One Old Fart’s Thoughts on Digital Readers
One of the most expensive books I ever purchased was a textbook compilation of all of Shakespeare’s works for my 400 level Shakespeare class in college. Thousands of pages, infinitesimally thin paper, small type, green hardback cover.
Being upfront about my dorkiness, I loved that book.
What well-manicured thumb nails you have.
We called it “mean green”–it was just a huge massive textbook. So, when the class finished and the time came to sell it back, I chose to keep mean green and proudly place it on my bookshelf.
For the longest time, I kept the book out on my coffee table, basically to impress guests with my scholarliness–Wow, he reads Shakespeare. Why else would he place it on a coffee table in his den next to the most recent issue of Golf Digest, they must have thought.
When my future wife visited my apartment for the first time, she noticed the book and, much later, commented to me that it was a dorky move. I agree. I was such a tool.
Anyway, all that to say that I love hardback books. You place them on the shelf. You put them on the coffee table. Simply glance at the book and you’re reminded of the time you read it, the plot, the characters–everything about it.
Part of my love of that Shakespeare book came from how it reminded me of the hard-earned A I managed in that difficult class. That’s what good books do…they are almost like an old photo that takes you back to another time and place.
That’s why I haven’t been able to get into Kindles and digital books. My wife loves them. I know many people who love them. And that’s absolutely, positively super cool. I just can’t dig them for some reason.
I’d like to think I’m somewhat technologically savvy. I’ve got an iphone, iPad (with a reader that I don’t use much)–all of that fun stuff. But I can’t get into the idea of digital books.
Maybe I’m just an old fart at heart. I worry that I’ll buy 100 books, and they’ll somehow get deleted off the Kindle’s hard drive. But, more than that, I worry that I’ll forget about the books I’ve read. They won’t be sitting across from my desk to remind me.
One of the biggest difficulties, for me, of this 101 book journey will be just figuring out where to put all of the books. Downloading them on a Kindle or my iPad would solve that problem quickly. But, then, they’ll be stored on some microchip, not on my bookshelf.
I think Holden Caulifield, Atticus Finch, Winston Smith, and Aslan deserve to be on a bookshelf, not a microchip. But, like I said, I’m an old fart at heart, I guess.
Are you a Kindler?
I completely agree! You know how old books have that old book smell? I love that. And I feel the same way about my cookbooks: it’s easier to do quick recipe searches online, but I still like to pull a cookbook off the shelf and just leaf through it for ideas.
The other cool thing about cookbooks—you know it was a good recipe when there are stains all over the page!
Am I the only book nerd who DOESN’T like the smell of old books? I have a Nook, but still love the real deal. I just wish the pages would stay nice and crisp and white and new forever.
I feel the same way! I love my bookshelves chock full of books. I like holding the book in my hand, turning the pages–it’s an exciting & yet calming ritual that I’ve done all of my life. No Kindle or Nook for me. I’ll use the money to buy more books.
I love books. I guess I’ve gone beyond bibliophile to bibliomaniac because I really *love* books. But I’ve also found the need for something light weight that I can take anywhere that holds, say, several of my textbooks for classes I’m either taking or TA’ing because my family travels so much on the weekends. I have a Kindle. It’s made a few of my textbooks easier to read (for some reason it’s more “fun” or less daunting). But I’m also still a fan of books for all the reasons listed above. That, and the Norton Kindle version of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass actually changed the line breaks so that some of my structural analysis with students was off. Not wrong, just .. off.
It does make collecting books easier (which is not a good thing for me, it’s too easy to find a way to spend $50 or more a week on books with that thing) but there’s not the satisfaction of full book cases that I can wander through when trying to select my next read.
All that to say, I think there’s a case for both.
Definitely. Just a matter of personal preference.
Like I mentioned, my wife loves her Kindle. And they are definitely convenient because of size and weight.
Maybe 10 years from now, we’ll all be reading off Kindles. But, for now, I love a book in my hand.
I got a Kindle for Christmas. I have enjoyed it but I do not love it.I do enjoy having the books instantly when I want them.However, I still buy books and put them on my shelf when I am done. I also go to the public library and check books out!
