I'm not sure if this topic has been discussed here before so forgive me if it has...

 

I WANT to get an e-book reader, the benefits of having all the books I love so close too hand, too look up and read at whatever whim I feel make me feel giddy, never losing a book or watching it dying because of various readings sort of compels me, but yet.....

 

.....I remember the first fantasy book I read, I was 11, my friend gave it to me before he left for Egypt. I tried reading that book, a couple of times,It was a big book, so many pages.... I was Very overwhelmed just looking at it, but when I did sit down and read The Elfstones of Shannara.......I was hooked and I had finally read A BOOK, not the small ones we read when learning how to read but a big, thick book that I choose to read and continued too read, not because I had too but because of how much I enjoyed losing myself in it.

 

But I digress.......

 

My point is, over the years friends have "given" me books and whispered how much I will fall in love with it, how I will discover and appreciate something they found in the lusty smell of those pages, mainly they have been right, I've always been scared of trying a new author, that's always been something I've struggled to do, without those people who gave me those gifts I wonder who would I be if I had never lost myself and found myself in those books........

 

My point is......an e-book.......you can't pass it on......you can't share what captivated you....it comes with a price...........but what price.

 

Pale

I completely agree. I love books way more than I like my ereader. I was actually adamantly against ereaders until I got deployed here, in the desert. Here we are limited in space, what we can carry or not carry, etc so I broke down and bought a Nook. I love my Nook, but it doesn't replace a book to me, and I will probably go back to buying a mixture of books and ebooks when I get back.

I love the feel of books, and having books in the house, I don't think I could swap books for an e-book. but I can see where ebooks would come in handy...going on holiday, travelling anywhere. you could always have your fav books around you!

 

Then when you come home you can then you have the real books...

 

Perfect world!

I think this is a really good discussion you've brought up here.

 

I recently ordered a Kindle Touch, should be here soon, but I have had a few experiences with ebooks already. I read Warbreaker online, and I have quite a few ebooks I got from friends or purchased online and downloaded.

 

On the one hand, I do very much like having ebooks on a portable device like a Kindle or a phone or something, because you can have tons of books with you wherever you go, and it makes looking through books for specific things a lot easier. It's less physical stress to have an e-reader, too.

 

On the other hand, you're right...there is something about the physical copies of books that is just intoxicating. I love the smell of books. I love holding a book, flipping through its pages, feeling its weight in my hands, discovering signs of age and use as time passes. Thick books make me curious--what is in there that is worth so many pages? Why is it so big?

 

The way I look at it, some books are just meant to be in a hard copy. Some books just give you a different experience when you're holding them in your hands, physically turning pages and listening to that sound, looking at the cover, finding just the right bookmark...

But if you have tons of books, it might be a good idea to get an e-reader if you can. Some books are awesome to read, but you don't gain anything from the physical copy. Books that you'll read through only once, and use as a resource thereafter, would be great e-books.

 

For me, I got a Kindle because I love to travel. And while I'm on the bus, or the plane, or taking some quiet time in my hotel room, I like to read. And when I have time, I read fast. And I have to bring more than one book with me because I know I'll finish at least one while I'm there. And lugging a bunch of books around isn't too bad, but it takes up space and weight. A Kindle will help me travel with my book collection without having to pay for it in baggage fees or sore muscles. XD

I always and still do want my own library.......

 

I still want e-book...........

 

They are so good to keep all your favourite books and travel light, the heart break I have from the thousands of books I have had too leave behind for various reasons resonates within me....

 

But, and its a big but, how can we inspire if we cannot share, the e-book takes that away

theres something that does not happen if uve got an ebook.

 

I have had this happen to me and i have done it too

 

sitting there with a book in my hand on a train going to or coming from work. Someone looks at the cover and starts talking to me about it for 20 mins

 

also its fun when ure reading say KOD and someone else is reading DR at the same time!

My Kindle has died on me, after only three months or so of light use. Annoyed.

Should have bought a Nook. newb. :oP

I'm in the UK, they haven't been released here heh.

See I still have all my books...they haven't died on me...haha

See I still have all my books...they haven't died on me...haha

 

Hold onto them then, I have a feeling they will go the same way as vinyl records....

I was recently gifted with a book that I truly love. one thing that you won't get with an ebook is a personal hand written note on the title page. That note makes a great gift even better.

 

Ok, I have this weird thing about the way books smell.... I love it. I need it. And there's something satisfying about turning pages, seeing all of the books of the series lined up perfectly on your shelf, being able to run your fingers up and down their spines..... I'm an actual book person all of the way :P

I was recently gifted with a book that I truly love. one thing that you won't get with an ebook is a personal hand written note on the title page. That note makes a great gift even better.

 

Yes, that too. Stuff like that makes your day. My friend bought me a copy of TGS and at one point near the end when Bela is seen for one of the very few times in that book and she had written "BELA!!!" in bright sparkling purple pen in the margin of the page. It made me laugh so hard when I saw that during my reread (I'd borrowed her copy to read it the first time. She bought me a new one and then got her old copy back in return :P )

See I still have all my books...they haven't died on me...haha

 

Hold onto them then, I have a feeling they will go the same way as vinyl records....

 

i got rid of all my vinyls and regret it.

 

I won't be getting rid of my books, never fear!

I have never tried an e-reader, only read books on my laptop. I don´t like it at all. For shorter novels it´s okay but not for longer stories. Like some of you say, nothing can replace an old good book. There is indeed something special with the smell of a new book and the feeling when turning the pages. I was at the library today when I waited for my daughter to end her acting class and I just love that place. I took a random WoT book and sat there and read it and it was just great.

I much prefer books. I own hundreds of books, and in my future house, look forward to having my own library. An e-book is just not the same to me at all.

Books are great and all...But you just get too many books and you have to store them all, and move them when you move and just...

I had always planned on buying at least the whole WoT series hardback and Dune Series, But now with E-books there's just ...it's so much better than having 10 lbs. of books around all the time that take up a ton of space. I use a friends kindle who got it as a gift but hates reading and hates technology so a technology book made him rofl at the gift giver, and at first i didn't want to touch it either. But now it's the first thing i'm going to buy when i'm out of Debt. E-readers may take the place completely of books like whoever mentioned vinyl said, but how often do you compare vinyl to USBs or even disks, And say, yeah Vinyl is sooo much better?

I love my Books and as I re-read all the time I like being able to browse and decide what to read next.

 

I got a kindle for my Christams a few years ago from my Husband and at first I never really got into it but when I went on holiday I downloaded the books I woudl be likely to read and it so saved on space and luggage weight.

 

I will still buy proper books (mainly to complete the series I have like WOT, Feist, etc)

but I have recently been doing most of my reading on the Kindle.

 

I have also found a lot of Indie Fanatasy authors on the Kindle which have been good to read. They are also reasonably cheap.

 

So in my opinion Kindle (and e-book readers) are good as they can provide more choice with better prices (in some cases) but it will not stop my buying real books.