Do People Who Love Real Books Still Like Kindles?
84This Christmas an Amazon Kindle sat waiting for me underneath the tree. I wasn't expecting it; hadn't hinted at even the merest desire for this technological alternative to the traditional book. In fact, I was rather opposed to it. For even though the Kindle is not exactly new these days, I had never really warmed to the idea of reading my books on an electronic device. I have always loved real books. I like turning the pages; the smell of new paper; the glossy covers. One of my favourite things to do in town, if time allows, is to browse the aisles of the local Waterstones at my leisure. I feel very much at home in a book shop. I like to pick up a book and read the blurb; to flick through and absorb the writing style, allowing myself a general feel for what's inside. My favourite place to read is in the indulgent solitude of the bathroom during a relaxing soak - the one place where I am not disturbed by anyone else in the family. And water and electronics never mix.
So, you might wonder, does all this mean that I did not unwrap my gift with enthusiasm? I might like real books made with printed paper, but I do like reading very much. So a Kindle must surely be a thoughtful gift, for a true lover of the written word? Maybe one just has to adapt, I decided - although I really wasn't sure that this new way of reading could ever be the same. The truth is, I like turning pages. Still, reading via a Kindle has obvious advantages - for one thing, no trees need to be felled. It also eliminates the issue of what to do with books once enjoyed, yet now gathering dust on the bookshelf. Some books are meant to be read again and again; most are simply not. Of course, there is the local charity shop or secondhand book store, but nowadays even most of those seem to be bursting at the seams with other people's cast off books. If a book is in decent condition and a popular title, it might find another owner. Some books, though, never will - at the local fete there is always a pile of books left at the end that no one has even looked at. Reading by means of a Kindle is therefore a great way to avoid contributing to the pile of unwanted books in our world.
Keen to get to grips with my new Kindle, I purchased my first digital book sometime on Christmas afternoon. It was a fiction book, one I had always thought about reading but somehow never had. It was actually no cheaper than a traditional book - the price of a Kindle version does seem to be rather inconsistant. However, later on that evening, I purchased two more books for my Kindle - a biography and another non-fiction title. Both of these were cheaper than the paper versions, and the biography was only 99p! This, I decided, was a real bargain. I thoroughly enjoyed the biography, which concerned a famous singer/songwriter and which I might well have not ended up reading at all had it not been for my new Kindle.
I have discovered I am much more reckless with my purchases when it comes to the Kindle versions of books. Usually, I do not venture out to purchase a title unless I am really sure that it is something I definitely want to read. This has meant that many books I thought might have been ok but which I wasn't really excited about have bypassed me altogether. I am unlikely to go out and buy ten books in a month in Waterstones, but this might well be something I might do with my Kindle (particularly if I can find some bargains, like the 99p one). My Kindle unintentionally leads me into a more diverse world of reading - don't ask me why, it just does.
Four days after Christmas, I have already finished reading the biography and I am partway through my second ebook. This is actually the most reading I have done in a long time. I have found myself picking up my Kindle in the kitchen while I wait for the vegetables to cook. I have taken it out in my handbag - it sits very nicely in the middle compartment. I don't often travel alone by bus or train, but if I did I would look forward to taking along my lightweight, slimline Kindle. It would be the perfect, space-saving way to transport multiple books - ideal for breaks and holidays away from home. I can't read it in the bath, of course, but I am discovering that reading via a Kindle is extremely convenient everywhere else. What's more, it is very easy to use - even for a self-confessed technophobe like me. It remembers your place, you can flit back and forth if you need to (although flicking back a long way is less easy), and it doesn't get tatty around the edges. So then, am I converted? Is the Kindle really suitable for lovers of the real, print on paper book?
I have certainly surprised myself. I am falling in love with my Kindle despite the fact that I don't think I would ever have purchased one off my own back. I could never have imagined reading a book on a screen, but actually it was something I got used to very quickly. It isn't bright, like a laptop. so there is none of that tired-eye feeling or a headache - in fact, you can't see it at all in the dark (unless you buy a little light for it). I have shelves crammed with books of all genres and have no intentions of getting rid of them - but shelves can become too full with books that are rarely read and are not loved and in the end no more will fit. I have never desired a Kindle, yet I am very happy with the one I have been given. It sits beside me on the sofa at night, like a new friend. It can contain more information inside it than a whole bookcase of novels ever could and yet it weighs about as much as a small egg. This morning when I woke, the kids were still asleep. I reached for my Kindle and read a few pages. I also downloaded a free sample from a book I might or might not want to read. It was there in an instant.
