MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - How did you feel about reading a paper book after The Transition?

neilmarr · 10-11-2009, 03:35 AM

Ebook reading has transformed my home ... and probably saved my marriage.

Although I don't mind passing books on to other bookworms, I hate the idea of trashing them. But so few folks where I live in France read English, that I -- quite literally -- can't give 'em away (though my French wife can easily offload her French language novels).

The result is that I've collected so many books over our eighteen years together that you can hardly move in our wee apartment for bookshelves, bursting at the seams, lining every wall, books in wobbly stacks all over the place, books on pretty well every flat surface, books under the bed, books in wardrobes, books on top of wardrobes; even the cave (the local equivalent of a basement or attic) is jam-packed with teachests full of books.

Drives my wife nuts. So -- now doing all my recreational reading on a 505 -- she managed to persuade me for the first time on Friday that 'some' of these books should go and that the weekend should be dedicated to the clearance job.

It was a painful decision to make -- like throwing an old but old friend out of the house because he'd outlived any usefulness and was taking up too much space.

But I was amazed, as we checked out each book, just how many -- if I every want to read them again -- I can get in ebook form. Box after box of books was earmarked to be disposed of. And today, we have a few hundred more to sift through before we're through.

Already, there's a new feeling of space and order at home (the cat is confused). And, you know, I hardly shed a tear.

Ebook reading has turned what looked like a cross between a dusty old second hand book shop and a garage sale into a pretty neat place to actually live ... and my thankful and happy wife, Skovia, has just brought me a pot of fresh coffee onto the terrace with a nice Havana Romeo y Julietta cigar for after breakfast.

Swearing off treebooks has vastly improved the quality of life in ways I rever dreamed of.

Cheers. Neil

PS on Monday morning: the clearing of Chez Marr is almost complete. With ruthless dedication, I've consigned about five-hundred books to the dumpster. I doubt they'll ever be replaced by new treebooks -- who needs 'em? N

10-11-2009, 03:35 AM	#60
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Ebook reading has transformed my home ... and probably saved my marriage. Although I don't mind passing books on to other bookworms, I hate the idea of trashing them. But so few folks where I live in France read English, that I -- quite literally -- can't give 'em away (though my French wife can easily offload her French language novels). The result is that I've collected so many books over our eighteen years together that you can hardly move in our wee apartment for bookshelves, bursting at the seams, lining every wall, books in wobbly stacks all over the place, books on pretty well every flat surface, books under the bed, books in wardrobes, books on top of wardrobes; even the cave (the local equivalent of a basement or attic) is jam-packed with teachests full of books. Drives my wife nuts. So -- now doing all my recreational reading on a 505 -- she managed to persuade me for the first time on Friday that 'some' of these books should go and that the weekend should be dedicated to the clearance job. It was a painful decision to make -- like throwing an old but old friend out of the house because he'd outlived any usefulness and was taking up too much space. But I was amazed, as we checked out each book, just how many -- if I every want to read them again -- I can get in ebook form. Box after box of books was earmarked to be disposed of. And today, we have a few hundred more to sift through before we're through. Already, there's a new feeling of space and order at home (the cat is confused). And, you know, I hardly shed a tear. Ebook reading has turned what looked like a cross between a dusty old second hand book shop and a garage sale into a pretty neat place to actually live ... and my thankful and happy wife, Skovia, has just brought me a pot of fresh coffee onto the terrace with a nice Havana Romeo y Julietta cigar for after breakfast. Swearing off treebooks has vastly improved the quality of life in ways I rever dreamed of. Cheers. Neil PS on Monday morning: the clearing of Chez Marr is almost complete. With ruthless dedication, I've consigned about five-hundred books to the dumpster. I doubt they'll ever be replaced by new treebooks -- who needs 'em? N Last edited by neilmarr; 10-12-2009 at 02:40 AM. Reason: to add PS