Do You Prefer E-book Readers Or Having The Physical Book?

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Lisey Landon

Well-Known Member
May 20, 2009
754
3,966
Germany
Physical books...nothing can beat their smell! And it's exciting to get an original copy. I bought Firestarter from a thrift store, came home, and found out it was a first publication copy! Also, for digital books, there isn't the excitement of going to the store the day of the release.
I agree, and I always buy the physical book.

But, as I do a lot of work online, at all hours of the day, I find that the only way I can read more than a few pages at the time, is to read the book on my Kindle for iPad. If I read the physical book, I get distracted and I "have to" check mail and websites, to make sure that I don't neglect my job (which is total crap, of course. Nothing online is so urgent that it can't wait for an hour or two)

But, my mother was a librarian, and I literally grew up in the library, so for me, nothing can replace the feel and smell of a real book.
 

fljoe0

Cantre Member
Apr 5, 2008
15,859
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120 miles S of the Pancake/Waffle line
A few years ago I bought a Kindle and I loved it. It's very comfortable to read books with it. However, recently I've been switching back to regular books. I love going to bookstores and browsing through each section, going through book jackets and looking at which books I find interesting. That's an experience I will always cherish. Also, having someone go through your library and talking about the books you have read is pretty cool too.

You make a good point here about browsing in a bookstore. It's much easier to stumble on a book you may not have known about in a bookstore than trying to browse electronically. Electronically, the electronic store can arrange the browsing the way they want you to see it.
 

cat in a bag

Well-Known Member
Aug 28, 2010
12,038
67,827
wyoming
I love both. I still buy book books, going to the bookstore and browsing is one of my absolute favorite things to do.

I have my favorites that I have to have the book book for, like SK and the first read is always with the physical book. But I seem to be more willing to venture out and try new authors on the kindle, and I have read many more classics on it than I ever have before.

I wouldn't part with either books or my kindle. :)
 

mustangclaire

There's petrol runnin' through my veins.
Jun 15, 2010
2,956
12,726
52
East Sussex, UK
Hold a book in your hands that you've been eager to read for the first time. Opening it, feel the whiteness of the new pages slide so smooth across your fingertips, bring it up to your nose and smell it, turn it over and over. Read the plot description, the author's bio. Smell it again. You've been looking forward to this voyage ever since learning about the book. Maybe it's by your favorite author and you've been waiting months for just this moment. But put it off a little while longer; savor the anticipation of that wonderful moment-- like the one when you feel the plane lift off the ground and become airborne. Kindles are handy, but real books are alchemy
(quote from Jonathon Carol. I guess you can tell where my preference lies
 

Lina

Committed member
Jun 24, 2009
3,356
6,024
Russia
I love real books... Sometimes I read on my tab, but that is not often. I tried to read in the bus on my way to work, but more often I am still sleepy in the morning, in the evening that's hard to find a place to sit down, so, it does not always work out. And when I am at home I always read real books... that's even better for the eyes:0: Moreover, I agree with those of you who say that there is something speacial about real books, some smell, some feeling... No e-book can convey that!
 

Elijah Sattler

Well-Known Member
Nov 25, 2013
73
389
24
TX
I know I'm young and all and er supposed to be all about the techonolollylulaahflaksjhfkjgy, but I've read out of paperbacks and hardcovers all my life, so physical. It just seems more official, if that makes sense. I sit here reading 11/22/63 on a damn Kindle Fire and I just don't feel like I'm reading a real book.
 

The Nameless

M-O-O-N - That spells Nameless
Jul 10, 2011
2,080
8,261
42
The Darkside of the Moon (England really)
There is something about that smell that goes with the joy of reading a book. It really takes me back.
It has to be at least 10 years old though. I read joyland a few weeks ago, and I'm reading Dr sleep now, both lack that musty smell of my 20 + years old IT or dark half or Christine etc. The new smell of my books like wttkh, 11/22/63, Dr sleep etc are about as cosy and comforting as the smell of my kobo.
 

Lisey Landon

Well-Known Member
May 20, 2009
754
3,966
Germany
I love both. I still buy book books, going to the bookstore and browsing is one of my absolute favorite things to do.
For me, most browsing is done on amazon. I am a Norwegian, living in Germany, who reads all my favorite authors in their original language. In Norway, the only original language editions in book stores are paperback, which is great for travels + a lot cheaper. The selection is not great, although Mr. King's books are usually available. But some books I need to own in hardcover, they are more durable (and look better in the book shelf, although that is no reason for buying any book).
 

NightShifter

Well-Known Member
Nov 8, 2013
63
344
Mansfield, Massachusetts
I love my Kindle Paperwhite for the definitions, character rosters (sometimes I have a hard time keeping track of who is who, especially in the beginning of a book), search function, and the other obvious benefits to an e-reader.

That being said, I'm currently reading "Joyland," which is only available as a paperback. I have the book on my desk and a colleague of mine walked by and noticed it. He asked me about it, read the back, and decided to buy a copy for his brother for Christmas. We then talked about some other King books. This conversation never would have happened if my Kindle was on my desk. Plus, the cover of the book is awesome too - looks like an old dime store mystery novel (I attached a pic).
 

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The Nameless

M-O-O-N - That spells Nameless
Jul 10, 2011
2,080
8,261
42
The Darkside of the Moon (England really)
I love my Kindle Paperwhite for the definitions, character rosters (sometimes I have a hard time keeping track of who is who, especially in the beginning of a book), search function, and the other obvious benefits to an e-reader.

That being said, I'm currently reading "Joyland," which is only available as a paperback. I have the book on my desk and a colleague of mine walked by and noticed it. He asked me about it, read the back, and decided to buy a copy for his brother for Christmas. We then talked about some other King books. This conversation never would have happened if my Kindle was on my desk. Plus, the cover of the book is awesome too - looks like an old dime store mystery novel (I attached a pic).

I love the cover of Joyland, I'm glad it didn't get changed for the UK version like so many others do.