Print v.s. Kindle
There’s very few things as satisfying as a book. No seriously. I’m not just talking about a cosy night in with a bar of chocolate, a bottle glass of red and your favourite book. It’s the feel of it. You can flick through the pages and can feel in your hands just how much love and effort has gone into creating it. And you aren’t a true bookworm unless you stand sniffing a book in a shop like some sort of crazy person. Because books have that unique smell. Whether the pages are newly printed or 50 years old, it’s that book scent. Whoever is reading this I hope you get it otherwise I will sound completely insane. [Back me up here!] Not to mention, row upon row of bookshelves can really add character and warmth to a room. You can also put the classics at the front so you appear intelligent to your visitors. And for me a bookshop is one of the most interesting and wonderful places to be in. You are surrounded by book. They are real, solid and safe and you have the opportunity to choose to enter a million different worlds. And there are no Kindles or any other stories in digital format. Just solid books.
![Picture taken from bookshelfporn.com [Yes that's real, go check it out!]](https://raininglilies.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/bookshelf.jpg)
Picture taken from bookshelfporn.com [Yes that’s real, go check it out!]
According to Amazon on the BBC news website, bookshops ‘should be striving to offer readers what they want.’ Back me up here- is an e-reader what you want? I much prefer print and I will not be converting to Kindle. It does not particularly bother me if people do prefer an e-reader, it’s a matter of opinion and I’m sure it has its good points. But a book store is not the right place to stock it. What do you think? Print or Kindle? Is bookstores selling Kindles a good idea? I want to hear your views!
I completely 100% agree! I love the experience of shopping for a book as much as actually reading one. To go into a bookstore and be surrounded by all those lovely looking books is a wonderful feeling. There’s a special feel/look to a bookshop and having ereaders on the shelves would ruin that for me. I can totally see the reasons why some people like ereaders and if they prefer them that’s fine but it’s just not the same for me. I like the weight and feel of a book and being surrounded by my books at home makes me very happy. 🙂
I could not agree more, e readers just aren’t the same as a real book! And there’s nowhere I would rather be than in a bookshop (:
One big plus for e readers is their convenience.
All you have to do is find the reader, switch on your computer, dig out the cable, connect the reader, press ‘Charge, wait an hour or so, remove and stow the cable, press ‘Power On’, open the booklist, scroll through to what you want, open it and off you go. If you can do it that way why waste time walking across the room to pick up a book?
I have already said in my post that I understand why people have e-readers, and yes one of the reasons is because of their convenience. I don’t deny that, even I can see that taking an e-reader on holiday is much easier than carrying 3 or 4 heavy books. But it is a matter of opinion. I prefer the print format just like you prefer the digital. It may be more convenient but in my opinion a book can offer so much more as a whole. You’re asking me why would I waste time to walk across the room and pick up a book when I have basically explained it all in my post. Have a read of it again.
Great post, and thanks for the tip about bookshelf porn 😀 I think we’ve all been there with putting the classics at the front!
Sorry, my fault- I forgot to add the 🙂
Actually I do not find my e reader that convenient at all for most purposes, though holidays are perhaps an exception. And of course for some kinds of illustrated and large format books it is hard to see e readers ever being good enough to replace physical copies.
I love real books — their smell, their texture, their art. It would be fun if Yankee Candles could somehow create a candle that mimics the smell of paper books.
I don’t have a Kindle yet but maybe someday. I like to carry reading material when I travel (definitely helps to pass the time and distracts me from my discomfort during a flight!) and it would be nice to have more storage space in my luggage.
Totally agree, and my life would be made if they created a book smelling candle!
Amen sister!
Haha thanks!
What you won’t find in your print stores is innovative writing, at least by new authors. It’s simply been priced out of the market, unless a generous patron (such as a foundation) wants to foot the bill.
Good point, thanks for your comment. The e reader is certainly very good for new writing but in my opinion this isn’t always true. Already I can think of 2 or 3 writers I have been in contact with who are fairly new and have managed to get published in print- without a generous patron or foundation!
Congratulations to them, but the second part of the equation is getting into bookstores.
What I’m finding with my ebook releases and blogging is an access to international readership, rather than 20 or so independent or niche bookstores.
For the record, I love the look and feel of fine paper and typography — the sewn and autographed chapbook, especially, or the works in a rare-book library. But then I also love the sound of vinyl from my classical music albums.
This post was more so about which is the better of the two regarding the look and feel of the product-and why bookstores are saying no to kindle- rather than the difficulties of an upcoming writer trying to get into a book store, but I appreciate your comment all the same. Good luck with it (:
Ah, I’m afraid I’m the Kindle Queen. I like the occasional ‘proper’ book – if it’s illustrated for instance or for ease of using an index in factual books. But for fiction, Kindle all the way. Easy to use, light to carry – I’m usually reading three books at any given time and don’t want to have to lug them around with me. And brilliant for having dictionaries and the huge reference library that is the world wide web always to hand. Not to mention that my Kindle also plays audiobooks and music.
I think book shops should be trying to find a way to work with technology rather than constantly fighting it – otherwise they will be gone – like video-hire shops. Sorry! 🙂
Haha don’t worry about it! Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I like to hear what people say, particularly when a topic is as heated as this one! (:
I use both, I like being able to just have a book now if I want to, but if I see a series I think I am goign to love, I have to have it in paperback, because I like looking at well worn covers and remembering how much I loved it.
Yes it’s always good to look back on the books we love! (:
I’m a print girl as well, but I do like that I can get free ebooks on kindle as well. Since I plan to e publish, I figured I should probably figure out what the Kindle is all about 🙂 Bottom line: I still read way more print than kindle. It’s all about the tactile/sensory input.
I feel the same, should really have a look and see what Kindle is all about but print books are just too pretty!
I agree with your post. Being surrounded by books and browsing in a bookstore are wonderful experiences, and I would never want to miss them. And you are right… books have a lovely smell! Yet a little over a year ago, I received a Kindle and I have enjoyed it much more than I would have thought. I think I actually read a little more because it easily fits into my purse and is always with me. I don’t always have time to go to a bookstore and browse, so the “send me a sample” feature of Amazon is a great way to find out whether I might like a book or not. I am bilingual, and it is often easier (and cheaper) for me to get German books as e-books. All that being said, NOTHING beats sitting by the fire reading an actual book. And if I really like a book, I buy the physical copy, just so that I can see it on my bookshelf, next to all my other favorites. (And no one better messes with the way I have my shelves organized! There’s method to the madness!!)
Hehe a few people have said they prefer both too! And I know exactly what you mean, there is nothing worse when people mess up our shelves. My partner thinks its hilarious that I like to colour coordinate the spines haha!