This is an age-old argument. Why improve on something that works perfectly fine as it is. The debate between kindles or E-readers and paper books was sparked almost immediately after the first E-reader was presented for purchase.
Personally I did struggle with the idea of an E-reader in the beginning. I like the feel, the weight and the smell of actual books. There is just something satisfying about having a packed and beautiful bookshelf of all your favorite reads as well as those you’ve collected that are yet to be read.
In the beginning I was very, very against E-readers. They seemed flashy and not useful at all when I could just slip a paperback into my work bag or purse. That is until my spouse brought out the nerd in me and made a comparison with a kindle that I will never forget.
Hermione’s beaded handbag. Stay with me for a moment here. Harry potter was one of my favorites as a kid and as an adult. In preparation for going on the run Hermione fashioned herself a purse that would be able to carry huge amounts of items without breaking her back. My spouse suggested a kindle was much like this bag, allowing you to take your entire bookshelf around with you in a small portable package.
For indecisive people (like me) this thought process was an absolute game changer. At any given time I am reading through 2-5 books. I will make it through work to get to my lunch break and find the book I brought with me is no longer the book I would like to read. With a kindle I have the option to change books on a whim.
Then there is the additional benefit that E-books tend to cost less than their physical counterparts because there is far less cost in creating an E-book. However this has translated into a higher cost for me at times when I fall in love with a book or series in particular I will purchase them through all mediums- E-books, Audio Books, and Physical copies (sometimes in both paperback and hardcover). This is overkill to be sure, but on the opposite end of the scale I quite often find that having an E-book copy will suffice and further collecting is not needed.
Candidly speaking, absolutely nothing will replace physical books for me. I have this unrealistic mindset that I can’t let go of. When the apocalypse comes I will be able to walk right down into my fancy bunker to avoid the end of the world and be greeted with a wall of shelves containing all of my favorite stories. Books are my comfort zone and even in the face of the end of the world, knowing my kindle will eventually die, I will have a collection of books remaining to carry me into my old age.
While the argument still stands that I do prefer books in their physical form, I am not depriving myself. I still have an overly packed bookshelf at home and within my home I read physical books. I still take physical books with me to the park when I walk Jack and to the coffee shop. However, to work, to appointments or to anything that may take long enough to offer a chance to read, I bring a kindle for the luxury of options.
Personally I believe rather than pitting the two ways of reading against one another is short sighted. The two ways of reading work hand in hand together in a way that I radically enjoy. This works the same with audio books.
There is nothing better for a road trip than an audio book, however if I loved the book at the end of the trip I will put a physical copy on my bookshelf. I do feel less accomplished after “reading a book” through audible because it feels as though I’ve done nothing. But this is an ideal solution for dry informative texts as well as adding fun to road trips and commuting.
I think limiting yourself to one form of reading or another really restricts your ability to get through your TBR shelf. Having options at your fingertips is like opening an entirely new world. The amount of informative texts that I’ve gained knowledge from is now expanded exponentially through audible. My ability to have more options in reading is entirely improved by having them digitally. Physical books, well, physical books will always be my most beloved form of reading.
So put the arguments aside and choose the form of reading that works best for you. Or combine all of them the way I have. Everyone’s life looks different and access to text is different. The point is to sit down and read. Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic (10 points to Ravenclaw if you know where that quote is from).
Happy reading!
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