It’s a debate I’ve listened to and participated in for a few years now. I was strictly all pro-books for a long while. A couple of Christmases ago, my husband asked me if I wanted a Kindle. I said no. Did he listen? No. LOL But he had good reason. When we travel (and we do travel quite a bit), I’d pack 3 – 8 books (depending on the length of our trip) in our suitcase, making it VERY heavy. He gets that I need books to read, that I want books to read, and that no trip is complete without a small library for me. The Kindle (or any e-reader I’m sure) is wonderful for travel. Now I can download as many books as I want without worrying about running out while I’m traveling – and I can also buy books while I’m away. Plus, the house we have in CA is very small and I had to limit my book buying since I didn’t have a lot of storage.
The truth is, though, I still prefer books. I love the heft of them, the smell of them, and being able to flip pages. I have a large collection of bookmarks that I love to use. I pick a special bookmark for each book I read. And I love to own books written by friends and I love getting books signed. A friend recently shared with me what her nephew (?) said about having “trophy books”. Love that! That’s exactly how I feel about my books – I love to display my library proudly. Now that we’re moving into a bigger house and I’ll have my own writing studio with built-in bookshelves, I’ve been buying books like crazy. Shhhh. 
I love having choices though. And if I read a book I end up loving on my Kindle, I buy the actual book to have in my library.
What’s your feeling about e-books vs books?
I like both for different reasons. The lack of flipping is one of the major drawbacks with the kindle. It’s particularly a problem with non-fiction and reference material, but even with fiction, there are times when I want to refer back to a point in the book. If I can remember a phrase or keyword, I can pull up a screen and s-l-o-w-l-y type in that word and maybe then find the page. But in a physical book, I find I have a visual memory of where in the book that part is that I want to find and it is actually faster for me to just flip back and find what I want. With reference material, it’s so much easier to skim through a physical book for the things you’re looking for. The kindle kind of forces you to start at the beginning and read to the end.
However, I adore being able to carry 500 books in my purse! If I’m bored with one book, I can pull up a different one. I also like it better for reading in bed! So much easier to curl up on your side with the kindle!
Some of these sound like minor nitpicky points, I know! But they add up and they add up to….I find them both useful.
I completely agree with you on the flipping pages thing! It’s why so far I only buy books for nonfiction and reference material. I was frustrated when reading OKAY FOR NOW – the book included plates of Audubon’s birds – and when the story referenced a plate, I couldn’t go back and find it to look at it.
And I agree about reading in bed too. Having the Kindle hit my forehead when I nod off is less painful than a big hardcover book.
I should start carrying my Kindle around in my purse at all times – what a great idea to always have a library of books at your finger tips! Thanks for stopping by!
I used to carry a very small purse, but I actually purposely bought a larger purse just to accommodate my kindle!
Hey, I’m always up for buying a new purse!
Pros:
I hate wearing reading glasses so I read on my IPad using the largest font
Instant download, if I hear about the book I can download and start reading immediately
I can read at night after my husband goes to sleep without using a night light
Con: can’t share books with friends and family
Never thought I would like to read an e book – but I’m a convert
Oo! Large font ability is another good reason! I can never find my reading glasses, so love being able to increase the font.
Oh yes! Larger font! Love that, too! And yes, nothing like instant gratification.
Thanks for stopping by!
It’s a tossup. I love the ease of e-book. When I can’t sleep at night, I can dim the screen and not have to worry about waking my husband. My book light wakes him up every time. But I too also love paper books and have a huge collection of them.
I love the idea of trophy books, that’s kind of how I feel about them too.
I don’t think I’ll ever stop buying books, but I have been buying more e-books as of late.
Can you just imagine mounting our favorite books on our walls like a hunting trophy? LOL
I’m still a bit of a dinosaur and I think books shelves are right up there with art – a great way to decorate aesthetically!
I don’t think you’re a dinosaur at all! Go books! I hope they never ever ever go away!
It’s interesting to see that more book readers are coming around to ebooks. It is convenient, and I love the instant gratification, and the ebook deals (!) Like you, if I love a book I’ll buy a print copy (and sometimes an audio copy too) but I do enjoy having the physical book in my hand to read and to refer to. Even though there are a lot of advantages to ebooks like as you said increasing the font size, and for ease of traveling.
And I absolutely agree with your last line that it’s great to have choices. There is definitely a place for books in all the various formats.
Great post and comments!
Thanks for chiming in!
I forgot to mention that my teen daughter prefers books, as well. However, I’m worried that this next younger generation will be the one to effect the change toward e-books. I see a lot of toddlers with iPads. Eek! I keep buying books for my young relatives.
It’s like apples and oranges. Or apples and applesauce. I love books, I love holding them, smelling them, the feel of paper, the turn of the page. I love sharing them. (which is one of the bigger downsides of e-books) But I love the option of having an e-book when I need/want it. It doesn’t replace a book, but gives me a way to read when having a real book isn’t practical. I just downloaded Vampires In The Lemon Grove into my iPhone when I was stuck in the post office line today and was so happy to have a good story to read while I waited!
Ooh! I’m thinking of reading Vampires In The Lemon Grove! Let me know what you think when you’re done!
I do love the immediate gratification of buying an e-book!
It really does come down to doing whatever it takes to be able to read! But I definitely prefer the “real” version!
That is so true: “Doing whatever it takes to be able to read.”
I like both for different reasons, too. For cookbooks, art books, and picture books, I like the actual physical book. Some reference books too, because it’s not as easy to flip through an e-reader when you just want to browse around. I don’t have as much shelf space as I’d like, so I have to be discriminating about buying real books.
Oh yes, cookbooks! Def need the real thing for that. I’m a messy cook – would hate to spill on and kill my e-reader! LOL
I think in the next few months I’ll be leaning more and more to books now that I will have more space, but for travel, I will continue to read e-books. 