To e-read or not to e-read

For those of you who are trying to decide whether or not to buy an e-reader I would be happy to share my thoughts on the subject. I have owned the first generation Kobo (was there even a second generation?) for a year now, and generally use it to read the classics that came preloaded on it. I had some hesitation before buying it and thought I would discuss it's pros and cons here on my blog. My first choice when it comes to choosing a book would be one that is a soft cover but the bigger size than a traditional paperback. My eyes aren't what they used to be, and I find the print in a smaller size paperbacks, well, too small. The e-reader is fantastic for this because I can adjust the font size and I find that I don't have to wear my glasses to read it. Definite pro. Also, it's so convenient when I know there is a book that I must have and start RIGHT NOW to be able to download it instantly to my e-reader. With a young child at home sometimes it is impossible to get to the bookstore when I want to. That is the second pro. The third pro is a little embarrassing to admit, but nonetheless I will share. When long books come out in hardcover, I actually find that it gets uncomfortable to hold the book while I read in bed. I know, pretty lame, but it really does make a difference when I can easily hold my e-reader in one hand. I suppose another possible pro is that it takes up less space on the bookshelf, but I sort of like being able to peruse my past reads, and ones that I haven't gotten to yet, and show them off to friends and family. It's a nice way to share with people a part of who I am and what I like. So I guess we better scratch that off the pro side and add it to the con side!

So, what are the other downsides? You may have noticed that I did not mention the price of books being any cheaper as one of the pros of owning an e-reader. I do not fully understand why, but they are not that much cheaper, especially when you consider the fact that they are considerably less expensive to produce. The economics definitely doesn't add up there. Usually the e-books are a couple of dollars less, especially if you shop around on Amazon or have a membership card at one of the big chain bookstores. Apparently you can borrow ebooks from the library, but I have yet to try this feature out. Ok, so back to my list of cons. My first con made itself known when I was snuggled in bed, about three-fourths of the way through a gripping murder mystery (don't remember the name right now) and my battery went dead! That never happens when reading a real book obviously. I was so pissed, I grabbed my blanket and went and sat at my computer desk with my blanket wrapped around me and finished reading it. Since then I have purchased a charger, and I have discovered that some chargers will do double duty for your cell phone as well. I wasn't quite that lucky though. The next con is also one I didn't consider right away, and it isn't a big deal, but being a big reader I often like to see what other people are reading too. When someone is reading on an e-reader, you aren't able to surreptitiously glance at the cover and, if the fancy strikes, start up a conversation about said book. Not a deal breaker, but an unintended consequence to be sure.

As I was reading SuperFreakonomics there were several passages I wanted to highlight and return to later. If I had been reading a hard copy, I would have turned down a corner of the page. My Kobo doesn't have a bookmark feature, but I've been told that some of the Kindle editions do, and some even offer a highlighter feature. I would never have thought about wanting this until the need for it arose. I was bummed. The last and possibly most annoying downside of the e-reader is the inability to be able to pick up the book and turn it over and read a synopsis of the story. Upon finishing one book, I often struggle with what to read next. I do not want to just pick up the next one off the shelf in a sequential order. It is a very important decision. If I do not choose correctly I run the risk of banishing that book to the "never to be read/finished" list simply because I wasn't in the mood for that kind of book. At the moment, if I want to choose from books on my e-reader I must check on my GoodReads shelf (if they are there) or Google the book if it isn't and find out if it's the right time for me to start reading that particular novel. It seems so impersonal. I like to hold the book in my hand. Get an idea of how long it might take me to finish it. I've been known to pick up as many as 8 or 10 books at Border's and sort them into piles based on reading a paragraph or so from the middle of the book. Can't do it with a Kobo. That puts a huge cramp in my book selection style. If anyone knows of a newer edition e-reader that has a capability similar please pass along the information. Quick, before I buy a new one!

Overall, I've been happy with my purchase. I bought the Kobo for $99 and it came loaded with 100 classics, so I feel like I got a deal at a $1 a book there. Yes, I know they are free to download, but if I didn't have the e-reader I would have had to buy them or pay the late fines to the library. I have learned to share my reading time to include my old, familiar comfortable reading habits while incorporating the wave of the future. They each have their good and bad sides. Like just about everything else in this world. My biggest question now is whether buying one for my Dad would be a good gift idea or if he would scoff at the idea..... perhaps I will take the chance that he too will find the benefits of owning and e-reader. And he will be a step ahead of the game since he didn't have to buy it!