Before E-Books
Once upon a time I swore I’d never use an e-reader. As a serious book lover, I couldn’t imagine curling up on the couch with what looked like a smartphone on steroids. The concept seemed antithetical to everything I loved about reading like browsing in a store and holding a book in my hands. I scoffed at anyone who suggested that my reading pace of at least a book a week made me a good candidate for a Kindle or a Nook. “Not my thing,” I’d say. “I like real books.”
Then I borrowed my husband’s Kindle for a day and . . . I’m sure you can see where this is going.
An E-book Convert
I became a crazed monster as I searched for articles comparing the Kindle and the Nook as well as the regular Kindle to the Kindle Fire. Confused by the all the techie jargon, I turned to my favorite source of research: Facebook and Twitter. The majority of my friends voted for the Kindle. Some people responded, “I kind of want an e-reader, but I could never abandon books.” That is, of course, what I used to say.
Guess what? The Kindle is pretty freaking cool. I went with Amazon’s new Kindle Touch. The Fire enticed me, but I wanted a book-ish thing, not a television-esque thing. And while I’d like to say that buying books straight off the Kindle felt cold and foreign, I’d be a big liar if I did.
I Still Love Book Stores
Hence the “tortured” part of this romance. I love books, and I love bookstores. But I also adore my Kindle, that slick, smart device. How in good conscience can I have them all?
I can easily picture the bookstores of my childhood like the long-gone Chestnut Court in Highland Park, IL, where I spent my allowance on Sweet Valley High books. I remember the little store in Sanibel Island, FL where my parents alway let me go twice in a week to replenish my vacation book supply. There was the impressive bookstore in St. Louis called The Library Limited near the WashU campus where I often studied and bought a book on my way out. In Minneapolis (where I live now), there’s The Bookcase, a sweet little store overlooking Lake Minnetonka in Wayzata where I make it a point to buy books from my to-be-read list at least once a quarter.I consider myself a champion of brick and mortar stores. I even wrote a piece calling out the schnorrers who use those stores as showrooms—a practice I consider unethical and well, the best word is “schnorrery.” (Read the piece for a good definition.)
But, I’m a Writer
There’s also this issue: I’m a writer. When I used to dream of my work in someone’s hands other than mine, it certainly wasn’t in the form of a gray slab with a screen. Can I be a “champion of bookstores” and a lover of the printed page if I’m having a hot and heavy affair with my Kindle Touch 3G? My hypocrisy is giving me hives.
For the fellow book lovers out there: Have you made the switch to digital? Do you miss printed books? Do you worry about the fate of bookstores?
For writers (of course you are book lovers, too): If I’m now making most of my book purchases on the Kindle, am I helping that Goliath Amazon control the publishing future?
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80 Responses
Nina! I wrote about this very thing last year at this very time — as my husband was “threatening” to buy me an e-reader. Now I have an iPad and I can read everything. And I love it.
That said, I still buy books. If I read something on my iPad and I really loved it, I’ll go buy it. Some people think I’m crazy, but that is what I do.
And like you. I’m a writer who always dreamed of seeing her name sideways on a real bookshelf, but I think these thingies are here to stay.
Plus less clutter.
And I totally agree with you with regard to the schnorrers! 😉
Yes! The clutter is another issue that I didn’t even raise. While I love books, I don’t love clutter and I’m usually quick to give books away to friends unless it’s one I simply have to own. I read so often though that I couldn’t keep every book. It is nice to have a bunch of books at my disposal all in one tidy place.
A relative insisted on buying me a Kindle. I reluctantly accepted it, but ultimately I’m glad I did. I enjoy the Kindle’s convenience, and it is really handy for travel. However, I still frequent brick and mortar bookstores. I buy hardcover copies of books that I want on my bookshelves (a recent example: Blue Nights by Joan Didion). And ALL of books I buy for my kids are physical copies. I don’t want them reading on screens until they are older (they are ages 3 and 8 months).
I completely agree re: the kids. I’ve never considered letting them anywhere near my Kindle. My oldest is only seven though so I’m sure that will change in time. I also think I’d want to own certain books even if I’ve already purchased it on the Kindle . . . I’d probably wait until it came out in paperback though. For example, I’m currently reading THE MARRIAGE PLOT, which cost $12.99 in the Kindle. In that case, I would not shell out for the hardcover too.
How funny, I’m also reading The Marriage Plot (on Kindle as well).
it was the best present I never knew I wanted!!!! LOVE the Kindle!
