I'll admit that I'm part of a dying breed, and that I might be an eighty-year-old woman trapped in a thirty-something's body, but my hubby knew that when he married me (e.g. he informed me that I'm the only person under eighty who reads Reader's Digest.) Sadly, my hubby isn't the only source of betrayal. I can include my sister and most of my book club among the ship jumpers. No one in my book club had an e-reader several years ago. Now, 8 of the 11 women swear by their Kindles, Nooks, and other artificial books, and one of the three hold-outs is looking into getting one. Only one other woman in the group wants nothing to do with them because she loves her old-school books as much as I do *winks at Christy.*.
The only upshot to all this is that since my hubby and I are both psychologists, we can do the marital therapy on our own...because we clearly need it.
How many of you out there have converted to the dark side? Any other old-fashioned books lovers out there? Am I really the only person under 80 who reads Reader's Digest?
Having just moved to a downsized house, and spending yesterday trying to cram books onto my bookshelves and barely making a dent in the boxes, plus living 30 miles from the nearest bookstore, I'm embracing my NOOKcolor. Yes, I love paper books. But I like having a choice, and there are times and places for each.
ReplyDeleteTerry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
Terry-I completely understand the space issue. I told my hubby we needed to move to a house w/ a library...preferable a two-story library. One can dream.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. There's nothing that will replace having an actual book in my hands, nor the process of going into a bookstore and picking it out. I was joking with some of my friends yesterday about it and we all agreed in 5-10 years we were going to be those crazy women who use paper books and all of the kids will look at us like we're insane. :)
ReplyDeleteBethany--my kids already look at me like that half the time, so I'll be ready. :)
ReplyDeletedon't be hatin'.... ;)
ReplyDeleteYou know I love books and I still read them, but I don't have room for them and LOVE the library system, so I normally borrow from the library anyway (I think of it as my personal bookcase with an unlimited budget for new books that happens to be housed a mile down the road). I didn't want an e-book either at first but after reading a borrowed book on the hubby's, and realizing how easy it is to borrow ebooks from the library, I was sold. Come to the dark side, the force is strong.
Oh Kim--the dark side does sound tempting, but I think even Christy will have one before me. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't have a Kindle, but am thinking about getting one this year. But I'll probably continue to buy books, too.
ReplyDeleteGreat post - my first visit here, but I'll be back. (I write YA, too)
I've not fallen for the allure of an eReader yet. I like the whole 'book in my hands' feel.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes read Reader's Digest. My parents get it delivered (and both of them are under 80). See, you aren't the only one. :)
Darby--thanks for visiting. Stop by anytime!
ReplyDeleteLindsay--I knew I wasn't the only one. I'm showing your comment to my hubby as proof. :)
We are the same as you, although it's more him adoring all new technology, no matter what...bonus if it's apple! Perhaps the way you are with books. And I'm not anti-tech, just use it only when it's truly better than my cavewoman ways. No reader for me because I want LESS screen time, not more.
ReplyDeleteJenny--apple rules in this house. I agree about less screen time...my laptop is already attached to my hip, and I don't need anything else.
ReplyDelete"artificial books"
ReplyDeletei love that phrase. i'll be using it from now on.
i work for a well-respected university press and have pushed for a paradigm-shift from thinking of what we produce as being "books" to being "content" that can be distributed, in various forms, to various output devices and formats. i understand that's where the future is heading and if i have any shot at staying here long enough to retire, i have to jump on that wave and ride it as far as i can.
however, i don't read any of those "artificial books". i prefer mine to be printed folio pages bound between covers. and, luckily, i married a wonderful woman who agrees with me.
(although she has been talking a lot about the kindle lately. hmmm....)
-- Tom
LOL! Husband wants an ipad too but not for reading. He just wants the newest toys.
ReplyDeleteI'm holding out on e-readers for the same reasons you stated, but I can see the benefit of them. For instance, if I read my manuscript on my phone, I can spot a lot more errors than if I read it on the computer. Imagine how much better and faster I can read a manuscript on the e-reader?
I could see myself getting one in the future, but it will NEVER replace a physical book.
Tom--thanks for weighing in...and keep an eye on your wife. Those "artificial books" are tempting. :)
ReplyDeleteLacey--I KNOW he's going to use it for toys too. I think he's playing up the book part just to push my buttons.
ReplyDeleteGasp. Are you sleeping with one eye open? I haven't gone over to the dark side either, but I must admit I'm getting closer. There are so many other bloggers that have e-books that I want to read and it would make my beta reading go much faster. Guess I'm going to the long walk to the other side eventually. Can't be helped but I'll never stop reading actual books. I love them too much.
