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Original poster

Kindle vs paper book

53 replies

xsquared · 01/09/2019 16:25

Which do you prefer?
I've always preferred having a hard copy of a book, especially if it's illustrated. As swiping a screen isn't quite the same experience as leafing through pages to admire pictures.

However, I have recently downloaded the kindle app so that I can read something on my hand held device instead of lugging a 1000+ paged book around with me. I think it's revolutionised my reading habit, as I am now going through kindle book at a faster rate than I would if I was picking up a paper copy.

OP posts:

AnathemaPulsifer · 01/09/2019 16:28

I was late to Kindle but I absolutely love it now. I thought I’d miss paper books but the kindle is so much more comfortable to hold and I get loads of free trashy romances from the Bookbub email instead of spending £10+ a week on books.

StoorieHoose · 01/09/2019 16:28

Kindle cos I can read in the dark without a book light falling out every 5 minutes

NotWavingButMNing · 01/09/2019 16:29

I got an original keyboard kindle years ago but always preferred a real book, now I have completely changed my mind.
About a year ago I discovered the joy of highlighting passages on a kindle. I also suffer from insomnia and can read kindle while DH snores on.

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NotWavingButMNing · 01/09/2019 16:30

Also a proper kindle is a much more pleasant reading experience than using the app.

angelopal · 01/09/2019 16:30

I always be thought an actual book would be better but love my Kindle now. It's just a kindle rather than a tablet so no screen glare on your eyes. It's so much easier than lugging a book around. Also get lots of free books with Prime Reading.

happypotamus · 01/09/2019 16:30

I always insisted I didn't want a kindle and I only liked real books. Kindle revolutionised my life because it glows in the dark so I can read it during the hours I spend sitting waiting for DD2 to go to sleep. I would have gone mad by now otherwise and would have read a lot less books. On 1st September last year I decided to log how many books I read in a year, nearly all of them turned out to be on Kindle.

happypotamus · 01/09/2019 16:31

I do still love real books though, and always have 1 or 2 of those on the go as well as something on kindle.

dancingbadger · 01/09/2019 16:32

It depends on the book. Kindle for fiction, I love that you can take 10 books on holiday in one lightweight device. I also love the backlit function and how cheap it is compared to buying books. I still think factual/ reference books are better in 'hard' copies.

GrimalkinsCrone · 01/09/2019 16:33

Both. I use kindle for paperbacks; crime series, history thrillers, fantasy and the like. Kindle daily deals are fantastic for bargains. It replaces the dozen books I’d take on holiday with mr.
But non-fiction doesn’t work well for me in that format, I need to flick back and forwards, and illustrations just aren’t as intriguing imo.

moobar · 01/09/2019 16:34

I love reading, and adore books. I thought I would hate kindle.

Like others I have the original reading one. I just looked out of interest and have over 600 books on it. The space that has saved in my house. The space it saves when going on holiday!

I have read more, and a much more varied amount. Recommendations, free books, tips on here, special offers.

I have had to abandon my rule of never giving up on a book because I have also come across some absolute rubbish but on the whole it's been a huge benefit to me.

Plus I can use one hand in the night with DD. I also used to be able to tuck it in a file and read in court if waiting on a case. I couldn't have done that discreetly with a book.

Prokupatuscrakedatus · 01/09/2019 16:37

I still buy paper books (mostly second hand), especially of favourites and textbooks.
But I love my kindle because I can enlarge the font size and because of the weight.
DC are the same - loved books need to be paper, too, DS even insiststs on hardcover.

Original poster

xsquared · 01/09/2019 16:38

Yes, I agree about being able to read it in one hand, especially if you're in the middle of something that needs waiting for a minute or two.

OP posts:

Original poster

xsquared · 01/09/2019 16:42

There are certain books that I will buy in part format, like my text books for work, for example, but I like having several reading books in the palm of my hand on the go.
I am currently reading a hard copy of The Blind Assassin which I'm about 2/3 of the way through.
On the Kindle, I'm reading IT, which I've gone through at a much faster pace, probably is to being able to have the odd 5 minutes here and there to read in my phone.

