E-Reader OR Good Old Fashion Book?
March 8, 2011 | Posted by Emily McCann
I have been asked several times if I would be interested in receiving/using/purchasing an E-Reader. My answer (without hesitation) has consistently been 'No'. On several occasions this answer has been met with a single raised eyebrow. It seems that the more people I've in turn asked, the more I've realized that you are either from one camp or the other. Pro-E-Reader or Pro-Book.
I suppose I can see the benefits of an E-reader when it comes to travel convenience and quick access to the latest new releases. Or maybe there is an environmental aspect of saving a tree by buying an e-book download instead of a hardcopy. But let's be honest. I'm not the fastest reader, so having new releases at my fingertips is really irrelevant. It's also not a secret that I'm not the best recycler. Beyond the pleasure of a bit more room in my carry-on luggage, I can't see myself developing an attraction to an E-Reader in the near future.
Here's my thinking & rationale:
1. There is nothing that can ever replace the smell of a real book. New books, old books, library books. There is something about cracking a book open and getting a whiff of the pages that is comforting and relaxing.
(As I write this, I realize I just made someone their next million. The next new thing is going to be scented E-readers. 'New book with vanilla' scent. 'Old World Library' scent. 'Bookstore Coffee Shop' scent. They'll probably come with different scented covers in a rainbow of colours too so you can collect them all. Great.)
2. Who names these things? I looked at three E-Reader names and none of them provoked thoughts of reading or literature or learning or escape. None of the names conjure up feelings of comfort or coziness that I get when I think about curling up with a great book . Let's see what the dictionary says:
Nook: A corner or fragment
Kindle: To be aroused (ok, well maybe certain kinds of books)
Kobe: A port in Japan severely damaged by an earthquake in 1995. Also, beef.
(Definitions were looked up in an actual hardcopy dictionary)
3. Bathing with an E-Reader seems like a hazardous and potentially expensive risk. I'll admit that I like to bring my books into the tub. And I don't mind if the pages get wet and curl up on the ends. I think that just adds to the character of the book when it ends up on my shelf as part of my reading collection. An E-Reader however would require careful attention and very dry hands. This is extra stress that I don't need when trying to relax.
4. E-Readers offer one more reason not to leave your computer screen or your house for that matter. You can really do everything online if you put your mind to it. Buy clothes. Buy groceries. Do research. Read the news. Find out the weather without opening a door. Talk to your friends. Even SEE your friends. One of my favourite pastimes is going to a book store to browse. New books, old books, books in different sections. Even flipping through magazines. I love finding what my next read will be. Or the satisfaction of grabbing a copy of next month's book club book and actually holding it my hands. Seeing what the front cover looks like. Reading the back cover. An E-Reader takes away all of the excitement of the process of buying a book. It takes away the uniqueness and individuality of a book. E-Readers sterilize the look and feel of a book and the most variation they offer is larger or smaller font and maybe the option to change the type setting.
5. The potential for bruising on the face when falling asleep with your E-Reader seems greater and would likely take longer to heal. I fall asleep with my book almost every night. I drop it on the floor or drop it on my face. That's the signal that it's time for lights out. I don't suspect that a plastic E-Reader punching me in the face would feel quite the same as a soft cover book. I'm also not sure that an E-Reader could take the beating of being dropped on the floor every other night.
Well, there you have it. I'm clearly Pro-Book. My hope is that there are enough people in my camp to continue the demand for real books as it seems the popularity of E-Readers is continually on the rise. I'll stand my ground on this one until the bitter end. I'll tie myself to a tree in protest if I have to (unless they want to cut it down for a paperback, then I'll step aside).
Which camp are you in?