ReplyDeleteI'm still hopelessly old-school. (I don't even have a lap-top...I know...) I love my real books! I look at it this way...when I wake up in the mornings, my eyes don't burn as much when I look at a printed page vs. a screen full of print. :) Something to consider...
ReplyDeleteI've dipped a toe into the dark waters, but have not yet plunged headfirst. Yes, I do have an iPad, but mostly my husband uses it to receive e-mail (he never could get the hang of using a computer). I use it for occasional surfing, though I find it a little heavy for reading e-books. I have an iPod touch which I DO use for reading books -- so simple to carry in a pocket. I've been admiring a neighbor's new Kindle, and may make the plunge soon, since it is small, lightweight, and for traveling you can carry a huge library with you. I do love the feel of real paper in my hands, but the only thing I simply can't stand to read digitally are newspapers and magazines. For 50 years, I have carefully assembled my own reference library that now overflows my own library shelves in several rooms, as well as stacks in corners and on the floor. But, I seldom use it now. I am 69 years old, and have not read Reader's Digest since I left my parents house at the age of 17!
ReplyDeleteI haven't converted and I don't know if I ever will. I love the whole experience of a book.
ReplyDeleteI've been on the eBook wagon for years! Reading a print book has become such a hassle. I can't stand trying to read them in bed, where I do a decent portion of my reading. And I can't sneak a few minutes of reading in my cubicle at work with a great big hard back. Reading on my Kindle, or iPhone, is heaven. And I don't horde a ton of books in my house any more! Of course I still receive a ton of review books in print format but I do my best to make time for them. :)
ReplyDeleteThe iPad is an amazing piece of awesome. I'd have one myself but I can't justify the cost right now. It's just a larger version of the iPhone and both hubby and I have one.
I know it's hard thinking of going digital but it's so much easier!
I just did a blog post about e-readers on Sunday!
ReplyDeleterivreads.blogspot.com
Hubby won't have to wait until April for the iPad2... the new OS upgrade just before Christmas fills all the holes...except for a camera. I can't figure out why anybody needs a camera to read.
ReplyDeleteI swore LAST April I would never buy and iPad. Today it's with me all the time. In addition to iBooks, I have Kindle, Nook and GoodReader apps installed.
I also own a SONY Reader and have Nook and Kindle apps on my netbook as well...
PS, why buy a house with a library when you can carry a couple thousand volumes with you everywhere?
ReplyDeleteI've begun a long process of discarding all unsigned paper...and with the annotation feature in many current readers, the author can "sign" your eBook.
TC-if I go to the dark side, I'm sure my husband will take over the blog to announce it!
ReplyDeleteDonea-no laptop? I couldn't function, but maybe people will be saying that one day about e-readers.
Constance-I can still count you as someone who read it while under 80. My mom claims I was 4 when I started reading the articles to her.
Heather-I'm with you!
Jess-spoken like someone who relishes the dark side. I'm resisting!
Riv-great minds think alike!
Ron-he doesn't have an iPad at all, but wants to wait for the new version (he's got an iPod now). I had no idea authors could sign eBooks--that's wild!
I had an opportunity to take home an e-reader and get to know it over the holidays and I just couldn't get into it. The ipad and the nook color are shiny and pretty, but I spend HOURS each day staring at my computer screen and my eyes can't handle more than that. Plus I found I read much slower on e-books. So, at least for now it's not for me. The ipad is cool but I have a macbook and an iphone. I can't see carrying around the ipad too.
ReplyDeleteValerie-I covet the iPhone and am so excited that Verizon is carrying it...but I'm waiting for the 5 version coming this summer.
ReplyDeleteI have an old eBookwise that I love but I love my Aluratek eLibre ebook reader better. The Aluratek is compatible with the software the Pikes Peak Library District uses to download books. It also plays MP3s so I can listen if I want. Do I still read paper bound? Of course. It is the content not the packaging that makes a story magic. IMHO, of course.
ReplyDeleteKarin--I hadn't heard of the Aluratek so thanks for the info. Also, I can't help it but the packaging is part of the magic for me. :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, the "dark side." Yeaaaah, I like my hard copy books too. My mom is 70 and has a Kindle AND a Sony Reader. Go figure. She loves 'em--can make the fonts bigger, look up words immediately in a dictionary, etc. Oh well. I'm still holding out...
ReplyDeleteCarol makes an interesting point. When worked at B&N over the holidays, the Nook was quite popular with older readers in part because of the ability to increase the font size. Large print books are expensive and libraries tend to have a limited number (not to mention they can be huge and heavy) so it makes sense to me that older tech savvy adults would like them. Customers also purchased them for bedridden elderly which I thought was a good idea too.
ReplyDelete