Okay. So I’m a convert. Not in any religious sense. No, I haven’t joined a cult. At least not any new ones. But I have made a momentous decision. One amongst many lately, as it happens. I have decided that I like being able to read ebooks on a mobile device. I haven’t yet invested in a kindle, but I do have the kindle app on my tablet. And here is the shocker. I love it. I love the freedom that it gives me to travel and still be able to take a library of books with me. I also love that it allows me to carry on getting the books that I want, at a time when I am trying to reduce the amount of stuff that I have to dispose of, or take care of, when I sell my house and move. I never thought I would enjoy reading on an ebook reader, but I do. Perhaps it is time for me to send out some more hypocrite cards, after my ereader bashing days.
That being said, this will never replace physical books in that special book place in my heart. There will always be something special for me about physical books. I like the look and feel of them so much. For me there is just something indescribably beautiful about a physical book, well, most of them at least. As I have discussed before, and shall refrain from boring you with in detail again, all of my senses get a kick out of physical books. Actual bricks and mortar bookstores will never, for me, be able to be replaced by buying an ebook, or even a physical book, online either. The experience of browsing in a small, dusty independent bookstore. Visiting that special bookstore with a loved one and reminiscing about pivotal moments in your life together, whilst conversing about books outside with a coffee. Smiling as you think about that store, years later, and what you got there. Memories are built in places like this. This could never be surpassed by purchasing a book online with the click of a mouse button.
So there you have it. After all this time I am a convert to ereaders, in their place of course, and the freedom that they provide. I am a hypocrite, and I don’t care who knows it. Deal with it. I have.
Julian Froment's Blog 
I became a convert a few years ago. But I still love the bookstore/library experience.
I had hundreds of books that I hated moving. I donated most of them to our local library for their annual book sale.
I have a Nook and the apps on my iPad. Thinking about buying a Kindle with the eInk technology just for outdoor reading on bright days.
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Yes, I am loving it. The kindle to be able to read outside in the sun is a great idea that I will have to look at. I would also like to be able to read easily in the dark. I will still always have lots of physical books, but at least I can travel without a container truck if I have a kindle or the like.
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As someone who does a lot of reading and doesn’t own a car, my Kindle gives me an easy way to carry a lot of books with me so that they are available when I want them–that, to my mind, is the greatest advantage.
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That is definitely a great advantage. You can carry so many books with you all at once, without busting your back 🙂
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I’ll still talk to you, friend.
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Thanks Randy. I appreciate that. Nothing has really changed except now I will probably have two copies of most of my books 🙂
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So that was your plan! Hardback and paperback not enough, eh?
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You can never have too many versions of the same book, they are all special in their own way.
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You could say each book has a story (oooh, sorry).
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That is just terrible. I love it 🙂
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Ironically, I have a concept for an anthology TV series (a la Twilight Zone) that sort of works from this premise but not in the jokey sense…still working on the pilot script.
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Good luck with that Randy.
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You are right, on all accounts. I must agree. There is nothing like the joy of actual pages, the scent if a lilac laced book and perusing the shelves of a physical book store. (Thirteenth tale.)
I too, as you know, read a lot on ereaders, but I do not get the same joy from looking at a digital cover as I do from the whimsical inner layout of a paper copy. There is something about the fleurons and the stylistic beauty of paper pages that cannot possibly be rivaled by anything digital.
Being able to carry more at once is a hefty advantage, though I usually still have a paper book with me everywhere I go (Squishy cover!!!)
I will never stop feeling nor answering the call of a bookstore. The enticement of great discovery is too irresistible.
Oh, and I love bookmarks.
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I have to agree, although I believe that lilac scented books of poetry are very rare these days.
The ability to have many books at your fingertips is a definite advantage, especially for those like you and me that read multiple books at the same time. I also still prefer a physical book, as you know, and the I will never grow weary of the bookstore, especially the one by the lake.
I have a small collection of bookmarks too, as you are aware.
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Your bookmarks are certainly not small, although your reputation for modesty does precede your physical presence.
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Well, a good bookmark should always be able to spread the pages well, but not be prone to damage the inherent structure of the book.
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I love bookmarks that still have their original covers.
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Well to remove the cover could be considered a sin, and to take away makes a bookmark a bookmark, leaving something rather limp and inferior in its place
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Yes. Valid points. I’m not find of those ones with tasked and other accoutrements either.
