There is a great debate among readers. You know what I’m talking about: eBooks or traditional books. Books you load onto a device to read electronically or books printed on paper.
I’ll admit to being in the later class of readers. I fell in love with books as a child browsing through the shelves of the bookmobile that drove through our neighborhood when I was a child. As a Kindergarten teacher, I found the magical power that a great picture book held over a class of wiggly five-year olds, even mastering the art of holding the book towards the class so they could take in the pictures as I read. And there is nothing, nothing in this world that compared to the feeling of having my children, then my grandchildren, snuggle in my lap with a favorite book.
I love browsing through a bookstore or library, choosing a book, and taking it home with me waiting for that moment when I can sink into a cozy chair and turn the first page. Favorites line the bookshelves in my studio, many dogeared and highlighted.
When I published my books, I formatted each into ebook as well as paperback formats,. More and more of my readers are choosing ebooks, but I told myself I would never ever want to read electronically,
But then….on a recent vacation, I packed two library books. After reading through them quickly, I was stuck with nothing to read. Besides that, when I returned home, I couldn’t find one of the books. Weeks went by, then months. My library is a friendly, no-fee library, but the reminders they sent became increasingly desperate. I was nearly ready to admit I’d lost the book and pay for it, when it turned up in an obscure pocket in my suitcase.
That’s when I decided to try, just try reading on line. I practiced with an older tablet a friend lent me. Not too bad. I decided to commit and purchased a Kindle.
It’s not the same as reading paper books. My Kindle is not cuddly, You don’t turn the page, you tap it. All cover at and illustrations are reduced to shades of gray. It’s kind of creepy how it knows my name and tracks my reading. Although it holds a charge for a long, long time, you still need to “feed” it occasionally and wipe it’s face clean with special cloth.
But then again…I don’t HATE my Kindle. It is concerned about my eyesight, offering a choice of soft background lighting and font size. It’s small enough to slip into a tote bag or purse or carry on, and best of all, I have a library at my fingertips wherever I go.
I still prefer “real books”, but I’ve made peace ebooks. I realize the debate doesn’t have to be either/or. I can have both. My paperbacks for home, my ebooks for travel. Best of both worlds.
I’ll be putting the Kindle to a real test soon as I go on an extended trip and I’ll let you know how it goes. I just need to remember not to lose it in that hidden pocket in my suitcase, though I suspect if I do it will send me threatening emails. It knows where I live.
Threads of Thought
Your turn: Ebooks or paperbacks? Weigh in!
And oh, by the way, you can get both of my books in either format here!