Does this mean I am completely converted? Will I ever again go into Waterstones and buy a 'real' book, the kind made with paper? As far as the Kindle goes, yes, I think I am a convert. I do really like it. I will definitely be buying a lot of books to read on it, including many that I would simply never have ended up buying in the local bookstore. And yes, I know that I will still purchase the odd 'real' book, although not as many as before. Sometimes the physical book is cheaper than the Kindle version for some unknown reason - especially if it is on sale. Also, a few books are just so special that you really do need to have something to hold; pages to turn; perhaps beautiful pictures to look at. Most, however, are perfectly adequate stored in the memory of the Kindle. This new revolution in reading can be welcomed, even for people who love 'real' books. If I can love a Kindle, I think anyone can. And it's not all or nothing - you can enjoy the best of both worlds. But no, you cannot read your Kindle in the bath.
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I prefer hard copy, I can't concentrate too long on a screen. If I have an essay to write, I tend to have to print it off to proof read. Hard copy is best
Hi, Polly....I enjoyed your account of adapting to your Christmas gift Kindle.
The Kindle and its clones are wonderful for people who have no preference for reading books published on paper. It certainly seems to be handy and portable (although a paperback book fits nicely in my handbag or even a large pocket). I've noticed that young people seem to enjoy reading large amounts of material on-screen, so maybe it's an "age thing" (as opposed to "a woman thing" or "a guy thing.")
I liked your phrase, "...it's not all or nothing....", which reminds us that we have reading choices which may vary with circumstances.
I will never buy a Kindle for myself and don't really wish for anyone to give me one. Like Phoebe, I have an old-fashioned relationship with paper-board-and-ink books that's developed over the 64 years I've been reading them. Reading an entire "book" from a screen will never do the same thing for me that holding an actual book and turning the pages does. Besides, I think my eyes would tire with the Kindle even though you said its screen is not backlit and does not cause strain.
I do read a lot of material on my computer screen: lots of hubs on HP; news articles; a number of blogs which I follow; and plenty of research (which usually requires a great deal of reading). However, I can't sit at my computer desk for several hours at a stretch. None of my computer-reading activities require the commitment of concentrating on a full-length book until I finish it. I can sit at my computer for a half hour, get up and do something else for a while, then return. I wouldn't like to do that when reading a book. I rarely pause once I've started until I reach "The End."
I have a strong feeling that the Kindle will gain new followers and grow in popularity. I only hope it doesn't ruin the publishing of "old-fashioned" books.
Hi Polly,
I love the feel and smell of a new book. Just being in a book shop or a library instantly calms me. So I still have not bought a Kindle either. Like you,though, I wonder if in some cases it would be nice. Like on that long wait at an office, or on a train. The verdict from many of my friends is that many don't like reading long articles or many pages off of a computer screen. It took me several years to not print out anything more than a few pages. But it wastes paper and ink. So it's a toss up. I probably would buy cheaper stuff to keep entertained, and buy the books I really wanted. Thanks for sharing your opinion and experience.
I got a Kindle in June and have read more than 50 books this year so far. That is in addition to the books I have read hard copies of, as I still love going to the local book store and grabbing the ones people trade in. However, I am more choosy - i.e., I only buy books I will read once on the Kindle whereas I save paper for the ones I want to highlight, read over and over, or share with others. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
I like the Kindle because of the fact that after 1 year of use it makes up for the energy and resources that were used to make it. E-readers are reducing our carbon foot-print! You can read about this here: "E-books, The Greener Choice," at visual.ly. I love how many things I can do on the Kindle Fire. There are some top-of-the-line applications available for it, including incredibly effortless email utilities. I can't put it down, and I am always thinking about how I can find more time to read...
I enjoyed your hub. I'm a librarian, so the last couple years have been a non stop debate among my peers concerning the e-book. I for one love e-books and can't wait for more access. I did a hub on how to get free e-books that might interest you as well. The e-book is here to stay and though it won't wipe out the love of the printed word, it will sure save many a student from the back problems of loaded backpacks. Great hub. Voted up.
I like the kindle but I still buy books :)
My dad is a big book fan, but he loves his kindle too! If you like to read I think the medium you use ( real books or a kindle) doesn't really matter that much.
Hi Phoebe - as I mentioned in the hub, I was just like you. I simply couldn't imagine reading via a Kindle and I too loved (and still love) the smell and feel of real pages. I would never have purchased a Kindle for myself, but having been given one I had to give it a go. I am quite surprised at how easily I have adapted, I am thoroughly enjoying the experience. I know that I will still read 'real' books (and sometimes, as I pointed out, the real book is cheaper), but I have a growing list of books that I intend to purchase for the Kindle. I curl up with my Kindle in just the same way as a real book and it actually doesn't feel much different.
