MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - "I Won't Read a Great Novel on an eReader"

Maggie Leung · 06-17-2010, 02:08 AM

I find tradeoffs between e-books and print books.

I like history books and am finding that I'm missing the convenience of laying print books side by side and quickly flipping through for comparison's sake. For instance, when I read about a historic event that jogs my memory about something in another book, I sometimes want to cross-check.

I think that might come up with textbooks and other nonfiction reading. People who read only fiction probably are less likely to encounter that problem.

There's also historic value to print books. The Jefferson collection at the Library of Congress is a sight to behold, for instance:
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/overview.html

From a personal perspective: I've bought print books while abroad, and it's nice to still have 'em in their non-U.S. forms, with covers that vary from the U.S. versions, with the foreign price stickers and such, and to remember walking down such and such a street and exploring a specific bookstore. I find that evocative, nostalgic quality lacking in e-books.

Likewise, I remember the covers and illustrations of books I read as a kid, and that was part of the reading experience that I miss. To see the same book with the same cover today, for instance, would be like picking up a Life cereal box with Mikey on the front. A trip back in time.

06-17-2010, 02:08 AM	#32
Maggie Leung Wizard Posts: 1,449 Karma: 58383 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Kindle, iPad	I find tradeoffs between e-books and print books. I like history books and am finding that I'm missing the convenience of laying print books side by side and quickly flipping through for comparison's sake. For instance, when I read about a historic event that jogs my memory about something in another book, I sometimes want to cross-check. I think that might come up with textbooks and other nonfiction reading. People who read only fiction probably are less likely to encounter that problem. There's also historic value to print books. The Jefferson collection at the Library of Congress is a sight to behold, for instance: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/overview.html From a personal perspective: I've bought print books while abroad, and it's nice to still have 'em in their non-U.S. forms, with covers that vary from the U.S. versions, with the foreign price stickers and such, and to remember walking down such and such a street and exploring a specific bookstore. I find that evocative, nostalgic quality lacking in e-books. Likewise, I remember the covers and illustrations of books I read as a kid, and that was part of the reading experience that I miss. To see the same book with the same cover today, for instance, would be like picking up a Life cereal box with Mikey on the front. A trip back in time.