I just had this converstation with a friend yesterday who has recently opened her own epublishing company. I love books, but I don’t have room for lots of books in my very small house. I do have a Kindle and I love it. I love being able to just search for books and get them right away. I do see the future at going toward ebooks and epublishing. How great would it have been to have ebooks in college? Anyway….I still buy “real” books by certian authors and on certian subjects and of course, for my kids. I want them to love books first and love technology second.
What a perfect expression: “I want them to love books first and love technology second.” That’s the truth. I love the Kindle, because I love TO READ. The little device would be pointless if I didn’t love the ACT of reading.
Nina, I blogged about this subject too last month, and despite the pressure that piles down upon me with every passing day, I have continued to resist buying an e-reader. I know such resistance is futile and that, sooner rather than later, I will succumb – Christmas is, of course, a very compelling excuse. I have bought my 12 year old daughter a Kindle for Christmas and I suspect she will browbeat me into it by New Year. If you’re interested and have the time my blog post can be found at http://www.tonyquarrington.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/books-case-for-the-defence/
Regards
Tony
I love, love love books. And I love my e-reader. So while I do most of my reading with my Kindle, I make a pilgrimage to my favorite bookstore at least once a month. Just to stay in touch.
But, I happen to think the Kindle is awesome for writers. Why? Because you can publish your own books. And if you offer ’em up for a buck or two, chances are, you’re going to get an audience (those cheap read sites will find em).
So that’s what I try to do. At least 50 percent of the time. That is, buy books from unknown authors. Sometimes they’re terrible, but more often than not, I’m pleasantly surprised.
I haven’t tried that yet (buying from the unknowns yet). I’m sure I will eventually, as I might be an unknown one day. (Though I still like the idea of the traditional route. Some dreams die hard.)
I held out for a long time too. Kindle and I flirted a bit. I spent some time reading ebooks on-line in Kindle format, but then, for a recent trip to Mexico, I bought the $79.00 cheap-o Kindle. Maybe it was the romance of being on the ocean. Maybe it was the warm Mexican air. But the Kindle and I are officially in love.
I’m afraid it is a sign of the times. One of the biggie self-published authors, (and I’m sorry I can’t remember which one) says, there’s a reason we’re still not reading on scrolls. Convenience trumps all over time.
The scrolls point reminds me of a great article I read (of course can’t remember where . . . but I think NYTimes) about how ereaders are the biggest jump in reading technology since the binding of books over a scroll. It was an interesting read and a reminder that while the delivery method changes, we’re still READING and getting lost in stories or gathering information in our brains. Does it REALLY matter how? It might . . . might not.
But the nostalgia of the book store. The sitting in an independent, reading to my kids. Getting a coffee. That’s what can’t be replaced with a Kindle. Sigh.
I love books–the paper kind. Personally, I prefer to hold a book with a spine in my hand, dog-ear pages with passages that grab me, fill my shelves with who-knows-how-many volumes of books that together, have changed my life.
But not everyone feels that way. People like the ready accessibility of e-readers, the portability, the (often) lower price points. And even I have discovered specific situations where my Kindle (given to me as a gift over a year ago) has come in awfully handy): e.g., my sick, irritable child wants the next book in the series he’s reading RIGHT NOW. The only way to deliver that is through an e-reader.
We writers and book-lovers have to stop fighting e-books and see the positive in them: the public hunger for them means that people are reading. (I’d put those last three words in italics if I could do that in the comments.) E-books are a popular option, and they’re not going away.
So yes, we should use our purchasing/blogging/writing power to promote the printed page we love so much, but why fight what readers want in the form of e-books? BUT, we can try to find ways to support our beloved indie bookstores at the same time. For example, my own local indie, Gibson’s Bookstore, just began to sell e-books to meet the desires of its customers. Interestingly, the e-books they sell will work with every device except the traditional Kindle, because that device will only accept e-books purchased from Amazon. (The Kindle Fire apparently accepts e-books from other vendors.) I wish I’d known that fact earlier; I find myself almost wishing my Kindle would break so I could justify purchasing a new e-reader that would allow me to buy e-books from my local indie.
There are ways to make local bookstores, printed books and e-books work together. We book-lovers just have commit to finding them.
I had no idea you could buy ebooks from a regular store. It’s pretty crappy that only the Kindle doesn’t allow it . . . kind of relates to Richard Russo’s piece in the NYTimes earlier this week. Loved the title “Amazon’s Jungle Logic.”
You’re so right about the bright side . . . “the public hunger for books.” Hard not to celebrate THAT.
