Many of my friends and, I suspect, some among you, express a marked antipathy towards eBooks.
Their most frequent expressions in the discussion are:
‘I like the touch and feel of a physical book.’
‘I like to turn the pages.’
‘I like the smell of a book, especially a new one.’
‘I love to be the first person to read the book.’
‘I love to see the books on my bookshelf.’
I share those sentiments.
However, there are downsides to having physical books.
In past years, when I travelled overseas every year, I would buy books and books. Books to read on the plane. Books about places I had been. The latest science, philosophy or history books. Books about different country’s cuisines. Trying to pretend I was not over the weight limit for air travel, the load of the books in my rucksack was backbreaking.
Then you must have space to store them and at one stage I had seventeen bookcases in my office; only four now, but a second cull is underway.
Then you have so many, you forget you have a book, and you purchase another copy.
You lend a book out and you never see it again!
eBooks require no physical storage. I have 21,000+ eBooks catalogued, and they would all store easily in my iPad. (I have many more uncatalogued.)
I can take all of them with me when I go on holiday if I want to.
They weigh nothing.
You can lend a ‘copy’ to one or more friends, keeping the ‘original’.
If you have a backlit Kindle or an iPad, you can read with the light off in bed, to the joy of your partner.
I used to be on the side of physical books, but I am now a confirmed eBook reader. I still like to read a hard copy book.
Burnside Writers Group 