Let's Talk is a new weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.
And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!
Question: Do you prefer real books or those on your e-reader, and why?
This is a debate that I have in my head quite often, and I'll be the first person to say that I'm not really sure there is a real answer because there are two vastly different sides here. I own a Barnes & Noble Nook. His name is Dexter. He has an orange case and way too many books loaded within his little memory chip...or whatever it is that makes him tick. I don't know technology. So, sue me.
Dexter (my Nook, in case you aren't following) is great. He's convenient, portable and I never really have to worry if I'm forgetting a book I need to review, so long as my Nook is in my purse. That, in and of itself, is a huge pro. There's also the convenience of Netgalley, which is absolutely awesome. ARCs cost a lot of money, so having the opportunity to read a lot of titles I might otherwise have to wait until their release is another massive pro. Most of all though, it's nice to be able to carry my Nook to the pool, to the beach or anywhere else I might need to go and not have to worry about ruining the pretty cover. Unless I'm a clumsy fool and drop it, that is.
On the other hand, there's a beautiful familiarity in real, tangible books. I'll fight anyone who tells me there is something more wonderful than walking into a beautiful old library with hundreds of titles and that rich old-book smell. I know. I'm a geek. I also love walking into my house and knowing I can go to any shelf, pick up a book and get lost in the pages. I don't have quite the same affinity with books on my e-reader.
So, frankly, I don't know if one is really better than the other, per se, but I certainly have a favourite. If I could only read real books or those on my e-reader for the rest of my life, I would choose the real books. Hands-down.