As a high school librarian, would-be avid reader (just not enough time to read as much as I’d like) and supporter of local stores, I also resisted the lure of e-readers. And, I too gave in and purchased a Kindle. And, I too am now obsessed. Never again will I read a 500+ page book in print. No matter the size of the book, it weighs the same and is easier to carry in a Kindle. I take my Kindle everywhere I go and make better use of lag time when waiting on a line, in my car for my children, etc. I am sure I read more because of the Kindle. Convenience and size alone are the reasons why I am an e-reader devotee. However, I will still wander in and purchase from bookstores. Cookbooks and many non-fiction books are either beautiful to look at or more convenient to hold and peruse. One deciding factor in choosing between an e-book and print, will I use the index? I just pre-ordered the print version of a book by one of my favorite bloggers, http://mwfseekingbff.com. It cost me a little more, but I will get to thumb through the book, stumble upon an interesting passage and give my local bookstore some business!
Thanks for your thought-provoking and kindle-confirming post!
Hi Shari! I love Rachel’s blog too and I’m excited for her book. She and I “met” on Twitter, I believe. Friendship is one of my favorite topics. Anyway, I agree that a book you’d want to flip around (like a cookbook) is better in print. And also agree about those 500+ books. That would be much nicer on the Kindle EXCEPT maybe seeing how slowly the percentage is ticking by.
I’ve been going through the same thing–sounds like a lot of us have! I still have stacks of books, but because I have other author friends going straight to ebooks, I felt I needed an e-reader. I’m getting a Nook for Hanukkah. I chose a Nook as a backlash against Amazon who seems to be gobbling up control of the publishing industry. I hope I’ll love it. Glad to know I’m not the only one struggling with this. 🙂
I bought a Kindle several months ago, with no small amount of trepidation. Since then, I’ve occasionally forgotten I own it. I suppose it is convenient, but since I enjoy going to bookstores so much and love the sight of a crowded bookshelf, the convenience isn’t that much of a draw for me. Besides, being able to flip back and reference something that happened ten chapters ago is also convenient! On a Kindle, this kind of jumping around is anything but easy.
Still, the Kindle has hooked me in one way. I uploaded my own manuscript (which is ridiculously easy to do) and read it like any other Kindle book, making notes for edits as I went along. That was a wonderful boon to the editing process.
So I guess I’ll continue to own an ereader, but I’m concerned about a world without bookstores and an industry controlled by Amazon. On the other hand, I’m not always able to find the book I want in a local store, and if that’s the case I’ll turn to my Kindle. I think there’s a balance we can strike so that it doesn’t have to be all one or the other.
I’m glad you brought up the uploading. Does Amazon charge for this? I found the directions really confusing!
Yes, I do remember thinking the directions were far more confusing than they need to be. They don’t charge for this, UNLESS you have 3G and the 3G is turned on. If you’re using wi-fi, it’s free. At least that’s how I understood it. I don’t have a 3G Kindle, so I used wireless and didn’t get charged.
Basically, you just attach the word document to an email and send it to your dedicated Kindle email address. You can find that under your Amazon Account Page > Manage Your Kindle > Personal Document Settings, where it will show you what the email address is. Just say something in the subject or body of the email about wanting the document turned into a Kindle file, and Amazon will start the file creation right away. The whole process took five minutes or so, and at the end my WIP looked like a real ebook. Exciting and terrifying at the same time!
Yes, yes, and yes.
I don’t have a Kindle, but I have the Kindle app on my iPhone. I got it, because some of the books I wanted to read for author interviews were more easily available (or only available) in e-format. Then, a few books on writing popped up at can’t-refuse prices, one of them for free. All of a sudden, I’m reading digital.
I do miss printed books. They are still my preference. Those books on writing that I have on Kindle? I wish I had them in print now. It isn’t quite the same to highlight a passage or two as to underline them and earmark the pages. With that said, though, I appreciate having quick access to a read while I’m waiting outside my daughter’s dance class, etc.
And, I do worry about bookstores, and libraries. The other day I walked into the library at the university where I work, and I lost my breath – again – at the sight of all those books. All that research. All those stories. At the tips of my fingers as I strolled down the aisle and ran my hand along every single spine.
Quite the conundrum.
Loved that last paragraph . . . would make a lovely post of its own.
Like you and many other commenters, I always said “I like to turn pages” and “It’s not a real book.” And then I was given a Kindle as a gift and I forgot all of that. The Kindle makes it so much easier for traveling or even just bringing my “book” to a doctor’s appointment or something. I still buy books every now and then, and I do worry about bookstores. But I guess in the same way I used to worry about record stores when music went digital. It’s sad, but it’s also just the way it works. And while I mourned the closing of Borders, where I hung out all through high school, I also wished they had adapted better.
