I've
touched on my feelings about e-books a few times, but it's been a while since I've done
a full post on the subject. After reading my Kindle almost exclusively last year while I was traveling and then moving back to a city with a library card a few months ago, I definitely have some more defined thoughts on the topic now. Luckily,
Jessica chose e-books vs. print books for the
Book Chat topic this week, so you get to read all about my opinions today! :)
Typically,
I only use my Kindle when I'm traveling. I almost never read it at home unless I'm finishing up a book I started while on a trip. E-readers are great travel companions for a few reasons:
- They are relatively thin, even with a sturdy case, which makes them easy to slip into purses or other carry-ons.
- Instead of carrying your current read, a book for when you finish, and a back-up (or two) in case you finish that one, you only need to pack one item.
- If you do run out of books to read on the road, you can easily download a new one right on your device. (My Kindle has 3G, which makes this even easier.)
- Similarly, when you finish a book on the road, you don't have to pack it home or figure out how else to get rid of it.
I also really like the dictionary feature on the Kindle. I can click on any word to see the definition. As a logophile, this can be quite distracting for me. ;) Even if I know the definition of a particular word, sometimes I like to check out the actual definitions if I think the author could have chosen a synonym with a more aptly suited connotation.
Despite all these perks of an e-reader, however,
nothing can replace the feel of a "real" book. There's nothing quite like perusing the shelves of a library or bookshelf. I miss seeing the cover art of my book when I open a novel on my Kindle. I also like to flip back and forth in books often, and this is much harder to do on the Kindle. Overall, when in my own home and convenience isn't an issue, I'll pick a paper-and-ink book over an e-book any day.
What do you think? Do you own an e-reader? Would you ever consider buying one?
