I was reading the other day a quote from JFK Jr who said on the death of his mother, that she died surrounded by family, friends, and her books. Apparently, Jackie’s books were very much a part of HER, her personality, her sense of self.
Up until recently, people could browse your bookshelves and learn a lot about you–what your interests are, your range of topics, favorite authors, how much you read (or at least buy books).Okay, so I'm going to mostly talk about the whole e-book versus physical book debate because that's the underlying question here, right?
More and more, though, this is changing. People aren’t buying books so much as borrowing them from the library. Or reading them on their e-readers or computers. There’s nothing PHYSICAL on the shelves to tell strangers in your home, for better or worse, who you ARE.
Do you think this is a good thing? Bad? Discuss!
Personally, I like hard copies of books. I don't own an e-reader and at this point, I don't really want one. However, I do see why so many people read e-books! They're environmentally-friendly, cheaper and you can walk around with more than one. I also understand why people just don't think it's the same as reading a 'real' book.
In regards to how I feel about people not knowing about you based on the books on your shelves.. I don't really think it's such a huge deal. If I really want to know what a person is like, I'll talk to them, not judge it solely on their collection of literature. I mostly just like to peruse people's bookshelves to see if we share any common interests.
Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment below and let me know!
I agree with you. I love actually holding a book rather than reading an e-book. I do have all of the ebook apps on my ipod for when I have a book in ebook form though. Plus its a good backup if i finish the book that I have with me on a trip.
ReplyDeleteIt takes me months to get through an eBook, but I can absorb a great printed book in a matter or hours. I'm a printed word kind or gal. :]
ReplyDeleteNora, The Bookery
Agree. I have both ebooks and printed books. I have ebook copies of my 'real books' for the sole reason that I want the ease of having several books saved in my laptop so that I can read them when carrying the physical book would be next to impossible.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with your statement about not judging someone based on their literary collection. They may have a thing about vampires, but it does not make them creepy or anything. =)
I love physical books so much more than I do e-books, because they're so much more personal and I love the feel of turning the page to find out what's going to happen next as opposed to clicking a button or whatever. I don't have an e-read, but I am reading a few digital advanced reader's copies of books through digital methods on my computer for review. But, that's about the only kinds of e-books that you will see me read.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I feel like libraries are more important than our actual bookstores that contain physical books, because people can go there who might have the cash to spend on a book and borrow it. Plus, the libraries in our school systems are so important to keep well stocked so that we can entice our younger audience into reading more instead of watching television or playing video games.
I'm not saying bookstores themselves aren't important, because they are. I just really believe in our libraries a little bit more.
@soulunsung - I love your answer! Thank you :) I've read some books online from the Simon & Schuster Pulse It program (they have their own sort of e-reader application) and I definitely prefer the real book.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about libraries as well. I have a fantastic public library (I won't even go into my school library) and I think that really developped me as a reader. I didn't buy books at all when I was younger except for the odd one here and there and knowing that I could still read them was wonderful. Thanks!
Libraries played a huge part in my childhood/adolescence, and for that reason I will always be a strong supporter of our public library system.
ReplyDeleteI don't own an e-reader and have no current plans to get one. I am not all that comfortable reading for long periods on the computer, and I simply love the physical book too much to give up reading that way. Nothing like a freshly opened book :)