Hey Ellen! I think that’s the biggest plus of the Kindle–being able to download the book right away.
I feel exactly the same about music. I download onto my iPod, love putting on shuffle and seeing what comes out of the speakers – but it’s vinyl records that still do it for me. Savvy record companies are beginning to sell vinyl with a free download code for the mp3 version – it would be great if booksellers did the same, so we could have the books and the kindle versions. Hate the kindle btw – it’s just – wrong.
That’s a great idea. If they gave me some kind of code for a free, or at least a highly discounted, Kindle download whenever I bought the actual book, then I might be more of a Kindle reader. I would have a copy on the bookshelf and then a copy on my reader for convenience.
Love this idea! How can we see it happen?
I completely understand what you mean even though I do have a Kindle. At first, I didn’t want one. I wanted to be able to turn the pages and I also had the thought of all of the books somehow getting deleted. However, since I’m living in an apartment with no room for a bookshelf, I decided it was time for a Kindle. I love it, but I do miss turning the pages and I miss having the collection of books I have read on a shelf. I do have several series that I have been reading over time and when a new one comes out I will still buy the hard copy to put on the shelf with the rest. I can’t bring myself to download a digital copy of those.
I am not sure I could ever cuddle up to a kindle the same way I do to a book. Not sure I want to do it. And like you I woud be afraid of accidentally deleting them.
I just got a Kindle, and I love it! I have 100′s of books as well, so I guess I fall somewhere in the middle. I love the easy read of the kindle, it’s so easy on the eyes. But I know there will be certain books I will want to own a hard copy of. You can backup your purchases as well, so no fear of losing them.
True. But as soon as I backed them up, my iMac would shut down or I’d lose the thumb drive. Unless I sell it in a yard sale, on eBay, or give it away, the book is always there. When it comes to convenience, though, you can definitely make a good case for the Kindle.
“That’s what good books do…they are almost like an old photo that takes you back to another time and place.”
I couldn’t agree with you more, I don’t care how convenient Kindles are I rather have books on my bookshelves.
I am definitely a print book person because, like you and D.Fuentes, I do think looking at a book *is* like looking at an old photo: it brings the characters and story rushing back to you as well as where you were in your life when you read it.
That being said, I did read a blogpost from a designer who works on both print-based and digital arguing for the opportunities of digital. The post shows how much he adores books, but swayed me to be a believer in digital. I can share the link if you’d like.
Sure. Send it on.
I think there’s a lot to be said for digital. But I can really only see myself putting it to use when I’m traveling. For convenience. Other than that, I’ll probably stay with the book in hand.
Here’s the link I mentioned:
http://craigmod.com/journal/ipad_and_books/
His philosophy/argument works best for educational content (currently “textbooks”), but the argument is thoughtfully written.
Margaret
You are not alone! I had a friend tell me recently that once I read a book on the iPad, I would be a convert but I just don’t see it. Book reading is so much more than just the actual reading of the words…I like to savor the feel and fragrance of the book too (don’t want to sound weird or anything but it’s true). Also, can’t see myself snuggling up with a Kindle…just wouldn’t be the same!
Don’t feel bad. I read 20 pages and gave up on it. I thought it was a bore. And I don’t apologize for saying it was a zzzzzzzzzzz!
I have had this discussion with others who use Kindle, but the thought of staring at a screen makes my eyes hurt – even though I have been assured there is no glare. I have a large library and have been an avid reader since elementary school, and it is as though I have a personal relationship with my books. Like a photograph, they bring back fond memories. Each book is a reminder of time spent together, and where that book took me and what it taught me. I treasure every book that sits on my shelves, and I am not sure I could have that draw with a digital reader in my hands.
I only use the ereader when travelling… I went home last year for a week to visit family and read six of the Trueblood / Sookie Stackhouse books (guilty pleasure!) …. I didn’t have an ereader then…. I am sure the books contributed to the extra weight fee Delta charged me!
Also, they fit great in the saddlebag of my Harley… I only have so much room for packing on it… the iPad is my reader, maps, solitaire… all in one… which is great when you are in a tent or a room waiting out bad weather!