Over the holidays, I got a new phone. Hint: It’s large.
I chose it partly because I realized that I could actually use it as a Kindle– the gadget I never got around to purchasing.
While I had the reading app on my old phone as well, I rarely used it because the screen was so small. If I made the font larger, then only a few sentences would actually fit on it before I had to swipe.
But for some reason, I’ve always had a place in my heart for paper books. I like the feel of a paper book. It’s easier to find that paragraph I liked a hundred pages prior. And as much as I’ve used the highlighting tool on my Kindle App, it just doesn’t do justice to underling and note taking with a real pen in the margins of a real book.
Furthermore, as a blogger and blog reader, I already spend a lot of time looking at screens. I think there was a day when, other than when I was working with students, I spent almost all of my hours facing a screen. Ouch.
So, just for fun, here are a few points of comparison. And of course at the end, I’ll want to know what YOU prefer.
Kindle App Pros:
– Read on the go or while waiting
– Ebooks are cheaper and sometimes free
– They take up less space and create less clutter
– Adjustable font size
– Purchase and immediate download
– Difficult to misplace and can keep on multiple devices
Paper Book Pros:
– Not on a screen when almost everything else is
– Easier to flip through and find favorite passages
– Pens, highlighters, stickies can be used
– Easier on the eyes– no “blue” light
– Share, borrow and gift
– No phone notifications to distract from reading
– Some books are beautifully made
Which one wins out for you? Are you gravitating towards doing all your reading on electronics? Or are you still a paper book lover? I’d love to know!
P.S. What’s your favorite book right now?
I was totally pro e-reader for a few years, but I’m turned back to paper books lately. I think e-readers are great for holidays. I can read 3-4 books a week when I’m at the beach so it’s great that they don’t take up space/weight in your suitcase. When I’m at home I prefer to snuggle up with a paper book. It just feels cozier to me (plus it’s a much needed break from technology!!)
I gave up reading “The Goldfinch” yesterday. I just didn’t get the hype! Have you read it? I started “The Miniaturist” last night and I’m liking it so far!
Chrissy x
http://www.chrissylilly.com
I personally love both paper/hardbacks and my Kindle, I’m never sure which I prefer. I love beautiful covers, so I wish when you turn the Kindle off with a book open it would display the cover. However, I love the portability and the lack of space taken up with Kindles. Also, I don’t have to worry about a book being too heavy, smelling dusty, or the texture of the paper aggravating me. However, I love holding an actual book and seeing them stacked up and their pretty covers, so usually if I’m trying to decide between the two price ends up being the deciding factor.
I’m so happy to be back reading my favorite blogs! I’ve missed keeping up with you these past several weeks. I even had a dream the other night about meeting you in person!
I initially bought a Kindle in university when I moved away for an internship and that was super convenient. I didn’t need to bring any books with me which would weigh down my luggage at the end of it. 4.5 years later I still have the same Kindle (e-ink version not backlit) and I find it great. The e-ink version doesn’t feel like you’re looking at a screen, so it’s relaxing on the eyes.
That said, I still read paper books about 50% of the time and I really enjoy reading them. But I’ve spent some time travelling and living abroad and when it comes to travel, my Kindle wins out every time. It’s so compact and convenient!
I still am a fan of reading paper books! I agree that I think I look at screens so much that if I had to carry that through into my reading that it just would not be any fun. My favorite book right now has been Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang – mainly because its one of the ones that I have been slowly working my way through and it’s a nice break from the serious scholastically related reading. 🙂
Erica
http://www.pumpsandpushups.com
I agree with you about both aspects of paper and ebooks. I usually opt for electronic books especially when traveling; that way I have the luxury of switching to a new one if I get bored and don’t have to carry multiple around! Like you said though, there is something special about having a book in your hand. In my current living situation it’s hard to find books in English unless I make a special trip to Madrid, so I almost exclusively use ebooks. It makes paper books that much more special when I do read them, though!
I love turning an actual page, browsing bookstores, and even that crisp smell of them 🙂 However, eBooks have been golden for me as far as title availability and practicality (especially when traveling) so I couldn’t pick one over the other, really!
For me — Pro Kindle: better for the environment (saving trees). Pro Paper Book: a physical reminder to read — books in the kindle aren’t staring you in the face the way a physical book next to your bed does.