Overall, I find curling up with my Kindle just as cozy 🙂
Yes, the music companies had to adapt too. I wonder what their sales are like now in the “digital age” compared to before. People still love and buy music although the format has changed often through the years.
Nina … I had been planning to blog about this very topic. WELL done. You might have seen my tweets about being a #booksniffer – i.e. a lover of printed books due to the olfactory rush they provide, as well as the tactile experience. I dug in my heels and said, “No!” every time over the past few years when my husband tried to get me an e-reader (he is a huge tech nerd).
And THEN, a few months ago, I won a free Kindle from Reader Unboxed. And I surprised myself. Gulp. I liked it. In fact, there are many things I like about it. There are some I don’t. And I feel the same hypocrisy as you, as a result. I got the $79 version of the Kindle and I actually LOVE the size of it; so easy to hold in one hand while I read in bed. I’m not dropping pens on my sheets and decorating them with squiggles as I take notes. I’m not going through stacks of post-its either. Though I confess, I don’t like the arduous way you have to type notes into this device (but your version solves that problem since it’s touch-screen technology). At any rate, the big downside for me of e-readers, since I read and take copious ‘craft’ notes, is the inability flip back and forth to re-read passages. And of course, I can’t stop and bury my nose in the book and take a big whiff. But I’m with what others are saying: I think e-readers have actually resulted in people reading more. That can’t be a bad thing. I also think printed books are around to stay. Like others mentioned already, if I read an ebook and LOVED it, I will go out and buy a printed version of it for my shelf. So I think there IS room for both kinds of books in our worlds.
I find it SO interesting that MOST of us did not go into this willingly… that we ‘borrowed’ someone’s e-reader or received one as a gift, or won one… Great post.
SO agree on the flipping back and forth. I haven’t tried taking notes. I don’t think the touch screen would make that easier, per say. But that might because I still have a blackberry and I’m not “touch screen savvy” yet. Actually, I find the touch screen kind of awkward. I remember when you won the Kindle from Reader Unboxed!
I made the switch about a year ago, but I have the Kindle PC and not a portable reader. My daughter has offered to get me one two years and I still haven’t said yet. As another book lover, I am loving the Kindle. Nina, we don’t have to make it an either-or type of situation. I find I am buying as many print copies as I am ordering Kindle copies. First and foremost, it’s setting and mood … it’s where do I want to read today and how can I best have fun? I enjoy using the Kindle in my office, late at night when I am finished with my work. But I insist on having a book at the kitchen table to greet me in the morning … sun and quiet and great companion to my morning java. It might take another two complete generatoins before all the doom and gloom predictions begin to take a strangle hold.
Regarding the “giant” amazon … it’s hard to fault them for being innovative. It’s like finding fault with Steve Jobs for making the typewriter obsolete and there are few graphic artists and photographers who would boo-hoo him for cornering the art market. Amazon saw a big gaping hole in the publising industry and filled it with fast service, new opportunities for readers and writers and while everyone is trying to play “catch up” … the truth is … I admire them for doing all they do.
Don’t worry about your bookseller either. The libraries and booksellers will adjust as readers are adjusting. I will never get over the thrill of strolling down the stacks of my local library, nor will I ever give up the wonderful feeling of visiting my local bookseller. For now and for your chldren’s future … we can enjoy both worlds. Have fun reading 🙂
All very well said! And point taken re: Amazon! (You should blog about this too)
I do not have an e-reader. I would say “yet” except I still have no plans to acquire one and if I don’t specifically ASK for it, no one will get one for me. It’s just not a priority here because I manage to read enough already…
My two issues are these: Libraries. I love love love to save money by checking books out of the library. This is my first line of defense; a method of seeing whether or not I like a book and/or want to invest in it.
Lending: I love to lend books I’ve loved to my friends and family. I spread them around until they’re falling apart. If I read something at the library and it’s fabulous, I buy it so I can own and/or let others borrow it.
Are these limitations an e-reader can surmount?
Actually, you CAN borrow books on an e-reader from your library and from friends, but I don’t know how to do it yet. You can also lend books.
I have friends who swear by their iPads and Kindles. I don’t own one yet but I imagine that the day is coming.
Ah yes, I’ve had this debate with my teenage daughter, who adores books in print form and abhors my Kindle, which my wife bought me about a year ago. My take? I love how with the Kindle I can buy a book the moment I hear about it; how often I’ve made a mental note and then forgotten what book it was I meant to buy. I still buy physical books; ones I know I’ll want on my shelf, ones where illustrations matter. But I embrace the Kindle as well, and love it keeps my books in the “cloud,” so I can read them on my smartphone as well with the Kindle app, even if I don’t have my Kindle on me.
