I have loved books my whole life. My Mom read to me often, and I think that started my love for them. I still have the first book that I was able to read all on my own, Bears on Wheels (by the Berenstains).
While I have a Kindle (and love it), I won’t stop reading printed books.
10 Reasons I Won’t Stop Reading or Buying Printed Books
1. There’s just something special about having a book in your hands.
2. For books with lots of pictures, my Kindle just isn’t the best. Maybe if I had a Kindle Fire, I might feel differently. However, with the regular Kindle, pictures look great and sharp, but I don’t particularly want to read a book where the pictures are integral to the experience.
3. Sometimes, printed books are the same price (or cheaper) on Amazon as the Kindle editions. I know it shouldn’t matter, but if the book is within a couple of dollars on price, I often can’t help myself but want the book that is definitely mine to keep.
4. My library has books for the Kindle, but they still have way more in the way of printed books. (Plus, isn’t it fun to just wander through the library and see what you find?)
5. I want something to read during airplane take off and landing. I know, I’m not really flying all that often. But, I really don’t like flying and those are the times when I most need to be deeply engrossed in something.
6. My kids prefer printed books. I have bought books for the Kindle for them before, but they always prefer to have a printed books in their hands.
7. I like skimming through new books (even novels). I can’t help it – it’s just something I like to do. I especially like to do it with books with pictures, but will do it with books without pictures too. This habit is a lot more difficult on the Kindle.
8. There is less of a worry about loss or damage. Okay, sure – if you’re reading a $120 textbook or the like, then there could be just as much worry. But, it is typically less costly to replace a lost book than to replace a lost e-reading device.
9. If I want, I can sell or give away books that I don’t want anymore. Recently, we donated 150 books (mostly books for very little kids) from our bookshelves to the local library’s book sale that helps to raise money for the library. When I don’t want an eBook anymore, I just have a file that I can’t do anything with.
10. Reading a book instead of an eBook gives me time away from electronics. Everyone needs a little of that sometimes, don’t they?
Now, don’t worry if you’re a big e-reader fan. I’ve already got next week’s post prepared too, and you’ll like it.
What is the last printed book that you read? What’s your favorite book?
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I am currently reading The Core by Leigh A. Bortins a real life paperback. My new favorite book is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, which I read on my Kindle App.
I like them both. 🙂 Those books I love and want to read again and again, I have in hard copy. I was gifted a NookColor {back before KindleFire} and love it for travelling with the kids — and they like the novelty, but still prefer print — and bought the cheapest Kindle when I decided to start using the classics with my son and discovered we could download most for free on the Kindle, but had to pay for them on the Nook. The cost will even itself out before I’ve downloaded 50 books. Great list!
So, the Kindle has a lot more free options? I assumed that, but didn’t know it for sure.
Don’t forget that real books never need their battery recharged. I don’t know how many times my husband and I will go out for the afternoon watching the kids at the beach or pool, and suddenly he looks at me with “I am bored” and I will look up from the paper pages of my book and say “are you done your book already?” and he will say “Nope but it DIED”. Kills my kindle fire envy all the time.
I have the regular Kindle, so my charge lasts for quite a long time (a couple of months). But, yeah, you’re right — no need to charge a book. 😉
A couple of weeks back we went out for dinner for my birthday. On our way back to the car we walked passed a beautiful second-hand bookshop (you know the ones with the retro couches you snuggle into to read the book before you buy it and the groovy music in the background). I couldn’t help myself and dragged the family in there. My hubby was vastly amused that depsite the e-reader he had given me that morning (at my request) I still walked out with five books … 😉
Oh, I would totally want to go in a shop like that too! I love locally owned bookstores. We used to have one years ago that had couches, a fire place, and was just so homey. I was sad when it closed (and that was even before people were doing a lot of book buying online).
I just like the feel of holding a book and the satisfaction of seeing how many pages you have read. I just finished With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin. And I don’t know if I can pick a favorite book…everytime I think of one, I suddenly remember one I like better! Little Women, No wait, Jane Eyre, Nooooo, Little House on the Prairie. The whole series… 🙂 See what I mean! Happy Tuesday!
