Two summers ago, while we were on vacation in the Adirondacks, my tech-savvy friend Don sat me down with his latest gadget: an eReader. “As much as you read, I think you’d like this,” he said as he demonstrated the e-reader’s features and quick downloading capability. He nodded to the novel in my lap, Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth, a three inch thick volume. “This is much lighter than THAT.”
“Yeah!” my son said, eagerly grabbing the eReader.
eReaders eliminate bulk.
My house has many overflowing bookshelves. An eReader can store thousands of volumes in the space of one thin chapter book. And as my friend Caroline pointed out, “Think of all the trees we aren’t killing!” Since they minimize bulk, eReaders also eliminate weight; it’s much easier to travel with an eReader than multiple hardback novels and self help guides! They are also easier to hold in bed at night (the Kindle turned my hubby into a more willing bedtime reader). eReaders make reading more cost effective.
But I still have reservations.
Sharing eBooks isn’t always easy. There are time limits (Kindle = two weeks) and financial restrictions (most cost at least $100 and an Amazon Prime membership costs $79 per year). According to the local librarian, a lot of the patrons she sees do not have the computer knowledge or equipment to borrow the eBooks available. I believe everyone should have access to literature, and I worry that eReaders exclude significant segments of our population.
And, I like to take my novels into the bathtub.
Do you agree? Have I missed something? Share your thoughts by clicking on “comments” below.
I’m pro about e-readers, because they are small, portable and we can take them everywhere. It’s great that when I travel I can have on it my eBooks downloaded from All you can books… a good site with many of my favorite titles. I can’t wait to have a little spare time 😀
Thanks for stopping by and for the link to a great site! Yes, we all need a little more spare time!
I DID finish Pillars! There’s a second book, but I haven’t tackled that one. And yes, I agree, if an eReader makes books more appealing, bring ’em on!
I remember the conversation like it was yesterday, and by the way did you ever finish the Pillars book??? Maybe you would have if the weight of carrying it around didn’t bring you down 🙂
Like most things in life, everything in moderation and finding the happy balance is what is key for our enjoyment. Anything that inspires my kids or others to read is great. You know some people just take more to the electronic transmission of info.
Noooo!
I’m with you, and you know what a tech-aholic I am. There definitely are pluses to e-readers, but there is something cozy about a REAL book.
Maybe it’s just because it’s familiar and I’m becoming an old person who balks & gripes about change. NOooo!