Anyway, thank you for reading and offering your opinion, I appreciate you stopping by:)
I don't mind the kindle, but to me, that's what the internet is for while paper books are meant for that... but that's just my opinion. I have a lot of friends who rave about their nooks and kindles, but to me, I prefer books on paper. And for people who aren't published, I go to hubpages and other sites to read their work. *Shrug* Nothing against the kindle, it's just not my style. Plus, if you drop a book, no real harm done. Dropping a nook is like dropping 90 dollars down a sewer drain.
Hi Tricia, thanks for sharing your thoughts - usually I don't like reading on a screen for long, but actually I don't mind the Kindle screen, it seems completely different from a computer as it doesn't have the glare. Anyway, thanks for reading, I'm pleased to read so many differing opinions on the subject :)
I, too, got an unasked for Kindle a year ago. I have been living with both Kindle texts and real books for a year, now, and have good things to say of each. But I will never love the Kindle like I do a physical book. There is a great difference in the tactile presence of a book and a Kindle, and that makes all the difference. However, out of print and older books available on the Kindle are more convenient than the physical object. Novels in which I make no real investment are perfect Kindle fare, and it is a great medium by which to taste new writers and discover if I like them. Authors I love, however, histories and books I plan to spend extended time within, I prefer in their physical version.
Due to the Kindle, I have tried more authors in the past year that I would not have risked before; some of these trials turned out well, so I have added to my list of favorite authors whose physical texts I will buy. I have had the opportunity to more fully explore older authors, like Conrad, whose available texts I had already read, but whose full works through the Kindle became available to me. I also, of course, purchased quite a few physical books, some of them I would never have considered on the Kindle due to their design: Umberto Eco's The INfinity of Lists comes to mind--far too graphic heavy, and a beautiful dialogue of text and image on the page.
Hi JayeWisdom, thank you for your long and interesting comment. I really did feel just like you - I was not remotely interested in reading a book in any way other than the old fashioned method and so I was competely surprised at how easy I found it to adapt. I don't know that it is an age thing - maybe it is to an extent - but I am nearly 40 and don't usually like to read a lot on screen although the Kindle does feel different. Like you say, though, different reading mediums suit different circumstances.
I am sure that I will still buy real books - I bought a wonderful travel book as a gift for someone for Christmas, and that book simply would have seemed very inadequate on the Kindle. I know that it needs to be appreciated in paper form due to the beautiful images inside. It's a coffee table book, and one that needs to be flicked through, back and forth. But I really love the fact that, using the Kindle, I can browse and sample books by authors that I simply would not risk in the bookstore, without ending up with a book on the shelf that I don't like.
I think both real books and the Kindle have their place, and both are here to stay. I imagine that the Kindle will not replace the traditional book, and as I wrote in the hub, I love nothing better than browsing around a book shop when I have a bit of time to spare. In fact, the books that I have bought for my Kindle are titles I have already looked at in the shop - without doing that I probably would never know about them.
Anyway, once again thank you for stopping by and reading, much appreciated :)
Does the kindle have a face cover that flips out like a phone or is it touch screen? I wonder how these devices ever stay on the shelf even if as though they wonder how it actually sells. The responsibility is weighted on the user not the company which authorizes publication or i.e. the book itself. Most good stories end in triumph, oh well, maybe next christmas.
ThAnks,
Anish
Hi Jean - I absolutely agree with you in that I think I will still buy the books I really want, and use the Kindle for reading material I just want to try or will only want to read once. I have some books on my shelves that are really special and even though I don't always go back and read them again, they made such an impact that I will never send them to a charity shop. One example that springs to mind is 'A Thousand Splendid Suns,' a superbly written book. Alongside it, I have a lot of titles that were just light entertainment, I read them and enjoyed them, but don't really care for them any longer. For me, that is where the Kindle comes in, it's perfect in that way.
I will never, ever stop going into real bookshops - I just love to wander about and look at the different covers and turn the pages. I didn't think I would like the Kindle - I do, I'm growing to love it, but it will always be alongside the 'real' book and will never completely take over. There's room in life for both, I think, similar to the way that I own an Ipod but still buy CDs of artists I love.
