This amazing stop-motion animated film, created for the New Zealand Book Council, reminds me of all the reasons I love books — the old-fashioned ones, Read the full post.
Nov 25
2009
09:00 AM ET
Who needs Kindles or Nooks? In praise of the old-fashioned book
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Ok, that movie had nothing to do with a controversy between books and e-text BUT it was friggin’ awesome!
Liked the animation. There is something about a book especially in tense or horror scenes where you’re actually kind of afraid to turn the page. I don’t think that I’d be able to get that emotionally involved in an e-book. There is definitly something to walking into a bookstore with it’s unique smell or ordering a book online and it finally comes in the mail and you first touch the cool pages of your new purchase with anticipation. Also with books they’re easier to borrow at the library or lend to a friend. I will never say never but the physical book is hard to beat.
I’m at the keyboard 10 hours a day. When it’s time for recreational reading, I want to feast my eyes on a real-life book, not some electronic plastic gizmo.
Rose
author, The Ugly Woman’s Guide to Internet Dating
I’ve just got my Kindle and will never go back to paper books. Unless it’s something I really need. The waste from paper books is basically a crime today. Try finding something in a book or newspaper! Simply type in what you are looking for in a Kindle and up it comes. 1500 books in one place, in one space, this needs no further comment.
As ereaders develop, everyone will have one, like a book.
I won’t ever have an e-reader, so your last statement is incorrect. I understand that they are convenient, but I’m not interested in convenience- just my books.
As a recent convert to an e-book reader I will say having the leather cover for it makes it feel like having a book in hand for all those who like the “feel” of books, plus you hold it naturally like a book too. Also keep in mind people who get e-readers are generally people who love to read in the first place, and so lovers of traditionally bound books but this just makes it more convenient.
Most of you seem never have even to tried an e-reader. To me their main virtue is in being able to do what everyone talks about with a book “curl up in bed with a good book.” Try “curling up” with a big ol heavy book. It’s hard to hold at a proper angle so as to keep your arm from falling asleep or the pages from flopping around. With an e-book you can rest the book on the bed and still read it easily. I have a friend who is elderly who found it hard to comfortoably hold book and needs larger print. With an ebook chaning fonts is just the push of a button So before you say “never” consider that as you age an e-book may seem more appealing.
Real (paper) books are always a last resort for me. If I can’t get them in either electronic text or audio format, only then, and very reluctantly, will I buy a physical book.
Audiobooks are ideal for fiction and electronic text is ideal for technical books, paper just doesn’t fit into my modern life.
hey, spring is cooming! good post there, tnx for shelf-life.ew.com
I bet Kindle Fire’s gonna break some records!