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No, I have to agree. Accoutrements and adornments are not what you want in a functioning bookmark
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They just get in the way. Plus they can tear the pages.
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We definitely do not want to be tearing the pages. They should be treated with love, respect and tenderness
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If only all bibliophiles could learn to treasure their exotic finds as you do. The romance section would be filled to capacity. Overflowing, even.
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Well, through books I have discovered the greatest treasure of my life, one that I will love and cherish for all eternity.
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Enid Blyton should be treasured.
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Stop toying with my affections, woman. You know I was referring to you.
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Lol. She may be my only competition for your affections.
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Big Enid or little Enid? You will never have any competition for my affections.
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Awe:) soppy Englishman
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I guess that is so. Not a bad thing I would say though.
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I like this soppiness. As long as you are still a complete bastard at work and keep your employees in terror.
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Of course. The soppiness is for you alone, as are so many things.
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Bookmark!
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Turn the page, my love
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Did I say, turn the page, I forget, I was more engrossed with my bookmark
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Hi there. There you are.
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Here I am, right next to you, can’t you see me?
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The steam from the shower was too thick
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It did get left on a while, I must admit. Its feeling a little hot and steamy in here still
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But the shower is off…
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Yes, I know. What on earth could it be making me feel that way
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Poor ventilation? Nah…
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I just fixed that again last night. It couldn’t be that could it, surely not?
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I should think not…
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I don’t want to be forward and suggest that perhaps it is that the towel you were wearing has slipped a little, but it could be, you know
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You may be right…
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I think I am, on this occasion
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You could have been honest and called this post “okay, I’m a pervert.”
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I’m your pervert. I am like a superhero. To the rest of the world I appear to be a mild mannered janitor
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This has been mentioned….
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Men shunned? When was this?
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Everyone believes you to be quiet all the time. I guess they haven’t heard you come…here and hug me Englishman
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Here’s a hug for you. Maybe that will stop you moaning – the neighbours have been complaining again
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Big Enid or little Enid? You will never have any competition for my affections, ever.
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Wow my last comment came out shite
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It certainly did, but I think we glossed over it.
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I love my kindle because I can carry multiple books and it’s still light and portable. I also like the search and highlight functions. Mine is the type that can be read in sunlight although I wish it had a light for night reading too (but I just use a book light). I read whenever I have the chance so I always have it with me. But like you, I still enjoy traditional books and if I like an ebook enough I’ll buy the paper book and add it to my collection.
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Great philosophy. I have never thought about the search and highlight functions, but I guess they could be pretty useful in some situations.
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I like that my iPad is backlit so I can read it well into the night with no lamp. I never thought I would convert either, being a love of paperback and hardback.
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I guess it is just one of those things, where you need to have a reason to try it, travel or convenience or the like, then you realise what a great boon they can be. Never replace real books for me though.
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I so miss brick and mortar bookstores. There’s one by me and it’s a big chain. I miss those small stores that are practically one room, so you can wander around easily. Those were great because it was more fun making special orders and chatting with the staff about the books. I guess my question is do they still have the small mom and pop bookstores on your side of the pond?
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They do. Quite a lot actually, although eventually no doubt they will be pared down to a minimum by the larger stores, but I doubt they will ever vanish. You can’t get second hand books in the big stores, although that may change too.
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I think we have Goodwill types of stores for that around here. I’m sure NYC has a lot of small stores under the radar.
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There is bound to be some there, I am sure. Specialist bookstores, rare book stores and the like
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We used to, but they closed up in my area a few years ago. Along with the video rental stores and 3 Chinese restaurants. Nobody noticed the restaurants vanish except the Jews.
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That’s a shame. There is something about that type of bookstore. Shame about the Chinese restaurants too 🙂
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We still have 5 more of those restaurants and 2 sushi places. Closest bookstore is the mall.
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Fuck it. Shut down one of the restaurants and open a book store. I am sure people will survive physically and books can feed the soul.
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But I like the Chinese food. Can we get rid of one of the 4 lawyer offices that are within a 2 mile radius of my house?
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Absolutely, I have no problem with that.
By the way it seems that some of my responses to some comments seem to get lost – I was telling you on another comment how sweet it was that you said you love me, but I had to point out that you are really not my type. I was so sad that the response never seemed to go through. I thought it was important that you knew my feelings 😉
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That’s odd. I found two of your comments in my spam folder too. Plain weird. Though I was working from my phone. On the laptop now, so I have to start working on another special post for Ionia. She asked for this one.
