E-books or Real Books?

I’ve been firmly in the ‘real books’ camp for a long time.  I love books.  All the shelves in my home bear witness to that.  I haven’t counted, but there must be several hundred. 

Most of them I’ll never read again, but I hate parting with them.  If I take a bag of books to the local charity shop (simply to make some room on the shelves), I agonise over which to put into the bag.

 

I like a real book in my hands.  I like the look, feel and smell of it.  I love browsing in bookshops, both new and used, studying titles and authors, reading the blurb, sometimes dipping into a few pages.

I especially like my OWN real books in my hands.  I still remember the first time I signed my own book. Admittedly, it was just a copy for a friend, not the first person in a long line at a bookshop (dream on, I tell myself), but it was a REAL book.  

I was convinced that I wouldn’t succumb to an electronic book reader.  Quite apart from my love of real books, I don’t particularly enjoy learning how to cope with ‘new’ technology.   

BUT …

Last Sunday my daughter showed me her ‘Kindle’ and demonstrated how easy it was to download e-books.  Today I ‘looked’ at one in the electronic department of the hypermarket.  My interest has been kindled (pardon the pun!)

I’m thinking of the almost-two-inch thick tome I put in my suitcase for holiday reading last year.  How much easier to take a slim paperback size e-reader instead.

I’m thinking of the American-published books by many of my internet friends.  How much easier to download these instead of waiting for them to be mailed (and paying extra for postage and packing).

I’m thinking of no longer having to clear some room on my shelves to make room for new books.

I’m thinking I might be on the verge of conversion…  J    Anyone want to persuade me one way or the other?

And BTW, Whiskey Creek Press is now showing my new book,
His Leading Lady,

on its ‘Coming Soon’ page.  It’s due to be released in June. 

http://whiskeycreekpress.com/comingsoon.shtml