I will always prefer the feel of a book in my hands to an eReader. I mainly got the eReader because of so many eBooks that I didn’t want to read on the computer. I’m reading Radical in hard copy right now. 🙂
I’m glad I’m not the only one who still reads printed books!!!
Thanks for hosting!!
Happy Top 10!
I’m with you on this one Angie! I love the smell of a new book. I worked for a few years as a volunteer in the library at my children’s school…how I miss those days! My favourite day of the week was my volunteer day. As part of my duties, I would get to catalogue new books and that was the highlight of my stint there. The putting them back in order on the shelves…not so much! Still, I think I missed my calling sometimes 😉
I’ve linked up for the first time today, I do believe it wont be the last. Thanks for the opportunity to link up.
God bless!
For a couple of years while I was teaching, I was the librarian at an elementary school. I loved it. One of my favorite parts was being able to order books for the library. It was like Christmas when they all came in and I got to set them out for the kids to start checking out. 🙂
I originally bought my Nook to use when I want to read books I had no intention of keeping (historical romance novels – my relaxation drug). To me, it had to do with what I would be okay with losing if the drive crashed. However, I have realized that unless you are buying from the bestseller list (which rarely applies to me), it is cheaper to get this sort of book in physical form at 25% off from Target or Walmart. Any “literature” that I buy I have in hard copy, mostly because I highlight quotes that speak to me throughout, and I want to be able to flip back through them later, but also because there is just something about flipping pages, the smell of a book, the heaviness of a hardback, that speaks to me. So, I still use my Nook every now and then, if I cannot find a physical copy of a book I want to read, and occasionally B&N will offer special deals on certain books, or to even try out new authors that are deeply discounted for a week, but I still consume more physical books than digital.
I have recently gotten into reading young adult novels (after my brief stint as a high school English teacher) and some of my favorites are “Going Bovine” by Libba Bray and “Stolen” by Lucy Christopher. My all-time favorite book is “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” by Milan Kundera.
I agree with you on #9. I don’t have an e-reader, and I think part of it is that return on investment. I have oodles of credit at the used store because I love selling books back or donating them.
Also, I love to go to author events and have books I loved signed. I’ve only seen an author sign the cover of an ereader once, and it seemed kind of silly to me.
Love, love, love this post! I actually shared it on my Book Blog: http://heyjadebooks.blogspot.com. I’m an Usborne Books & More Consultant (children’s books) and I have been getting feedback lately from people who don’t want to buy “real” books for their kids anymore, and honestly, it breaks my heart! I use an eReader as well, but nothing replaces a real book in your hand!
The last printed book I read was Unconditional (the book based on the movie that just released, which is super good, by the way. Go see it!). I finished it up on Thursday. My favorite book is Little Women.
Thanks so much for sharing my post on your blog! 🙂
I love the tactile experience of reading a beautifully printed, illustrated book! Especially Bibles! Thanks for the great post & for hosting the linkup, & God bless!
You know, there are still many books you can’t get as an e-reader. One I’m currently reading is Passing of the Night about POW General Robinson Risner. It’s very inspiring, and I wish more new about it. Also I can’t get all my homeschool books electronically, maybe someday but books will always be great in hand. Love to turn those pages. Favorite book… That’s tough. I don’t think I have one. There are just too many to choose from!
Great point, Stephanie! I totally forgot to add in that there are so many books that aren’t even available as hard copies. What a great addition to this list of reasons. 🙂
I’m stuck right in the middle. I want to love the Kindle app, but I tell you, it seems a bit clunky to me. I want to make notes, and highlight things, and I have no idea how to do that.
On the other hand, it satisfies my want to declutter and streamline ….
I love my kindle, but will fully admit there is nothing like an actual book.
I could never give up my printed books. I am hoarding children’s book like a mad woman and plan to have an extensive library for my grandchildren one day.
Love you blog.
Pam
just wanted to thank you for the link up! thank you! I really like this Top Ten idea!!
Have a great weekend!