I get the thrill of tablets, but I like that my Kindle 2 isn’t backlit, but instead uses what I call Etch-a-Sketch technology to make it just like a book. I stare at computer and smartphone screens far too much; I like that the Kindle gives me an experience just like a book, where I need to illuminate it, rather than it illuminating me.
I’m SO with you on the backlight thing. That’s why I chose the Kindle over a tablet. I believe the Nook is backlit, right?
I think there’s one Nook that’s like the Kindle in that regard, but they’re marketing the color ones that are indeed backlit.
The color ones ARE backlit?! That’s been one of my big hang-ups about buy it! Good to know.
Hi Nina,
You are not alone, unfortunately. I hear more and more book lovers expressing similar thoughts.
I don’t think there is a correct answer.
I work in an amazing independent bookstore in Portland, OR. It has been open for over 30 years and has all the attributes you’d want in a smart, cozy book haven. It is heartbreaking to see people come in and research books without buying anything (I think of them as e-book browsers). But technology keeps rolling on…how do we honor technology and the book?
Anyhow, I haven’t made the leap to a Kindle and don’t know of I ever will. I love the feel, the smell, the art of the physical book and can’t give that up yet.
Thanks so much for chiming in here. What you’re saying here is exactly what I imagine happening in stores . . . people taking advantage of the atmosphere and not realizing it costs money to keep it running.
I’m the ultimate treeware lover. My house is floor to ceiling books–many of them rare and antique. I have worked most of my life in bookstores. So I was resisting the e-readers like crazy. But I’ve got a request into Santa Claus to bring me one and I can’t wait. I’ve found so many great indie writers whose books are only available for e-readers. Plus my sister has one and she says because it fits in a pocket, she can read whenever she’s in line at the post office, or waiting to pick up the kids, or riding the subway. And when she finishes a book, there’s always another. Her reading time has doubled, so she’s reading that much more. Anything that increases reading time is great as far as I’m concerned.
Another biggie–so many classics are free. My sister is reading the entire works of Trollope–at no cost–titles that have been impossible to find for years.
Will I ever give up my paper books? Nope. But I want a Kindle TOO.
I went with the Nook. Like you, I swore up and down I didn’t need an e-reader. Now I love it.
But to your question: there is a way to support your local indie bookstores through e-reader purchases. One of my favorite stores, Greenlight Books in Brooklyn, allows you to purchase e-books through their website via Google. A portion of the purchase price of the book goes back to the store. I’m not sure if Kindles have access to this kind of format. Hopefully this is a way for small bookstores to continue being an important voice in our communities.
http://www.greenlightbookstore.com/e-books-explained
Jackie, thanks for sharing that resource here!!
I also blogged about this before we got a Kindle earlier this year…and I love all the points you mentioned. We got a Kindle earlier when I was offered a free book from a writer friend. I wasn’t crazy about it; my husband LOVES it. But I absolutely love the concept and the fact that it can hold so many books. And I DO read on it. My real problem with it is that often the pagination is different than a book would have or the words look different “on the page” that with some printed books. I’m not crazy about that. I think if I read on something the size of an iPAD, it might be a different story, but I prefer the backlighting of the Kindle. Interesting you’d mention your kids…. my kids (college & older) will not even LOOK at the Kindle!! They are both avid readers and I think the Kindle is an affront to their love of paper books! So interesting!
What a fabulous post! It’s like you’re in my head. I was the same: I’ll never convert to an e-reader. It’s WRONG! But then my fiance bought me a Kindle for Christmas two years ago. I cannot live without it. I rarely buy actual books anymore but I still love going to the actual bookstore. I love the convenience of it–with a single click I can download a book I want to read no matter where I am or what time of day or night it is. Also it fits so nicely in my purse. I’m the kind of person who always has a book with her so if I was reading a 700 page hardback it was impossible to fit into my purse and would often take me months to finish if my reading time was relegated to home. Now I can read anything on my Kindle, any time, any place. Of course, I feel just as conflicted as you do. For one thing, if the batteries run out or we’re without electricity for any length of time, my Kindle is useless. Also, yes, as a writer I still dream of holding my actual, physical book in my hands once it is published (fingers crossed that THAT will happen!) and I don’t really want my daughter reading children’s books on a slab. It is definitely a tortured romance, as you say. I’ve had my Kindle for 2 years now and I still haven’t figured out a way to assuage my guilt!
Hey, I used to buy Sweet Valley High books with my allowance too!
Love a fellow Sweet Valley High fan. I used to underline the “racy” passages, which consisted of a kiss and not much else. Then I found FOREVER by Judy Blume. WOW.
