Traditional books are still popular.
I recently read a study by Pew Institute on how many people read e-books vs. traditional books. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/10/19/slightly-fewer-americans-are-reading-print-books-new-survey-finds/ I was surprised to learn that traditional books are still popular, and their numbers have dropped only slightly. This brings me to a blog I wrote several years ago, before I had a fancy tablet on which to read both Nook and Kindle books.
The post is a bit dated, but it still holds true for me. How about you?
The house was dark. It was raining outside, chilly inside. I had no appointments, no particular place to be for a rare afternoon. I didn’t feel like writing (my book, that is.) I didn’t feel like Facebooking or Tweeting or connecting on Linked-In.So I curled up on the couch with what I hoped would be a good book. “The Emperor of All Maladies,” is a beautifully written non-fiction tome on cancer. 550 plus pages. Pulitzer prize winner. I bought it in an expensive paperback version because it has a series of picture plates inside, which are easier to examine than in an e-book. I also bought it because I had a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble. And I bought it because, well . . .
Pulitzers should be read in traditional book style.
So on this dark, dreary day, I propped myself up on my soft leather couch with this amazing book. (It really is wonderful!) But I had to get up and readjust the lights in the room because I couldn’t adjust the font size, and I had to find a cushion to lean the book on because cancer is so heavy – physically and figuratively. Honestly, did you ever try reading a large book on your lap in dim light with old eyes?
After an hour or so, my eyes and my arms got tired, so I switched to a fluffy, inexpensive indie mystery I had started on my Nook. Ahh, the glow-light made it a delight to read and it was so lightweight in my hands, I wound up dropping it a few times. But then I forgot who one of the characters was and wanted to go back to the first chapter to check. Hmm. Not as easy as flipping the pages. When I finally returned to my current page, I got a signal that the battery was low. Ach.
Which book version is more practical? That’s up to you to decide.
For me, it’s time for a nap while my Nook re-charges.
E-books are more convenient. I recently had a stroke and finished 25 of them. I swore not to read another e-book once I got home and have stuck to my word. I’m reading less, a lot slower, and enjoyment is limited. Maybe 10 good books. It’s still more fulfilling to read a “real” book, but I’m definitely faster on e-books. And they’re cheaper. Depends on the book. If it’s a Pulitzer or serious, “real” book. If it’s entertaining: e-book.
I agree. I go through so many e-books. But I still love browsing through bookstores!
I guess I’m old-fashioned. I still like to write letters, or hold a book in my hand and add it my bookshelf, or call someone instead of putting my life on Facebook.
I like old-fashioned, but then there’s the science in me. Thanks for reading, C.L.
Looks like I’m out of step here. I’ll take an ebook over a paperbook any day. The convenience factor alone means I read e faster than paper without any loss in the experience.