Reader, quite obviously you are reading an electronically published blog post. But how do you feel about reading novel’s via an e-reader or even on computer?
I have kindle for PC on my laptop and find it very difficult to read any of the novels I have purchased. Even the non fiction how-to books don’t keep me there. This lack of enthusiasm has been the main reason I’ve not bothered buying a kindle of iPad or any of the other e-readers available.
Which brings me to the next question reader, what about e-publishing?
Is there even going to be printed books by the end of the decade?
And then there is the question of learning a whole new language and set of skills, another thing to do, when I battle for writing time, let alone learning all the technical “do-da” that I imagine it will take to self e-publish.
I know there is a place for both in our literary world. The die hard oldies like me will probably always prefer the paper version of a book, and the next technically literate generation will love the Kindle/iPad/whichever version of an e-reader you like to name.
So reader, which do you prefer, a traditionally published book with paper and ink, an e-reader? Have you even looked at or considered using an e-reader? Do you love both? I’m really interested to know. You may change my mind.
Traditional books, baby! I’m not a fan of e-books. I seriously doubt that e-books will take over because there are too many traditionalists, plus the smell of old books is too hypnotic. I can see how e-books have their place in the market though (changing font size must be a godsend for people with crappy eyesight).
I agree Suz, I love the smell of books, new books and old. Maybe when this generation of traditionalists are dead and gone, the e-reader crowd will be lamenting the fading of e-readers and wondering about the latest gadget.
Like everything in life, there’s good points and bad points. It’s a personal choice. My study is full of paperbacks and I love them dearly, but I also love the Kindle app for iPad. eBooks are compact, cheaper, great when travelling, and yes…the font size is a godsend. I’ll more than likely consider e-publishing my debut novel.
You’ve made a few good points there Carol, I hadn’t thought of the handiness of e-readers when travelling. I know it’s something I need to come to terms with.
I have a Nook and adore it for travel. How else can you take up to 1500 books when you head to, say, Australia to go visit good friends. E-books are cheaper to buy, on the whole, but that’s not to say cheap. And I’ve found authors I can’t find in the bookstores.
The downside to e-books are that we’re losing print books. People are just e-publishing and so it’s harder to find a good new author in print. The other downside is if the publisher decides to sell your e-book for free, you get no royalties for those books sold. Most print books are never given away for free.
That being said, I’m always going to go for the feel of a real book in my hand. Theres something about the weight of a real book, the feel and smell of paper and ink that just makes me happy.
And real books don’t need to be recharged in the middle of a chapter.
As long as there are writers, I think there will always be traditionalists amongst us. At least I hope so.
I think I will always want to see my book in print, on paper and on a book shelf in a shop. I hope I can make my dream come true, but as I said to Carol, I guess there are good points, like you say, the compact and accessibility of e-books.