One more thing . . . my fiance who is not a reader loves my Kindle because now our home isn’t being overrun with books. So that’s another advantage. No one can complain about how many books I’ve got laying around!
I can’t bare to make the switch to digital from the actual books (as you can see on my nightstand). However, I agree that the e-readers can be really useful, especially if you travel a lot. And as a writer who hopefully will publish one day, I know e-books are the thing of the future. Maybe I’ll switch when my “published work” goes electronic.
Loved the shout out to Chestnut Court!
I just got an e-reader this week, and I have mixed feeling. I always loved the idea of having a huge wall of packed bookshelves somewhere in my house. However, seeing what a 3 yo and a 5 yo can do to a smallish bookshelf should be enough of an argument for an e-reader.
I love all HP nostalgia like Fells, Gsells, 31 Flavors, Chandlers . . . Maybe it’s because I’ve been away for so long.
I haven’t made the leap into the 21st century and gotten an ereader yet. But this is just because I can’t decide which one I want. I’m a library girl so I don’t buy books and my libraries have a very good selection of ebooks.
I have decided to start building my library so this is what I envision happening. Borrow book from the library (either physical or ebook), fall in love, buy hard copy, and never let anyone touch said hard copy because I love it so much. Which is pretty much what has happened with Hunger Games. My next purchases will be the Twilight series, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and Neil Gaiman’s books. As you can see I’m building a library for my kids… Still not sure I’ll let them read my nice copies LOL.
I understand the hoarding of the books and then not wanting anyone to touch them! I have the HP series and The Hunger Games series. Hoping my kids will love them one day too!
I had the same reaction that you did when I first heard about e-readers – not for me, I like real books! But then I saw one of the girls I work with reading her Kindle and it just looked so cool! I’ve wanted one ever since. Plus, there are so many books that I want, and I just don’t have the room to store them! lol I was thinking about the Kindle Fire, so you comment about it being a “television-esque thing” made me curious, what do you mean by that? Is the screen harder to read than the Touch?
Oh, and Sweet Valley High! I loved those books!
The lighting on the Fire is different from the regular Kindle. I can’t explain the logistics . . . but I think the Fire is harder on the eyes if you’re going to read in the dark. For the regular kindle, you need to use a book light just like you would with a regular book. With the Fire, it’s backlit, so you don’t need a light, but it’s like using a computer or a phone. It can get wearing on your eyes after a while. As for the TV thing, the Fire plays movies, shows, etc. As much as I love books, I don’t think I’d read as much if I could so easily switch to a movie or surfing the web.
I’m like you… I love books and bookstores but (and I’ve barely admitted this to myself yet) I want a eReader. Part of that is because I review books for multiple publishers and many of them are making more eBooks available than print books. I can’t read at my computer and my Netbook isn’t a good solution either, so maybe an eReader would work. I need something I can cart around with me, to the washroom or the park or the Jeep, so that I can read in any spare minute I can snatch. Right now, that’s a book or a magainze, but maybe it could be my eReader someday. (Of course, then I’d need a bigger purse to keep my eReader in so it’s ready whenenever I want it…)
Oh Nina, I’m making the switch this year, too! {Although I think I’m going the nook- don’t judge.}. I buy so many books and can’t keep up with my -ahem- library fines. I also have to admit that I like the sleekness of it all. {Oy. I feel badly writing this!}
I echo your sentiments, Nina. I am a book-a-week reader who has felt incredible guilt about abandoning the bookstore, but also Kindle-on-the-iPad user who can’t get enough. I remember that little bookstore on Sanibel where my parents let me spend what seemed like hours picking out a new book to love. And, oh… the time spent at Library Limited, wandering the stacks when I should have been studying. Now it is a parking garage and the corporate headquarters for a healthcare company… How times have changed!
Hi Marissa! Ugh, that depresses me SO much about The Library Limited. 🙁
I’ve had my Kindle for about a year and a half now but I don’t read books on it. I originally got it because I was reading submissions for a literary magazine at the time, and I also edit clients’ manuscripts on occasion, so getting that first read-through on the Kindle is a nice way for me to step away from the computer (I hate reading long pieces on my laptop). When it comes to novels I still want paper books. I think it’s just a matter of how I associate things, though. I like being disconnected at the end of a long day of being way too plugged in to an instant, online world. So I associate my Kindle with work and paper books with reading for pleasure.
100% hear you on the “plugged in” issue. For me, I think I’ll still prefer paper if I want to make a lot of notes.
