The Third Degree - ereaders Naughty or Nice

THE THIRD DEGREE

EREADERS

NAUGHTY OR NICE?

Everyone has an opinion on ereaders.  No one seems to be on the fence.  They either think ereaders are evil or they are the greatest invention to come to the book industry in ages.

I started out thinking ereaders were just plain wrong.  They were some company’s way to put book sellers out of business.  Not to mention libraries.  I mean, who would want to read a book on a little screen anyways?  Not me, that’s for sure. 

I LOVE the whole experience of books.  My favorite afternoons are going to the local library or bookstore and looking through all the books.  (Remember this?)  I like to touch the books.  I like the way they smell.  Don’t even get me started on how those amazing covers just suck me in.  I don’t wait until I get home to start reading either.  I always keep one book out of the bag so I can start reading it on the ride home – or as I walk in the parking lot if my mother doesn’t catch me.  shhhhh

Once I have them home, those books are cherished.  I don’t eat or drink while I am reading.  I carefully use a bookmark so I don’t ruin the pages. When I’m finished reading, my books are carefully placed on my bookshelf so I can admire them.  I will reread my favorites and I am very choosy about who I will loan books to (and which books I will allow out of my sight).

What might it be like if I had an ereader?

I could search for my books online here at home.  I could still stare at those awesome covers online and I could click to read more about the ones that spoke to me.  And what if I came across a book I hadn’t heard of before.  Instead of just having the book jacket to read at the bookstore or library, I could read some reviews before making my choice. 

Okay, that sounds a bit like buying a book online like I can already do.  Hang on, there’s more.

I could have the books I wanted on my ereader nearly instantly.  No waiting until my parents have a chance to take me to the library or bookstore.  No waiting for an online order to be shipped.  Like MAGIC, I could start reading right away.

And there’s even more.

I like to bring a book with me where ever I go.  If I think there is any danger of me finishing it, then I will bring two.  Sometimes that gets heavy and awkward to carry though.  And sometimes I may bring a book I am just starting, but then it turns out I don’t really care for it and I wish I had brought something (ANYTHING) else to read.  And I’m stuck because I only brought the one book.  I hate it when that happens.

That problem vanishes with an ereader.

I am sure I would still buy plenty of real books if I had an ereader.  I would still borrow books from the library too.  But you know what, I am quite sure that I would download a lot of ebooks too.  And I don’t think that’s naughty at all.  I actually think it is pretty nice and it is the future.