“Hello. I’m an romance writer. Yes, I have published books. You can find them at Amazon. They are cheaper as ebooks.”
When I tell people this and hand them my card, hoping they will buy a copy of one of my ebooks, I often get the standard “Oh, I don’t read ebooks. I love to feel a real book in my hands.”
How do you come down on this topic? Do you prefer real books or can you make do with the new digital books?
Scientists are beginning to weigh in on the subject, telling us “research suggests that recall of plot after using an e-reader is poorer than with traditional books.” See the article Readers absorb less on Kindles than on paper, study finds in The Guardian.
For myself, I have shelves of paperbacks and hardbacks. Over the years, I’ve culled them down, giving them to a charity book sale. But I still have hundreds. I have nearly 160 ebook downloads from Amazon. I suppose they are in the “cloud” somewhere, but when I’m waiting at a doctor’s office, it’s very convenient to open the Kindle app on my iPhone and start reading.
I like to use paperback when I’m doing research and underlining and taking notes. Often I find it’s easier to read an ebook in bed on my iPad. No trouble holding the book and turning pages.
So, I come down on both sides of the fence. Not totally for, but certainly not against. What do you think about ebooks?
I’m both. For many of the same reasons that you said. When I was a frequent traveler, the Kindle always won hands down — for books and magazines. Until I found a new mag in the airport shop that I wanted to read. I still do love holding the book/magazine and feeling the pages, at times. Like you, for research purposes, I sometimes opt for print. Then again, when I need something quick for research, being able to instantly download it into my PC or Kindle is really cool — and I use the highlighting features there, too.
I think both print and ebooks will always be options. I hope anyway. I foresee a resurgence of print, too, in our future — even if it’s for those special books you want on your shelf, for booksignings, of course, and maybe for collectors. I’d also like to see a major bookstore chain (guess?) start catering more to print books for indie presses and authors, particularly with distribution and shelf space availability. Probably not under the current model, but something a little more creative. There could be a really nice niche market there, if they’d tap into it.
Wow. didn’t mean to hijack your blog, Jan!
Maddie, thanks for stopping by. Interesting idea about book stores.
Interesting topic, and I’m really intrigued by Maddie’s bookstore idea!
In the big downsize a couple of years ago, many boxes of books were donated to the local library – to put on shelves or, more likely, to sell at the Friends of the Library bookstore. I’m so glad we did that!
I kept a few physical books, but if I buy a new one, something has to go, due to the extremely limited shelf space. My e-readers make it possible for me to still purchase books and not worry about storage or dusting. My local library is wonderful, and that’s mostly how I get my “fix” of holding paper books. Works for me, and for my minimalist decor, so far!
I prefer e-books. I still have keepers that are print books, but I don’t have space for all the books I read or want to read. Also e-books are convenient. I can read on multiple devices, even my iPhone when I’m stuck at the doctors office waiting room. I’ve owned some sort of e-reader for 13 years.
Cheryl, I sold my first ebook BEFORE there were e-readers. Tangled Memories is still an ebook (and paperback) today. The e-readers really made it all possible.