As a blogger/writer/copywriter… I know the title we try to take on in this online industry is still up for debate… I constantly mourn the loss of the paperback, the hardcover, the “real” (to me) book. I know I am not the only person to feel this way, but clearly there are far more people who side with Ebooks, considering their sales just surpassed hardcover books for the first time in U.S. History.
So what’s the draw? Is it just the simplicity? I do understand that. If you travel a lot, why would you want to always travel with 10 books in your bag as opposed to an e-reader?
Is it about being environmentally friendly? Well, yes, I can see that argument as well. We’re definitely saving trees by using Ebooks.
E-readers are also becoming capable of doing so much more. You can save documents, play games, surf the web. They really are quite impressive. However, to me, there is just no comparison to holding a hardcover book in my hands, running my finger along the page as I become engulfed in the story. Having that tangible book is a joyful experience for myself and many others.
Although the e-reader is a great tool, I fear that with so many people buying e-readers, we are going to continue to see more bookstores disappear or go bankrupt and eventually, an actual hardcover book or paperback could become a high-priced find on The Antiques Roadshow. Maybe I’m reaching on that one, but who knows? Personally, I think the e-reader is a great little gadget, but not is it costs us the joy of having tangible books.
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