Thank you for your great comment :)
Hi EyesStraightAhead - you have echoed my thoughts exactly. The Kindle is brilliant for reading books you know you won't want to read over and over. And I have found that I am reading even more since receiving my Kindle - I've only owned it for a week and already I have four books on it, and I am halfway through the second. I would not have gone out to the bookstore and purchased four books in a week, no matter how much of a book lover I am!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and here's to many more books enjoyed via the Kindle!
I am a book lover- Not just a reading lover, but a book lover. I love the feel of paper, the smell, turning the pages- everything you mentioned. And, actually, I reread all of my books at some point. (I'm a collector with nearly 200.) I have tried to use the Kindle (my boyfriend has one) but I simply could not get into it. I do agree that they seem really convenient, but not only do I feel cheated if I don't have the smell/feel of a book in my hands, but I just can't concentrate as much.
However, my boyfriend, on the other hand, is huge into reading, but couldn't care less about whether he has a book in his hand or an electronic device. He also didn't read as much as he'd have liked to before he had it. While I personally do not like the Nook or Kindle, I do feel that it's convenient and a great way for non-book lovers to get into reading. (Which seems necessary in this day and age where people just WON'T read anymore!)
Glad you are having fun with yours! My purse would definitely be kinder to my shoulders if I didn't have such a book obsession!
@ janeljoliibook - hi there, thank you for your insightful comment - although it seemed to me that preserving trees in the manufacture of books is a good thing, I had not learned of the fact that it pays back its energy and resources used to make it after one year. Great piece of information for anyone keen on green issues. Thanks for taking the time to read :)
Hi Infiniteresearch, it's great to hear the opinion of a librarian. Yes, I think the Kindle is definitely here to stay and the 'real' book as well. You make a very good point about the weight of a student's backpack, especially considering all the reports that heavy school bags are causing potential back problems for children and young people. I have an 11 year old son and his school bag is really heavy, even though I know that it is not half as heavy as it will be in a couple of years. Thank you for stopping by and reading, your comments are much appreciated :)
@ Beberlee - hi there, yes, if you have a Kindle you can experience the best of both worlds and use whatever is best suited at the time. Thanks for reading :)
Hi ajaodegaarde - it's nice that your dad loves his kindle as well as his books. I think you're right, if you love reading then it really doesn't matter whether the words are on paper or on a Kindle. After all, the true magic and beauty of reading lies in the words themselves, created by the person who wrote them. The medium should really be irrelevant. I guess that the reason some people seem opposed to them is because we are so used to the traditional book and change can seem strange and take some getting used to. It's hard to imagine a world without home computers now, but for older adults such things were non-existent in their younger days.
Thanks for stopping by:)
I think Kindle is a great idea and will make a great dent into the publishishing world. In many ways they deserve it because they way they tread writers is diabolical. Rejection are expected but it is the way they do it. Then, I read it so many time, they ask to publishing the book after the writer self-published it and was a success. I shows and proves their arrogance.
@ Phoebe - well, of course everyone has their own thoughts and I am enjoying reading the differences of opinion on here. And as I said in the hub, I used to feel the same way as you. For me, the Kindle is different to the internet though - my laptop is cumbersome in comparison, and too bright to make me want to read for long spells. I certainly agree with you about the dangers of dropping the Kindle though- so far that hasn't happened to me but I am quite prone to such accidents. And I'm in the UK where it is more like £90, not $90 - everything is a rip-off here!
@ Ed Michaels - you make very good points and you seem to be of a similar viewpoint to myself. As I said, even in the very short period that I have owned a Kindle, I have bought books that I would not have invested in in their physical form. This means that my reading can become more diverse and that would possibly not have happened without the Kindle.
For a book I don't care for that much, I have discovered that I am happy to read it via either Kindle or 'real' book. But for a favourite author, a book with lots of images or a book that I think will be special, then I think I will still buy the physical book. I do like to see great books sitting on my shelf, although currently that probably only accounts for about 10% of the titles I actually own. Therefore, for me, this is one of the Kindles main benefits - in the future, I can store away all the 'ok' books that were a light source of entertainment and only keep the ones I really love. On top of that, you can get some really cheap older titles on the Kindle, so it saves money as well!
Many thanks for reading and leaving such an in-depth comment :)
Hi penofone - the Kindle that I have does not have a flip cover, neither is it touch-screen, it simply has a few buttons at the bottom which are enough to do everything necessary. You can bring up an on-screen keypad but it is controlled with a cursor rather than a touch-screen. Someone wrote in a comment about the Kindle Fire being touch screen, but I do not have experience of that. Anyway, thanks for reading the hub!
