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Two blog posts in a single day? Oh dear readers, I’m spoiling you! Well, get used to it because I like to write. I’m a writing machine… well I’m not a typewriter, but I digress.
So what’s got my goat now? What’s grinding my gears? What’s pulling my figurative tail and mocking me with a smug grin? E-readers!
Okay, I understand why they’re popular – it’s all because of the iPad and the explosion in tablet popularity. I myself don’t own a tablet, because I just think they’re ridiculous and unnecessary – my friend mainly uses his for surfing the internet in bed, because apparently a netbook is just too fiddly (must be all those physical keys, eh?) but I just don’t see the point.
I can appreciate that an e-reader is great if you’re constantly travelling and don’t have time to nip home, or you’re an absurdly fast reader, and that you are able to buy cheap books online via their proprietary store applications. However, by doing this, you’re missing out on the joys of a book – the first time you crack the spine (speaking of which, Spine Breakers is a fantastic podcast!) or that old book smell – it’s all gone now… now it just smells faintly plasticy and whilst it would make a good cracking noise, is generally not recommended.
Maybe I’m just being a bitter old fogey, but it just seems wrong – I like to make notes in my books, scribble on the pages and, quite often, show off to the other people on the tram about the brilliant book I’m reading.
So what’s my idea here? Well, there isn’t one. This is undeniably the future and there is an unstoppable march of tablet PCs and e-readers – my local library even had a clearing out sale because it’s just not drawing the same number of visitors.
Yes, it’s clever technology, lighter than a big book and generally easier to buy than nipping down to a book shop, but it just makes me feel a little bit sad, and a lot more robotic. Maybe Asimov was onto something. Poor books.
I should also apologise for my ranting today – I’m not usually this bad, I just like having a new space to vent and shout and rargh. Feel free to comment, argue and disprove me!
Related articles
- Print is not dead? [Books] (io9.com)
- The State of the Library Debated (arnoldit.com)
I agree with you 100%. I do own a Kindle, but have tons of printed books. There is nothing like snuggling up with a good printed “book,” and drinking tea by a warm fire. I love the smell and feel of printed books. Actually turning the pages instead of hitting the “next” page is much more nostalgic and makes me feel good. I still use my Kindle and receive free books, but it’s just not the same. Long live printed books for education and entertainment!
Hooray! Nice to hear from a fellow book reader.
I so neeeeearly gave into the temptation of buying a Kindle over the weekend, but just managed to stop myself and bought a book instead…. which reminds me, Christopher Paolini is a fantastic author!
Thank you for the comment