Ever since I can remember I have loved to read. I went from Dr. Seuss to the Babysitter’s Club and Goosebumps to Point Horror, all books that could keep me busy for hours. Late at night I would keep my bedside lamp on and read long after it had been time for me to go to bed. I still do that now, especially when I cannot put a book down (yes, I finished most Harry Potter’s in three or four days).
To this day, my love for books has not changed. The ability to imagine a different world and to “see” events fold out before me is part of what draws me to them. Nothing beats curling up on the couch or in bed and temporarily visiting different surroundings as the story unfolds with the turn of each page.
One of the latest trends that would seemingly extinguish this experience is the emergence of electronic book readers. Many companies have launched their own versions of such a device varying in prices and different capabilities.
I do not doubt the benefits of being able to carry multiple books within one device, alleviating the need to weigh down suitcases with possible books I might read while on vacation. However, as a person who looks at a computer screen for the better part of the day I prefer to have my leisure reading material in hardcopy. I just cannot picture the experience being the same.
These are just my thoughts on the latest technology and I am very open to trying it out just for comparison.
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I feel as though using the new technology takes the “fun” out of reading. Staring at a computer screen is fine for checking an email account or writing an essay for class. But nothing compares to laying in bed with a book. Perhaps it is a form of nostalgia, but I don’t think I will ever use an electronic book reader. However, I said the same thing about Facebook and I now have an account that I check daily.
I also wanted to add that the Goosebump series was a huge part of my adolescent reading. R.L. Stine really struck a chord with me and many young readers. Another favorite author from the past is Roald Dahl, and reading James and the Giant Peach on an elctronis screen just seems unimaginable to me.
Nicolle, couldn’t agree with you more. There’s just something about holding the physical copy of a book that is unparalleled. Maybe it’s old fashioned, traditional, or just plain enjoyable, but I can honestly say that I’ve never liked to read from a computer screen and I much prefer print editions of everything. Even when stories are submitted online I find myself printing them out to hold it and read from the paper instead.
This is not to mention the joy of having a book collection. I myself have around 100 books and I cannot see myself parting with any of them for the “convenience” of a little electronic pad.
I see where you’re coming from, Nicolle. Although nowadays I tend to read e-books, I agree that technology cannot seemingly replace the classic book. I tend to mark-up the books that I do read (a habit now as a result of my reading requirements in high school) and I am not able to do this when I read books electronically. So, yes, I do miss the good, old-fashioned, page-flippable book.