I guess am old fashioned meaning I believe the best way to read a book is to have it in your hand, being able to flip the pages, turn down a page corner, have it on your bookshelf, and read it 20 million times. I will go to the bookstore or regular store and browse through the titles, I will go to the library and check out multiple books for free, and I will go to the used book store and look for both new and old titles. Yesterday I found out something that is unfortunately happening in today's world...my favorite used bookstore is closing its doors at the end of the month because of technology. The Kindles & Nooks are putting these places out of business. I just dont understand why. I mean I do understand but do people not realize that this is what is hurting our economy. Yes I will admit that I do have a "kindle" but it came on my iPhone and that will be as far as it gets. Okay I admit I use it occasionally to download free books and there is a few books I wanted that were only available on Kindle/Nook. But I wont go out to spend $100 to $200 on a piece of technology and then have to spend more on books. Nor do I think the kids need one so I won't buy it. If they receive it as a gift then great,I won't return it, but I still prefer my kids to actually have paper bounded in their hands. I even have them reading older books that I found over the years that grace my bookshelf. Some of those are classics and will never go to be on Kindle/Nook. I love looking at the old Atlases and seeing how borders have changed over the years. I like seeing old textbooks that some people I know used when they were in school. I like laughing at some of the Etiquette books from yesteryear with part of me wishing some of those ideals would come back again.
Why do people want to get rid of some of the things that have been around without question or problems for years? Why are you frowned upon if you don't have it? Why do you need to have the latest and greatest in technology even when the "older" one still works fine? What is then wrong with being old fashioned? I will agree with the idea that sometimes technology is great and I don't doubt it, but there also should be a limit to where it can take us and turn us into. For some reason I wonder if the Disney movie Wall-E wasn't really predicting what we are turning ourselves into?
So for as long as I can I will shy away from Kindle/Nook (as I typed it a commercial came on for Nooks), I will buy those books to put on my bookshelves, I will support the local libraries (for what will happen to them if everything goes electronic?) and I will definitely continue to buy from the local used bookstores.
I know for us the Kindle's are good because we move..a LOT. And you know how much that weight adds. As of today, we have four bookcases in our house full of books and then about 10 boxes in the garage full of books. Ranges from reading material to textbooks. What kills me though are that some of the Kindle prices are JUST as expensive as buying the book so its really not saving you money (on SOME) except for the convenience of not going to get it or paying for shipping.
ReplyDeleteWe have moved a lot over the years as well, in fact I think more than many others have as next year the kids will be not only in grade 8 and 5 but it will be their 8th and 5th school. So many books have made the trek but others have been passed on to others to read. That is also why we use the libraries as well as it gives the chance to read but not the use of space.
ReplyDeleteI was so against the eReaders until my husband bought me the Kindle Fire for Christmas. It's wonderful because I have over 300 books on it, can carry it anywhere, and can silently turn the pages while my husband is trying to fall asleep. I also don't need the lamp beside the bed on. I feel guilty in a way because it's all I read on now, but honestly... the convenience, size, and price makes it so worth it. If you have amazon prime, you get free 2-day shipping on anything you buy, plus free books. It's already paid for itself 10 times over.
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