I feel a fair amount of Kindle guilt, too, but I try to combat it by buying one paper for every ebook. One indie for every chain. I love traveling with the Kindle. I love reading paper books at home. I love reading on my Kindle app for iPhone in the dark while my husband sleeps. I love dog ear-ing pages and underlining my favorite passages with a blue pen.
It’s not an either/or in my house. I love books in all forms. But nothing beats the real thing.
I understand your dilemma. I am asking for an e-reader for the Holidays after spurning it for some time. I downloaded the kindle for my PC a few months ago and fell in love with the immediacy of ordering books. I’m getting a reader because I’d like to read them on something more portable than my PC. That being said, I still LOVE real books, and I still buy books in bookstores. (I haven’t any data, but I think I buy more books now because the Kindle books are so cheap and easy to get). Did you read the Slate article this week on this very topic?
Just read it—WOW. And Russo responded to THAT piece as well. It’s quite an argument happening . . . both have some valid points. Ultimately, like many have said here including you: it doesn’t have to be one or the other. It does seem to be that people are buying more books now though because of the digital readers.
If I still had all the money I spent on Sweet Valley books I could probably buy a house. I think e-book readers mean different things to readers, writers and businesses. It’s not going away that’s for sure so if you’re involved in one of those three things it’s probably best to be savvy to what’s going on. I love my Kindle but I wasn’t so sure when I got it. It grew on me quickly. It’s funny how you make the comment about thinking an e-reader doesn’t sound like fun to curl up with and read…I find it’s comfier than a regular book for laying down and reading. It’s lighter and you don’t have to keep adjusting the angle so the pages aren’t in shadows. I do think the Fire looks awesome but if I want a tablet I’d buy a tablet. I’m with you there.
Sara! Now that I’ve had the Kindle for a few weeks I agree on the “curl up on the couch thing.” It’s also MUCH easier to read while nursing than when I had to attempt holding a book open with one hand.
I realize I’m late to the party with my comment, but I couldn’t resist weighing in on this since I had a major struggle with making the transition from my beloved books to my kindle. At the risk of exposing my true inner nerd, I have loved books since I was a toddler. In the town where I grew up, you weren’t allowed to get a library card until you were 5 years old — this presented a huge problem for me since I wanted one much earlier. I told my parents that the only thing I wanted for my fifth birthday was a library card. And I have a very vivid recollection of marching in there with my mom on my birthday to sign my name to my very own library card.
With this in mind, the thought of putting aside my real, tangible books was not something I ever thought I would do. It wasn’t until I had Ethan and found that it took him one entire hour to nurse every time he was hungry that I was forced to get a kindle — I needed both hands to hold a book open and I was having too much trouble nursing and dealing with the book at the same time (I assume with #4 you can probably do pilates while you nurse with no trouble at all, but as a first time mom, it was no easy feat for me!). I got the kindle because I could read it one-handed and I absolutely fell in love. I carry it with me everywhere and love knowing that if I get stuck waiting in line or for a doctor, I always have my book with me.
My biggest complaints are that I can’t flip ahead to figure out how many pages are left in a chapter — something I like to do when I’m reading at night and trying to figure out if I should commit to read on or go to sleep at a natural stopping point. I also hate not having page numbers. And, of course, I never buy books on my kindle that I may want to refer back to for any reason. But other than that, it’s one of my favorite things. I now take Ethan to the library every week and I get my “fix” that way.
Lisa! I loved this! I was always a book nerd too. I love the library story. And I like I just responded to Sara, I’m with you on using the Kindle while nursing. It was very hard to read a regular book while nursing. I think I tended to look at magazines more with the other kids because I could fold a mag all the way back and hold it with one hand. Much prefer to get my reading in!
Good night, Nina! This blog is getting way too big. I think I scrolled for five minutes to get to the open comment box. 😉
I have Kindle for iPhone and my iPad. I also buy e-books from my local indie (through Google) and read it on my iPad. Does this mean I don’t read print? Hell no! The reason I have various e-readers is for convenience. Vacations, reading in bed until the wee hours of the morning, waiting at various kids’ activities, running on the treadmill, etc. I love, love, love reading print books. Nothing replaces that for me. I like the sense of accomplishment as I flip pages, seeing my progress. I don’t get that with my e-readers.
I will always choose a print book but for convenience sake, I do turn to technology.
But these are the things I have learned and why I support brick and mortar first:
1. They are the ones that sponsor author signings. Amazon does not. As a hopeful author-to-be someday, I feel I am helping pave the road for future authors and *crossing fingers* myself.
2. I can purchase books from them online and they are shipped for free as long as I pick them up in the store. And they are shipped very quickly.