OP posts:

Mabelface · 01/09/2019 16:44

I love my kindle, because I can enlarge the text, meaning I can read in bed with the lights off, no specs, and only one hand out of the covers.

Goatrider · 01/09/2019 16:44

I was given a kindle as a present a few years ago. I didn't actually want one.

I have read quite a few books on it. Took it on holiday. Appreciated the laziness of being able to read without holding it. Got excited about 99p bargains.

But now I'm back with real books and enjoy them so much more. I just love the look, feel, smell of a book.

MrsT1405 · 01/09/2019 16:44

I love my Kindle paperwhite but I use my tablet and phone as well. They sync nicely so I've always got my book with me. As others, I.use Bookbug for free books or 99p offers. As I live in Spain it really is great. I still.buy cook books though.

Lowlandlucky · 01/09/2019 16:46

I love love love books, 5 years ago i decided to stop buying so many as i had 19 bookcases and piles of books everywhere, ihad 3 towers beside my bed and one night the collapsed on top of me and that was the final straw, i sent most of them to the church fete and vowed to use the library. Now i am a great beliver of use it or loose it and i dont want my library to close, i belive every book taken out counts BUT i cant hold books for as long as i used so have came up with the idea of borrowing form the library but also down loading the same books onto a kindle and eadig them that way ! 2 birds one stone and all that,DH thinks i am stark raving mad but it saves me feeling bad

CreatedBySombra · 01/09/2019 16:50

With unlimited space I'd always prefer real books. But my original keyboard kindle has a perfect reading display and can store a ridiculous amount of books.

Only my collectables are on the shelf now. That still takes up two bookcases so everything else is Kindle. It's meant I can keep readin new books/old books and I don't have to worry about how to store them or returning then to the library.

TonTonMacoute · 01/09/2019 16:53

Prefer real books, but the Kindle is great for reading in bed, and is brilliant for holidays. I speak as someone who used to take more books than clothes on holiday...

Tableclothing · 01/09/2019 16:55

I'm a lover of beautifully bound hardback books and only succumbed to the Kindle a few months ago.

I will never let it go now. I carry a library of many books everywhere I go. I can read in any light conditions. I never lose my place. I can read one handed standing up on the train/bus. If I finish one book in a series and want to getthe next one, I can do that in 30 seconds, without getting up.

I read so much more now I have it. I'll always keep the beautiful hard backs (and acquire more of books I particularly love) but I am truly a kindle convert.

Oh, and I got the new paperwhite which will survive if I drop it in the bath.

Amazon haven't even paid me to write this . Other e readers are available (and highly rated, in many cases).

GG20 · 01/09/2019 16:59

Agree with all of that! I like both, depending on the book/purpose.

NannyR · 01/09/2019 17:06

It depends. I have a kindle paperwhite, kindle app on my phone and huge numbers of paper books.
I can't get on with the phone app at all.
I love the paperwhite for holidays and for reading in bed in the dark, but I find that I read differently on it, not sure how to explain it but I speed read and don't take as much in, so I tend to only read lightweight fiction on it. For non-fiction books and books I really need to take in I much prefer paper books.
Also, I buy most of my books second hand from charity shops which works out cheaper than kindle books.

RevealTheLegend · 01/09/2019 17:36

Love my kindle..

I was a hardcore treebook person. And didn’t see that changing. But I got a given kindle as a gift and realised it isn’t an either/or situation.

I can go on holiday and actually take clothes and stuff, not just books. I like how I am choosing books I’d never otherwise read, by trawling the free books and 99p bargains. If I finish a book in the bath or on the train, I start the next one. No need to haul myself out to look for something else or twiddle my thumbs.

I’m also rediscovering books in a very rusty second language long forgotten since GCSE days — download the dictionary in that language and get instant translation of a word. It’s brill.

DowntonCrabby · 01/09/2019 17:40

I have an actual kindle that I’ve never used and love the kindle app on my phone, that’s used all the time.

Here’s something about the feel and smell of an actual book though that I’ll always prefer that.

DowntonCrabby · 01/09/2019 17:40

*there’s

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