By Ellie Bowker
Over here in this cosy little corner of I’m With Geek, it’s safe to say that we kind of have a thing for books. I know, it’s mind-blowing and you never would have guessed it. Among all us bookworms, there is this unspoken debate that always has a presence in a book related conversation and it just takes one little comment to pull the trigger and set off the biggest literary bomb. What debate is this? Printed books versus e-books.
Over here in this cosy little corner of I’m With Geek, it’s safe to say that we kind of have a thing for books. I know, it’s mind-blowing and you never would have guessed it. Among all us bookworms, there is this unspoken debate that always has a presence in a book related conversation and it just takes one little comment to pull the trigger and set off the biggest literary bomb. What debate is this? Printed books versus e-books.
Click for Source Image We are living in the digital age and from this point onwards, technology is going to continue to evolve. That is a fact. It is continuously growing and there are companies presenting us with all sorts of new gadgets that they make us think we need. Additionally, we have access to things that we may have never had access to before and, as a result, the Internet is cutting off certain retailers. For example, music is available to download online in just a couple clicks of a mouse. Some people argue that there is no need for CD shops nowadays as you can purchase and download music online and straight to your computer. But let’s get back to the point. Books. Books and e-books.
Within the bookworm society, there is this invisible divide where you are either on the side of e-books or on the side of printed books. Audiobooks, kindles and other kinds of e-readers are becoming increasingly popular but does that mean printed books are dying out? I’d argue not. It’s like going to the cinema. Yes, you can find a perfectly good quality version of a film from the comfort of your home on your laptop but it’s the experience of actually going to the cinema and experiencing that film on a big screen with other people who also like that film. Books and the written word have always been around so there’s that idea of tradition and routine when it comes to books. As human beings, we like a good old tradition and we like something with history. A printed book gives us that. It can give you more than the story inside the cover. You can add your own personal touch to it. What I mean by that is that you can pass a physical book around and lend it out to people, give it away as a present, receive one as a present. It may sound materialistic but it’s a solid thing that you can call your own. Some people like to write notes and fold the pages of their favourite parts (*shudders*) and it’s all part of the experience of reading a book. Plus, how can anyone see how smart you are if all they see in your hands is a grey rectangular piece of plastic?
However, e-books have their perks. Travelling, being one of them. Unfortunately, when we go on holiday, we can’t take our whole bookshelf with us because there just isn’t room in your bag. Everyone insists on packing the “essential” and boring things like clothes and money and a toothbrush. Honestly! But, luckily for us, we can take this magical little screen that holds 50 of our favourite books that we can take with us wherever we go. Isn’t that just fantastic? Plus, feel how light it is and how little space it takes up. That is some proper Harry Potter magic going on right there. Speaking of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling uses e-books to supplement the print editions of her books. If you’re on Pottermore, you’ll know that good old Jo is constantly writing/updating the site with articles and short stories about some of our most beloved characters. The Mortal Instruments author, Cassandra Clare, also uses her website as a platform for publishing exclusive short stories about some of her characters after the book is over and it is not just Cassandra Clare and J.K. Rowling doing this. Lots of different authors are jumping on the bandwagon by using e-media to publish work.
At the end of the day, it’s the written word that matters but how you choose to experience that written word is up to you. I believe that various formats of books can exist peacefully with each other and continue to supply us with the thrill of stories. But what do you prefer? Are you Team Print? Or Team eBook? Maybe Team Both?
Within the bookworm society, there is this invisible divide where you are either on the side of e-books or on the side of printed books. Audiobooks, kindles and other kinds of e-readers are becoming increasingly popular but does that mean printed books are dying out? I’d argue not. It’s like going to the cinema. Yes, you can find a perfectly good quality version of a film from the comfort of your home on your laptop but it’s the experience of actually going to the cinema and experiencing that film on a big screen with other people who also like that film. Books and the written word have always been around so there’s that idea of tradition and routine when it comes to books. As human beings, we like a good old tradition and we like something with history. A printed book gives us that. It can give you more than the story inside the cover. You can add your own personal touch to it. What I mean by that is that you can pass a physical book around and lend it out to people, give it away as a present, receive one as a present. It may sound materialistic but it’s a solid thing that you can call your own. Some people like to write notes and fold the pages of their favourite parts (*shudders*) and it’s all part of the experience of reading a book. Plus, how can anyone see how smart you are if all they see in your hands is a grey rectangular piece of plastic?
However, e-books have their perks. Travelling, being one of them. Unfortunately, when we go on holiday, we can’t take our whole bookshelf with us because there just isn’t room in your bag. Everyone insists on packing the “essential” and boring things like clothes and money and a toothbrush. Honestly! But, luckily for us, we can take this magical little screen that holds 50 of our favourite books that we can take with us wherever we go. Isn’t that just fantastic? Plus, feel how light it is and how little space it takes up. That is some proper Harry Potter magic going on right there. Speaking of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling uses e-books to supplement the print editions of her books. If you’re on Pottermore, you’ll know that good old Jo is constantly writing/updating the site with articles and short stories about some of our most beloved characters. The Mortal Instruments author, Cassandra Clare, also uses her website as a platform for publishing exclusive short stories about some of her characters after the book is over and it is not just Cassandra Clare and J.K. Rowling doing this. Lots of different authors are jumping on the bandwagon by using e-media to publish work.
At the end of the day, it’s the written word that matters but how you choose to experience that written word is up to you. I believe that various formats of books can exist peacefully with each other and continue to supply us with the thrill of stories. But what do you prefer? Are you Team Print? Or Team eBook? Maybe Team Both?
RSS Feed