I’m on the fence with this one! I totally agree with all of your points, and in the end I think I will remain half and half. Kindle is great for traveling, and really convenient when you find something and want to read it right NOW. But one of my resolutions this year is to start visiting libraries more, and get back into borrowed and used books. I like that in libraries and bookstores you come across books all the time you’ve never heard of or never would have been introduced to through the internet.
Great topic! I’m so curious to hear everyone else’s thoughts too!
http://www.threadandbones.com
I love reading paper books but have fallen into being a Kindle reader because I have the app on my iPad and take it everywhere with me which is so much easier. I also like that the iPad has a light on it so I can read in bed before I go to sleep without getting out of bed to turn off the light (which is now apparently bad for us?). Its so true about the cheaper and often free books you get on Amazon too. They also arrive immediately which is a big bonus when you finish a book and don’t know what to read next!
I LOVE physical books, but when I moved abroad I switched to ebooks that I could read on my computer, and then got a Kindle. Books are so heavy, and I really tried to pack the minimum amount of stuff. I wouldn’t have survived without ebooks – I can read very fast, finishing several books in a day. Since 90% of the books I’ve bought in the past five years are in digital format, I still do a lot of reading on my Kindle/computer – mostly because I don’t want to buy my books twice! It’s a shame that buying a paper book doesn’t get you the digital copy for free, or even a discount. I’d totally do that if I could.
Oh man, this is a struggle for me! I have always been a big reader, and at first I couldn’t fathom reading from a screen. While I still don’t own a Kindle, my boyfriend has one and I use it every now and then. I found that I don’t mind reading from it, and I really like how small it is. It’s great for traveling because you don’t have to take up room with a stack of books. The only thing is I have a hard time with paying for a book that is digital. It doesn’t seem as “real” haha!
I adore paper books! There is something that allows your imagination to run wild when your holding it physically! I also love being able to feel the weight of it and how much I have left to read. Great post hun 🙂
Rachel xx
http://www.thedailyluxe.net
Digital definitely has it’s advantages especially for when you’re on the go, but I’ll always love a good old paper book 🙂 x
thebellenarrative.com
I think I still like paper books but digital is better for travelling
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
When it comes to reading books I like actual paper books. But for everything else on my ipad. I love to have books around my house and even for my kids I started a library for them and definitely it feels different and so much better reading on actual books. Great post Daisy.
Xo
Elmira
http://www.wellputtogetherstylebyelmira.com
I have an ipad and use the kindle app a lot when traveling or when i was commuting to work because it had everything in one. I still love having books though. There is something about turning those pages and creasing them that I love as well.
Denise
http://www.fashionloveletters.com
I was a Kindle skeptic for years until my boss finally talked me into trying one and I love it. I used to read on the Kindle app on my phone, but I got really fed up with the small font and screen sizes and the backlighting. I could’ve lived with this for longer had I not been reading more and more electronically.
I got the basic Kindle, with e-ink technology, and I LOVE it. I’m not distracted by my phone, the screen doesn’t hurt my eyes, but it’s lightweight and convenient to carry. I still love paper books, and I’ll still read them, but now I do the vast majority of my reading on my Kindle.
I always thought I was a paper book person until I got the Kindle as a gift. It’s surprisingly easy to read on and very convenient! It’s been cheaper to buy from the Amazon Kindle store than buying paperbacks (then again it’s also cool to constantly be adding to my bookshelf), and the Kindle has a very low light; it almost feels like there is no light at all. You know, you don’t get that usual screen-light hurting your eyes after a while that we have on our computers and phones :). Great post!
xo, Serli
http://www.lesoleilchic.blogspot.com
I will say that I have an easier time reading on an actual kindle (not fire) than a regular screen on a tablet or phone. And I don’t get paper cuts!
