Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for October 02, 2013

You do, however, need a light source.And the larger ones can be a hassle in bed.

Ah, simpsonfan2, must be nice to be (a) a really slow reader and/or (b) never be far from ones library.

Unfortunately, some of us tend to read fast, and actually leave the house occasionally. I’ve found my e-reader to be invaluable. It’s nice to be able to carry a whole set of books with me just in case I go through the 2 I used to carry with me before these new-fangled gadgets were available.

I do still enjoy reading “real” books though. Funny enough, I used to consider paperbacks to not be “real books”, being a fan of proper book binders arts. To whit – leather covers, proper stitching, quality paper, and so on. To me, e-readers are a modern equivalent of the paperback. Just something to read, not something that has an intrinsic beauty to it. Darn useful though.

I’ve found the Kindle to be useful if I’m sitting in a waiting room or such, or on an airplane. That’s the only time I use it. I much prefer printed and bound.

I WAS the same way…only print books, however I also only bought used books (budget minded). Then I got a kindle and discovered all the great free books and greatly reduced price books! I’m reading more books and different genres than ever before.

My iPad is paperback…

I’m sorry but ebooks ARE “real” books. The only important thing about a book is it’s content. The packaging is immaterial. Do you make the distinction between a paperback and hardback by saying to someone reading a hardback, “I see you’re reading a real book”. Of course not. Those that make that distinction with ebooks simply haven’t made it into the 21st century yet. So yes, when I’m using my Kindle, I’m reading a book rather than doing something not nearly as important.

I have a nook and I love it. I have found a load of books that are old enough to not be in a book store anymore, even Half Price Books doesn’t have them. Plus I have been able to read an entire series where some of the books were published in 2006 and 2007 and I can get them on a e-reader but not in paper version…….so I LOVE my nook.

Plus, when I go on a trip, I can take as many books as I like without worrying if they fit in my luggage. The nook fits just fine in my purse.

Comment #2: The real question for any ‘book’ is… do you have it to read, or do you have it as an object? There is a place for both. There’s no way I’d have my "Art of Disney’ as an ePub, but neither would I buy a time-filler novel in hardback.

To each his own. I’m not interested in reading e-books. I think I spend enough time looking at a screen and there’s something about holding a bound book. I can’t speak for anyone else but I do reread books after awhile.

I like the touch and feel of physical books. I take comfort in having mountains of books around me. If the power goes out, I can still light a candle and read. I can read in bright sunlight, too. Maybe I’m just old fashioned.

I have an iPad and use iBooks plus the Nook and Kindle apps. Mostly download free books and the occasional discounted or digital only books. But I mostly still buy and read paperbacks (rarely do I buy hardcover anymore; too expensive— although I just picked up the hardcover for “Drood” at the Dollar Store).

I carry my iPhone in my jeans pocket and have been reading my Kindled way through Sue Grafton’s alphabet mysteries, up to “R”. So handy, generally cheap, and I wouldn’t be buying these as “real” books as I have thousands of THEM which I treasure and have no shelf space left for more. Also like reading in bed in the dark with iPhone in my hand, lightweight, if I fall asleep it just nestles in.

Books, paper. Comics, screen…

This is kind of silly. A book is a book is a book….As long as I can read it, I don’t care what the medium is. That being said, I do like the convenience of the Kindle. I can carry it with me anywhere I go!

I’m a life long reader of books, and my personal library includes books, both fiction and non fiction, which I have reread many times, like visiting old friends.

I have a Kindle, but it feels like a bad habit. Wasn’t it just a few decades ago when there was a push to print books on acid-free paper? So that centuries from now those books would still be around for future generations to read? Now more and more copies of books are released on a most fragile medium: web servers and flash memory.

There are certain books that I re-read many times over (not in a row mind you). I do love my Kindle especially for traveling. But there is just something about getting a brand new book from the library and cracking it open!

“i don’t understand janice’s comment.”The worst thing about reading e-books on a regular basis is that when you do happen to read a physical (ink on paper) book, you have to endure snide remarks from those who don’t do the e-book thing.

Nothing beats the feel of a real book. You can keep all the e-gizmos.

My darling husband gave me some sort of e-book for Christmas two years ago. I read one book on it, and handed it back to him. As Garden witch said, I can drop a paperback down the stairs without harm, I can take it to the beach or the bathtub and not have to worry about it. As for re-reading books – I nearly wore the print off my of Brother Cadfael collection!

I’ve collected/purchased hundreds of hardbound books over the years and have them stored in floor-to-ceiling bookcases. I also would only read “real” books. Then a friend talked me into trying a Nook, and I was off to reading heaven. I can take my Nook on trips instead of packing 10 large “real” books, and I’m never without something to read; it’s small enough to take with me everywhere. I can download free ebooks from the library or the internet (try Project Gutenberg). I’m very, very glad I finally overcame my “grumpy old man prejudices” and bought the Nook.

I enjoy re reading some books. After a few years the details get fuzzy and it’s like visiting an old friend

“How many times do you ever read the same book?”.about 50-100 times, at least the good ones

Real books never need to be recharged during a blackout (or any other time).

At 70 years old, the ability to make the font larger is a real plus.

Sharon