Tomorrow we are leaving to go camping for the weekend, which reminds me that I've seen a lot of posts about how camping without electronics for [insert debatable time frame here] will reset your biological clock. It's a pretty nifty concept and easily doable considering the Adirondacks limit cell reception. However, I heavily rely on my Kindle Paperwhite for my reading needs. That leads me to today's post topic- the old book debate of which is better: e-readers or physical books.
Now, before I fully get into this, I should say that I love physical books. The smell, the feel, the taste. Come on, I'm not the only one who has licked a book, right? There is something extra special about holding a book between your hands while relaxing in the sun and sipping your choice beverage.
But there's also something wonderful about not having to worry about where you're going to store said books (because you can't have just one shelf of them) or how to fit enough books into your suitcase while traveling. And how about reading at night? I'm a mother and the act of snuggling a child, holding a book, and balancing a flashlight puts a lot of stress on the arms, back, and neck. Trust me, I see a chiropractor. My e-reader solved these problems for me.
The only problem I'm not sure it solves is how I can still manage to read (at night) while camping and reset my biological clock, which definitely needs to happen. The book I'm currently reading--I have a physical copy at my disposal, as well as the Kindle and audio versions--is massive and my body will already be under a fair amount of stress from sleeping on an air mattress...
So, while I'm here debating what I'll be bringing to camp with me, which do you prefer--physical copy or e-reader--and why?
***WARNING: anyone who associates e-readers with free, illegal material use will receive the full wrath of this very passionate supporter of authors.
I love my Kindle and a lot of my librarian friends do too. I can turn pages with one hand. Store a ton of books on it. It just doesn't have that new book smell. That's the best.
ReplyDeleteThey should add a feature on their newest model where it mists book smell at you periodically. Problem solved.
DeleteI'm more team Kindle these days...of course I love real books too, but the storage factor makes me nuts. I like that all my books are stored neatly on one tiny device :)
ReplyDeleteI like that I can be a secret book hoarder. How many books does she have on that thing? No one knows!
DeleteI prefer paper for holding but I like the fact that Siri can read to me off my Kindle app while I'm driving.
ReplyDeleteI did not know this -- does it do this for any Kindle book?? I'm starting to feel more and more like my mom with each new technology trick I don't know about....
DeleteI believe it works for all Kindle books, Carrie. Check out my video on the subject.
DeleteAwesome - thanks! I just watched your video and followed your instructions. Worked perfectly - as you said in your video, an audiobook would be better, but this works in cases where that's not an option.
DeleteI have an intense love for my Kindle b/c I have so many books at my fingertips (I'm an e-book hoarder.) and I can read in bed without annoying my husband by having the light on. The instant gratification factor is a big one, too...clicking "Buy Now" and having the book within seconds is pretty awesome.
ReplyDeleteYES! That's huge for me. When I want to read a book, I want it NOW at 1:33am. *click*
DeleteOh, I love both for different reasons. The light thing was an issue even with my old Kindle - even though I used a book light that either clipped to the Kindle or clipped to the book, it still never really stayed in place. And the batteries always seemed to go out at that critical moment! Now that I have a Kindle Paperwhite that problem is solved. I also struggle with the storage of physical books. The other issue is that I'm very protective of my physical books. I don't like the covers to get bent/cracked/torn/etc. Basically, when I'm done reading I want my books to look like I never even opened them! This makes it difficult for me to feel comfortable taking a book out of the house. That's where the Kindle is great. I can toss it into my purse or bag with no worry. What I tend to do now is read the Kindle version, and if I love it I'll get the physical copy too :-)
ReplyDeleteI love the lighting on my Paperwhite. It can be adjusted so easily and I can still see what I'm reading without it interfering with the Baron's sleep (interesting how my reading device disturbs him, but he has to have the TV on to fall asleep).
DeleteAfter using my Kindle Fire (and iPad) a lot, I've actually started ordering print books again. I think it's because at my day job I sit and stare at the computer screen all day and can only take so much of that in a given day. I also feel like the Fire and iPad offer the added distraction of the internet. If I'm going to read, I want something that's dedicated to just reading. Plus I fear that by the time I actually publish my book they will only be doing e-publishing and I won't be able to hold a copy in my hands, so I want to support the publishers as much as possible... Great post!
ReplyDeleteAn excellent point about the internet! My first ereader was a Kindle Fire. I ended up moving on to the Kindle Paperwhite because it doesn't have that distraction feature. I mean, you can go on Goodreads, but I still haven't figured out the navigation, so I just don't.
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