share books with other family members.
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 25 – In any form
Twitter: CascataNerina
February 16, 2015
I was forced to change to E-books when I lived overseas in a non-English speaking country. The one English book store was hours away, and I would have had to lug books back and forth. I bought an ebook reader.
I love them because they can make reading social. I love Kobo’s social reading apps. At the same time, I know I’ll always have far too many print books at any home I have because they are my comfort item – rather than a blanket, or food, you’ll find me hugging a book.
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 17, 2015
It really is great that we have so many options – never a need to be without a book in some form or another!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 25 – In any form
Twitter: modmomelleroy
February 16, 2015
I have a nook and I love it. I still love to get real books, especially when they’re by my favorite authors and friends, but I love being able to read in bed without a light on, being able to control the size of the text and having a whole library of books and magazines with me when I travel. Also great for library books!
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 17, 2015
Yes, I like being able to get friends’ books as physical copies – so they can sign them for me! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 25 – In any form
Twitter: RamblinGarden
February 16, 2015
I’ve not yet bought an eReader. I have the Kindle app on my phone and my husband has it on his tablet. I think I’ve come close to buying an eReader but just can’t bring myself to take the leap yet. One nice thing about e-books – they don’t take up any space.
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 17, 2015
Very true! When I was just looking through my directory of e-books, I realized that if they were physical books they’d have taken up quite a bit of room on our shelves – and I probably would have had to leave them behind when I moved. So I’m glad to have the electronic copies!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 25 – In any form
Twitter: travelcraftjrnl
February 16, 2015
You pretty much read my mind. Love physical books, but ebooks are soooo convenient. It doesn’t have to be one or the other, right?!
Stephanie (Travelcraft Journal) recently posted… Questions for me?
Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 17, 2015
That’s right! And someone else pointed out to me that I’d missed mentioning audiobooks… so there’s yet another option!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 25 – In any form
Twitter: travelcraftjrnl
February 17, 2015
Oh, yeah! Audiobooks are great too!
Stephanie (Travelcraft Journal) recently posted… Questions for me?
Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 18, 2015
So many wonderful options! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 40
Twitter: KaaSerpent
February 16, 2015
I love my Kindles (I have two, one small and one large) and I would not give up my physical books, either. For much the same reasons you outline, above. 🙂
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 17, 2015
It’s fantastic to have options. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 25 – In any form
Twitter: shyvish
February 16, 2015
I kind of agree with you. I am still not an entire Kindle convert though. I love my feel of the good old paperbacks and the smell of those pages, fresh or musty. Sigh…
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 17, 2015
There is definitely something about physical books that just can’t be replaced. And prowling through used bookstores is a favourite pastime of mine! Thankfully we don’t have to choose one over the other. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 25 – In any form
Twitter: nabanita21
February 16, 2015
I love books in their original form but I do know that space could be an issue, storing them at home now itself is such a task…So kindle or my tab comes in there and I like the electronic one too…I guess books in any form gets a thumbs up from me 🙂
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 17, 2015
Yes indeed! Great to have options. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 25 – In any form
Good synopsis, Laurel. I haven’t yet purchased a Kindle but I have evolved from ‘never’ to realizing there are some positives to having one for reasons you mention. I have no plans to buy one, but I know it will be a quick click at Amazon one of these days.
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 17, 2015
And the technology is getting better and better – I just discovered that the Kindle Paperwhite actually lets you scroll back or forward without losing your place – so by the time you take the leap, who knows what they’ll have invented?!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 25 – In any form
I’m like this, too. I’m glad to have an ereader and access to books digitally. I still really like actual books though. Besides that, I do just enjoy reading! 🙂
Life Breath Present recently posted… Step One: Finances
Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 17, 2015
Reading is what really matters, I think!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 25 – In any form
Twitter: ellytreehugger
February 17, 2015
There are pros and cons to both for sure. I much prefer physical books, though heavier, due to the coloured front and back pages – unless they have updated Kindle etc. – the smell, the being able to turn to pages easily, etc. I had read a book through a borrowed Kindle or Kobo via the library two or three years ago; however, other than convenience when travelling – less space – I missed my tangible books! 🙂 <3
elly stornebrink recently posted… NaBloPoMo: Make…a Mistake? Who Me?! 😉
Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 17, 2015
I think I’ll always prefer the aesthetics of physical books – there’s just something about them. Still, it’s nice to have options!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 25 – In any form
Twitter: penpaperpad
February 17, 2015
I prefer books, but I like my Nook. I like to take it to the beach with me. I generally read fast, so I need a few books. And the screen on the Nook is perfect in the sun.
Tamara ( recently posted… Poetry ripping at the heart: Robert Wilson
Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 17, 2015
Good point! And having a few books with you on an e-reader is a lot lighter when you’re traveling. Nice to have the option!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 25 – In any form
Twitter: DebbieDoglady
February 17, 2015
I can relate to everything you’ve said, Laurel! My house is filled with books on shelves. Hubby bought me a tablet for Christmas in 2013 and I started buying ebooks then, too. It’s great for travelling and reading in bed, late at night, but otherwise, I still prefer the real thing.
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 17, 2015
A house just seems more like a home to me when there are shelves full of books. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 25 – In any form
I am still a paper-book person, through and through. That being said, non-fiction where I’m doing research? Better on e-book (I just email the highlighted passages to myself). Books I want to have with me at all times that I already own in paper go in the reader. Books that aren’t at the library go in the reader. I don’t love reading in that medium, but I’ll do it for the sake of ease in certain situations.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 17, 2015
If I absolutely had to choose, I think I’d pick paper books. But it’s definitely nice to have options. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 25 – In any form
Twitter: vinithadileep
February 18, 2015
I love flipping through pages, checking out books in a library, and just getting lost in a book store. But that doesn’t mean I hate ebooks. I just love the comfort and convenience of having books in my tab. Easy to carry around and manage. I want to create a library corner in my house someday. Good thing is my tab already got a library of its own. 🙂
Vinitha recently posted… #MicroblogMondays – Of tiredness and Gratitude list!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
February 18, 2015
It’s definitely great that we have options!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 40
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