I usually prefer reading novels on paper, all the rest on my iPad. There’s nothing like a feeling of being tet-a-tet with a book:)
Oly | TLV Birdie Blog
http://tlvbirdie.com
I would say I’m still a paper book lover, something so fun and relaxing of brushing through the pages rather than sliding my fingers across a tablet. And yes with paper books I have no phones to distract me and sometimes I need that! 🙂 xo~ Lena
http://www.felinecreatures.om
So, as strange as this may sound this is actually an issue that’s super close to my heart. I absolutely adore books and still buy them and love curling up with a “real” one. However, and I kind of hate to say it, digital (I’ve been using the kindle app on my phone for years) works so much better for me for multiple reasons. My apartment is tiny so I really can’t fit anything else into it, I always have my phone handy if I’m stuck waiting for an appointment, if I can’t sleep at night I can easily start reading without turning on the light and annoying my poor husband. The list goes on and on…
I’m really so heartbroken that “real” books are becoming somewhat obsolete. I swear, when I have my mansion one day I’ll have a library!
K.xo
http://www.rarelytakenseriously.com
I’m a paper person all the way! Especially in college, I prefer books than the online versions. For one, the paper book I get to keep forever while the online version is only for a certain amount of time. But it’s not just with books but with everything for me. I love buying actual paper planners because I love highlighting, bookmarking, and crossing things off! But don’t get me wrong, I love my iPad!! Haha!
Katherine Lou
http://www.wanderhour.com
While I think that kindles are more convenient, I will always be team paperback. There is something so comforting about feeling the pages on my fingers, smelling the books (I love it), and it’s just a lot prettier. I spend quite a lot of time looking at a screen, so having a paperback which makes me shut off all the electricals is a lovely change. If things get too crowded, I usually give books to a charity shop 🙂
This was a really nice debate post Daisy 🙂
I am a paper book girl all the way! I don’t have a Kindle or anything like that. I love getting books from the library or ordering them online. I think it’s so important to get a break from screen time! But I also love buying e-books from bloggers I love and if I’m interested in the topic. I’ve done that a couple times. But mostly, paper books win!
I got a Kindle as a gift because I was such an advocate for paper. But, once I got the Kindle, I definitely understood its benefits…especially when traveling. But, I always have a soft spot for books and still purchase them for certain topics/titles.
xo,
nancy
http://www.adoretoadorn.com
I love both. I love my e-book for the convenience and the less expensive books, but sometimes I just love curling up with a paper book and escaping from technology.
I’m all for physical books. I could never get into reading on a screen. For me it’s all about the feel of the book in my hands, turning the pages, even the smell of books (that’s not weird, is it?) Though I will say, I’m sure an e-reader would save me a lot of space at home, but that’s why a swap with friends or visit the library.
I just started reading Sense & Sensibility: A Novel by Joanna Trollope. It was a gift from a friend over Christmas. I just started it, so I can’t really give any feedback yet.
I am alllll about paper. The smell, the feel, being able to write or highlight if I want to. I do have a kindle that I use occasionally, but usually I have stacks of “real” books all over my house 🙂
eBook. Hands down. I just do not have the space to be dealing with so much paper plus I can feel better about “going green” you know? I live in Atlanta (literally IN the city not some extended suburb) so space in my apartment is premium. I also use public transit to get to work (sooo much less stressful than Atlanta gridlock!) and reading on the Kindle app on my iPad is much easier than lugging books around with me. I donated about 200 books last year, kept only my most favorite paper books, and converted to an eBook reader.
A kindle doesn’t smell like a real book. I prefer the library scent. You know? Plus those screens hurt my eyes. (; I don’t currently have a favorite. The only books I have time to read these days are Dr. Seuss and animal ABC’s. (;
http://www.accordingtokiki123.blogspot.com
Yes, the paperwhite is much better than the app, though I turn the app to white font/black background and it’s a bit nicer on my eyes. And yes, I agree about cookbooks! I love reading them and looking at good food photos in print.
Yes I feel you. Ebooks are so easy and I love that you don’t have to wait for them to arrive, or remember to bring them with you. I drive everywhere now, but would often read on my phone on public transport in Boston!
Dear Daisy, I am an old school by heart. Maybe because of the fact that I am not in my 20’s or 30’s anymore and I grew up without smartphones or tablets or any other technology close to that 🙂 Even thought I currently own an I phone and I pad, I still love to read from an actual paper book. The primary reason is because I spend all day sitting in front of a computer at work and reading from a screen when I get home bothers my eyes. The second reason is that I actually find it very inspiring and fulfilling to read a paper book and be able to write on it with and an actual pencil or pen to create my very own personal notes and also, I love collecting and displaying them on a bookshelf I have in my office where I get to see them everyday and I am able to get back to them when I need inspiration. Thanks for sharing:-) Jeannette
http://www.msjeannieandhercloset.com
Paper book for me but my hubby who is an IT geek hates it and he’ll buy me books on Kindle just to stop me from purchasing paper books. LOL! I just love the smell and feel of paper books, it’s something that e-book can never replicate.