3. My local library needs me. If I don’t use it then it will be gone someday. Then my kids won’t be able to use it. I owe my love of reading to my hometown library.
I’d like to think I am an equal opportunity reader but I will always choose print first. 🙂 I guess the most important thing is that we are reading, right?
Great post and love all the comments!
Nina,
I also loved the Russo piece and have brilliant memories of The Village Green bookstore, where I spent hours as a child in Rochester, NY. Oh, it was my favorite place to go!! All those rows of treasure . . .
Fast forward thirty years, and I think there’s room for all the options. Maybe I’m overly optimistic (or naive), but I’m convinced there can be a workable blend. I have a Kindle (I won it in a writing contest, which was a blast) and I use it a lot. We also have an iPad 2 and I am using the iBook app to highlight and write in-text notes on fairytales for a current project. I’ve gotten a few interactive books for my children on the iPad — with puzzles etc. The girls and I go to the library once a week and get STACKS. We are at our local bookstore, a B&N, all the time — that’s where they usually get chapter books (for my oldest) and easy-readers or phonics books (for my youngest). I like them to have the physicality of those books, and the ability to share and lend. We also have a great independent/used bookstore about 45 minutes away and we go there as often as we can. And I shop at amazon.com if I want to send a quick gift or for school books for the girls or things I want to order quickly.
I’m a reader and a writer, and this is my certaintly-unperfect-but-workable solution. We spread our resources around, try to take the best of each option, and give as much back as we can.
That’s a well-stated book buying plan, Lisa. It was interesting to read through the original Russo piece, then Slate’s response, then Russo’s response to Slate. Did you see all three??? Also, did I tell you that my mom and cousins are from Rochester? Maybe we already covered that . . . can’t remember. I spend many winter “vacations” there!
Thanks — I just read Russo’s response. I also found this article, in defense of Indies. Well-argued, I think: http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2011/1216/More-books-more-choices-why-America-needs-its-indies
I also want to second Katharine Owens, above, in suggesting the Slate article as an interesting contrast to Russo. I love a good debate: “Don’t Support Your Local Bookseller” http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2011/12/independent_bookstores_vs_amazon_buying_books_online_is_better_for_authors_better_for_the_economy_and_better_for_you_.html?fb_ref=sm_fb_plugin_activity.
I wrote a post not unlike this back in the summer. I know exactly what you mean. The Kindle is just so cool, so fun to use. I feel like I can sit back and barely have to move. It makes me aware of all the things that are annoying about regular books. But when I have a book club and I try to use the Kindle, I realize what I really like about regular books. For the most part, the Kindle is a cool way to read heavy books without the heft, or classics for free. I especially like that my cover makes it look like an old-fashioned leather book.
http://anattitudeadjustment.com/2011/07/05/books-are-hot/
I love my nook. When I bought my husband a nook last year, Kindle was having problems with the 3G version, so we went nook. This fall, I didn’t even think twice when I asked for a nook for my birthday. I love the ease of downloading from home, and not having to find another place for yet another book. I still go into bookstores to browse, because I can’t seem to figure out how to browse easily on the nook. Plus, I get my bookstore fix that way! I need to learn how to use the highlighting and notes features, though, because that is one place I get frustrated. I can’t easily skim through a book to find the passage I need to remember anymore.
I’m glad you like your Kindle!~~
I was also sceptic, but I loove my Kindle. The only problem is that I tend to download new books too often:)
I haven’t given in to an e-reader yet, but I can feel my resolve slipping as I continue to lug books around to various appointments and think, “Man, it’d sure be nice to whip out that little gray screen.”
I’m losing this battle too, Nina. Every year I go into a frenzied diatribe to my students about why holding a REAL book is such an engrossing, tactile experience. Usually within 48 hours of that little speech, I’ve fallen asleep with a book on my face, dropped a tome on my toe, gotten thumb cramps from trying to keep a 500+ page book open, given myself a paper cut, or knocked over the pile of books on my nightstand, thus waking one or another sleeping kid. I’d miss the smell and feel of a new book, but your post here might just win me over…
P.s., thanks for your Top Ten Reads!
I also just got my very first Kindle. It was a gift from my parents and I read my first Kindle book on an airplane while flying to the east coast (SHINE by Lauren Myracle — it was great). In answer to your questions: I wouldn’t say I’ve “made the switch” to Kindle, but I am happy it has become an addition to my life. To me, it just feels like one more way to read a book. It doesn’t REPLACE “real” books (and I love real books), it’s just another way to receive a story. As far as worrying about bookstores… yes, it makes me sad that so many have closed. 🙁
I do worry about the future of print books but then I’m one of those who prefers to purchase the eBook.