I too love the touch and smell of a book, old or new but I'm also keen to embrace new technology. 'Curling up with a good book' is still a cosy idea which appeals but a Kindle would be much easier to take on holiday! Voted up
@ kmainka - hi there, thank you for sharing your experience regarding the Kindle, and the conflicting experience of your boyfriend. Of course, no matter what the subject there will always be differences of opinion and not everyone gets on with the same things. I too love the smell of a paper book, especially a new one, and curling up on the sofa with it (but I do also curl up on the sofa with a Kindle). Surprisingly, I have discovered that the medium I use to read doesn't matter as much as I first thought it would. And I do love the fact that the Kindle is so light - much lighter than every one of my books! Here's to reading, no matter what we use!
Hi, thanks for sharing your experience with the kindle. I am a book lover, I read incessantly (probably true of many of us here at hub pages), and I like the look, smell and feel of a paper book as much as most. However, having moved around quite a bit over the years I have repeatedly found myself with boxes and boxes of books I don't know what to do with. Here is my usual dilemna, I love books so much I hate to part with them. I now live on a sunny island, and reading on the balcony / beach is a regular occurrence. Equally I travel often and I have a tendency to read at every available opportunity. The kindle works for me in that the E ink technology is like reading from a page, backlit technology such as the ipad and other such devices prove impossible. Likewise I can carry several books at a time (to suit the need / mood) with less bulk in the bag. A quick glance at my library on my Kindle tells me I have read over 40 books in three months on the device, my physical book shelf continues to grow alongside it, but at a lesser rate, after all I would hate to drop the kindle in the bath ;) (just kidding...I also hate dropping my paperbacks in the bath! lol). Having come to a point of knowing that the paper trail of books in my household has to be curbed somehow, I never doubted that I would bond with a kindle, but I have since discovered that I can happily live with both.
Interestingly, my 9 year old techie geek daughter has no love affair with the kindle, give her a paperback or hardback any day! I do wish she would bond though, as her book shelves are already over burdened, and like mother like daughter, she can't bare to see them go! :S
Hi annart - sorry for the delay in replying. With the kindle you really can have the best of both worlds, as there will probably be books you like that are not yet available on the Kindle anyway. Sometimes I find that the Kindle book is cheaper, but sometimes it is actually more expensive than the 'real' book, so it's all swings and roundabouts.
I do 'curl up' with my kindle on the sofa, so it's not really all that different. I did have a moment of worry the other day as I was going up the stairs with my kindle and a drink of water at the same time - bad idea, I slipped and fell and the kindle got splashed with the water! Luckily, it was only a few drops so all was ok. And yes, the Kindle is absolutely perfect for travelling, especially if you intend on reading more than one book.
Thanks for stopping by and reading :)
I'm a traditional book-lover and thought I wouldn't enjoy the Kindle reading experience. Boy was I wrong. I have read some free classics and purchased some larger books for my Kindle and Kindle Fire. I love the ease of reading, the weight of the reader, and no covers and pages to get in the way. I still alternate between traditional and e-reader, both have their merits. But e-reading has won me over when I didn't think it was possible.
@waxlyrical- hi there, many apologies for the delay in replying to your comment. It definitely sounds as though your Kindle is a big advantage considering the amount of books you read - if I had enough time to read half as much I would be really happy! That aside, Kindles are fantastic for curbing an ever-growing mountain of books - I have a huge bookcase crammed full, plus another smaller cabinet that was supposed to be for other things, and even then I have boxes stuck under the bed full of books! I have even taken many to the charity shop but still they keep on multiplying! I also have a cover for my Kindle now, which I think makes it feel more like a 'real' book, since it can now be opened and closed..
And yes, dropping paperbacks in the bath is not good either. I have done that several times and was mortified! Many thanks for reading and for your long and thoughtful comment :)
@ RickMc - You are just like me, I thought I wouldn't enjoy it either but was totally transformed almost at once! In fact, I have not read a single paper book for nearly three months now, although I know that I will when a book comes out that I really want to keep and see on my bookshelf. That doesn't happen very often though, and in the meantime I can read lots of other books that I know I would never have read at all if it wasn't for the ease and convenience of the Kindle. I love the simplicity of the Kindle, because I am not really big on complicated technology - I have to rely on my other half or my son to sort things out sometimes! But the Kindle can be used by anyone, even the biggest techno-phobes. Thank you for reading, I appreciate your comments :)
Phoebe Pike Level 7 Commenter 4 months ago
I personally dislike the kindle idea. I have a computer for reading things like hubpages and I have always enjoyed the feel and smell of paper. There's nothing like curling up with a good book... I get that the kindle can be an entire library, but I suppose I'm old-fashioned.