Okay. First, I have to get through the 50 emails.
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I have begun to get the distinct impression that WP hates me. Either that or my lewd comments have begun to get out of hand and they are reining me in. However much I try to maintain my inherent English reserve it just bursts out like a wild creature sometimes.
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I’m sure there’s worse than you out there. For example, *points to woman sitting near you*
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Good point, very well made. I keep telling her that I am all sweetness and light. I must be doing something wrong for her not to believe me I guess.
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Julian…you hit the nail on the head. Kindle is great for convenience (like a fast food fix when hungry) , but nothing takes the place of shelves full of books that are old friends.
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Very nicely put John. That is exactly it. But shelves full of books just have a certain ‘Je ne sais quoi’ about them.
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Staying with the hungry metaphor a self of books is like dining at a five star restaurant rather than Mc Donald’s. Each does serve its purpose.
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I like that, John. Very good metaphor.
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Chips, not fries.
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You English . . . I will admit the best fish and chips was at a little joint near Trafalgar square.
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Fish and chips – how could they ever be called fish and fries? That just sounds so very, very wrong.
Glad you experienced some good fish and chips John.
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I actually was going to say fish and fries but thought you two Brits might have an apoplectic fit.
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I think we probably would have, to be honest 🙂
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The last time we saw that kind of reaction was when those scruffy colonists threw the tea into the Boston harbor. We know what happened after that, so I decided to use the word “chips”.
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Since my eyes started acting up, I have gradually fallen in love with my three Kindles and the apps on my tablet and my laptop. Not only can I adjust the font, line spacing and lighting, I can turn on the text-to-speech and close my eye or follow along in the tree-book or eBook, or multitask. I still love the texture and smell of tree-books, they surround me. I still buy them. But I try to have a backup on my Kindles.
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I agree with your point about having physical books as well as ebooks. I suspect I am likely to have at least two copies of most books, although I suppose the ebooks will let me check them out more cheaply at first and I can get the physical book if I like it.
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There are so many free ebooks, although less edited, that I don’t think I’ll live long enough to read them all. But, by golly, should a bored moment strike there is something there to check out! Many of the freebies are part of a series. That is a trick that has worked for me. I end up buying the others in the series. Once I have them all I am assured of a long, great read.
By the way, I, also, collect the Audible versions of books. Though more expensive than tree or Kindle, the actors, narrators, add a deeper level to the story. That is how I made it through, and became a huge fan of the Game of Thrones series.
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The audible books sound interesting. I have never been that interested in audio books, but I have a lot of dead time in cars and so it could be a useful medium to explore.
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My daughter either listens to her Kindle telling the story using Text-to-Speech or audio-CDs borrowed from the library for her daily commute. What a great way to spend dead time!
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I couldn’t agree more. Driving is complete dead time as far as reading is concerned and audio books can easily fill that gap.
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Maybe you’re an e-convert. 🙂
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I most definitely am, but only partially so. I will always be a bibliophile and physical books will remain one of the most important things in my life. They have given me so much and led me to so many wondrous discoveries.
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You would be a hypocrite only if you continued to bad mouth ebooks while stealing away to your bathroom with your tablet to read them in secret. I think you have a healthy perspective on ebooks and ebook readers. It’s all about convenience, but for the love of a book, there’s no better place than an independent bookstore or one’s local library. If you decide to get a Kindle, then I recommend the Paperwhite. While I do have a WiFi-enabled Kobo (which I love), I recently purchased a Paperwhite so I better read all those great novels that our friends are publishing through Amazon. It’s lightweight and slim, a simple but effective design. I have the 3G network enabled because free wireless is not always available where I live, and I do demand instant gratification when it comes to purchasing books. Enjoy the wonderful world of ebooks 🙂
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Thanks. I intend to enjoy this new world that has opened up. Thanks for the recommendation also. I will look into that.
One of the things that has prompted me to indulge more in ebooks is the number of novels of friends, and others, that are available. I agree with your point about instant gratification too. I want it and I want it now is kind of my philosophy, although I can exhibit patience too
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It’s funny … Wanting that instant gratification even though, for me anyway, I know I won’t be reading the book immediately. I have such a long backlog …
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No, I agree totally. I could probably get away without buying another book for years, but that just will never happen.
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I agree with you completely!
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Thanks a lot. I am enjoying the ebook and ereader revelation, but cannot give up my physical book addiction. Everything in its place, I guess. Balance.
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Yep, definitely.
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