With the advent of all things electronic, comes change. Sometimes as in the case of the mp3 player, and digital movies online it can be a good thing. Well, this rabid reader has a few issues with the new e-book craze sweeping the world. I have a penchant for books made of paper. Call me old fashioned but I prefer opening a new book to get that 'new book smell' and diving right in. I love the fact that I can put my book on my shelf and look at it sitting there waiting for me to have more time to re-read it. I love the artist renderings on the covers and (please don't tell my 2nd grade teacher this), but, I actually miss opening a dictionary to find out what a word means. The other day at the pool, I noticed a woman reading a book on one of those e-readers, and wondered devilishly to myself what she would do if someone threw her into the water, reader and all. Well she would get wet, as would her e-reader. Bye bye book. Now, if my book had gotten wet, a good drying session in the sun would have fixed it right up and it would still have been readable. Chalk one up for the paper back book....
My family is very technically saavy, and as such they are always looking for the latest and greatest buzzing and whistling doo dad to fill our home with more RF. They all know that I love to read, and they are constantly asking me if I would like a Kindle or Ipad for my birthday/Christmas/Mother's day/take a monkey to lunch day...etc. My answer is always a resounding NO THANKS...I can't do it. My paper books have taken me to the far ends of the universe, and into the depths of the earth. I have travelled with wandering nomads, fought countless wars for the greater good, and even been bitten more than once by a salacious vampire or two. I have no doubt that the Kindle or other e-reader can house the same stories, but when I cuddle into bed at night and open up my paperback and eventually fall asleep with it on my chest, there is nothing warmer or more inviting than the soft pages of a book. I find it difficult to envision finding comfort with a cold digitally operated machine.
So sorry e-book...but THIS reader, will not be downloading anytime soon...well, books anyway.
