Quote:
Originally Posted by Cinisajoy
Is an ebook also a "real" book?
Or what about a book on papyrus?
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I would say that neither are books (i.e. leaves bound together). I realize that that is not the popular definition here. In my opinion, people are conflating the contents with the container. In most cases, it doesn't make any difference, since most books contain one novel each. However, there are exceptions. For example, I have a volume of four novels which were bound together. I call that bound thing a book, but it seems that some here would actually call it four books, and that I don't agree with. I prefer to call the contents something that is separate from the container, for example, novel, collection of poems or short stories, anthology, treatise,... "Book" is just what it is packaged in.
I'm saying this to make it clear that I can use the phrase "real book" without passing judgement on other forms of publications. I read epubs without wishing they were printed on paper, and appreciate the advantages reading on devices brings. I am not being snobbish about the containers.