Shireen | Reflection of Sanity
I love reading paper books, I do. And I understand how great books smell and how it feels to turn the pages and the romance of it. But I’m a big advocate for Kindles because I think they are a great tool. I read a lot. A lot. Al the time, and the fact that books are cheaper on kindle allows me too. Also, since I had to leave most of my physical books behind in America when I moved abroad, I’ve gotten used to the idea of having most of them on a ereading device and not having to sacrifice them by leaving them behind ever again. Plus in London, I have a long commute every morning and it’s easier to slip a kindle into my bag and if I finish one book during the day, I can easily download another one during my journey.
I don’t have a Kindle, Nook, or any electronic device to read books on, because I just can’t part with paper books! There’s something so relaxing for me about reading a book and unplugging from all tech devices.
lovejoanna.com
I’m totally a paper book lover! The whole idea of reading on devices is just NOT for me. It really makes me cringe!
Amazing post though, you made some really good points! Xx
http://thoughtsintiffanyblue.blogspot.com/
As an author I LOVE when people are holding my book in their hands (even though I do have my book as an e-book too! :)), but as a blogger I love the screen. 🙂 SO I guess I fall right down the middle, although I probably would choose paper if I had to choose one!
🙂 Rebecca
I prefer to read self-help books on paper as then I can post-it all the passages I think are important. I was always a lover of paper books but I got a kobo without a backlight so it is like reading a paper book. I also have a tablet but I don’t read books on that because the backlight/screen really hurts my eyes if I’m concentrating on it for too long. That being said, I have to say I love my eBooks over everything just because it’s so easy to take when travelling; it’s lightweight and I store so many books on there!
thesundaywardrobe.blogspot.com
I love to read and although most of my books are read on my Ipad now, I still love to feel a book in my hands for the same reasons you have written about. I’m very tactical and love turning the pages. However, I also love that I’m not overwhelmed with books.
I don’t have a digital reader/don’t read books on my phone- I love a good old-fashioned print kinda girl! That being said, I haven’t read an actual book in ages (embarrassing); need to get back in the habit!
-Ashley
http://lestylorouge.com
I think it’s a tie for me. It sort of depends on my mood – I know that sounds strange. I don’t have a kindle but I have the Kindle app on my phone and I like to use it to read fiction! It’s pretty convenient when I’m on the subway (:
– Deniz
http://www.dressedupdeniz.com
I use a kindle just because I live in a small space and move a lot, so I don’t want to accumulate paper books. It’s also just so convenient for reading on the go. But I do find that because I spend SO much time staring at a screen that sometimes I don’t want to read my kindle because it’s yet another screen. I used to prefer paper books for highlighting, but one of the perks of the kindle is that it syncs with the kindle app on my computer so I can see all my highlights, find them really easily, and organize them into related categories if I’m doing research!
I am obsessed with books. I have bookshelves full of books, and I also have a kindle. I used to be EXTREMELY anti-e reader. I’ve had a kindle fire, and I’ve used the kindle app on my iphone, but my favorite is the paperwhite. It lights up, but not in the backlit way that computers and smart phones do. I really feel more like I’m reading a book. The type really looks like ink, And they’ve even made the screen feel more like paper. I still buy actual books sometimes…..especially if it’s a cookbook, or a book with beautiful pictures. I read SO much more with my kindle….although sometimes the ability to instantly purchase books, is a little dangerous. 🙂
I’m paper all the way! I love real books. However, since I published my eBook last month, I certainly can’t be anti eBook and digital reading tools. Also, since moving to China, I’ve gained a different perspective. I never thought I’d want a Kindle, but now I’m seriously considering one, because here we spend a good long time riding buses and metros when we want to go anywhere, and, English books aren’t easy to find, expensive, and it’s hard to justify the room they take up when we’re living without most of the ‘extras’ or clutter in a home. I do miss my old full bookshelves, though. 🙂