Books or 'kindle' ??

[taffleee]

I love reading books. I love buying them, owning them, reading the pages, turning the pages, putting a book mark in, going back to them, everything about reading a book I love!!

I also own a kindle, and have tried reading a book on it, but I just don't get the same enjoyment!! I would hate to think we would loose books because of the 'online' automatic download culture we seem to be breading??

Am I on my own here??

[Cathycat]

I love both. Books because you can 'feel' the distance from beginning to end, it looks nice on the coffee table, I can lend one to my mum and I am very proud of my bookcases, what they look like, how the books are arranged, how I can always grab a book to explain something to the kids.

I always worry a little about overuse of trees and paper though - actually no I don't, but perhaps we should?!

My Kindle is good for if I am in a particular mood for a type of book. I can browse the try a sample! I love the 'try a sample'. at the moment I have 10 books on try a sample on my kindle and am reading a few pages of each one before I decide which one to go for. I keep the others there so that I know what to read next. Very exciting!

[DuchessofMalfi]

Oh sykadelic, that's just foul. I do try not to think about where my library book has already been, but urgghhhh :o

I admit to only borrowing a book if it looks in a reasonable condition. If it looks a bit stained and smells bad I'd rather buy my own copy. Stale nicotine and greasy food are the kinds of book smells/stains I can well do without.

I love my kindle, and I'm pretty fond of my little kobo as well which allows me to borrow ebooks from the library. Often a better option :)

[CoteDAzur]

Definitely Kindle.

I couldn't go back to carrying 1,000-page door-stoppers.

Everybody says "I love the feel & smell of books" etc until they get a Kindle, ime.

[sykadelic15]

Definitely Kindle. I have a Kindle Paperwhite. It's side-lit (as opposed to back lit) so it doesn't hurt your eyes... which is the entire point of the e-Ink display that Kindle is famous for.

Never library. Especially after reading that article about how library books (specifically 50 Shades of Grey) were tested and found to have traces of herpes and cocaine.

The herpes wasn't in strong concentrations but apparently the cocaine was enough to show up as you having taken it in a hair test!!

I have hundreds of e-books. Free from Amazon. I can lend them to people (2 weeks is plenty of time) or you can give someone else your Amazon account details (obviously only if you really trust them, like I do mum) and they can just share that way :) My main gripe is that I can't mark a book as read. I would have to open it to see if I'm at the last page... and I've read hundreds of books this year alone so I'd love to "Archive" them or something.

[Lieby]

Totally agree. Love my kindle, having dithered for a while about getting one. I particularly like reading a book review in the guardian on sat then downloading something I like the sound of, rather than having to wait for amazon or go to a shop.

[Louise1956]

A kindle is useful if you are travelling or on holiday or something, but in general I much prefer real books.

[PeasandCucumbers]

Thank you Glitter that's a great link, I wasn't aware of these books

[sammylou35]

That sounds good to me!! I have already hinted to my husband so I shall have to see what santa brings me!

[Glitterfeet]

Peasand

Could this be useful? Depending whether he is eligible.

www.nbcs.org.uk/customeyes

[PeasandCucumbers]

I definitely prefer real books, I have read a couple of books on a Kindle app and the thing that irritates me most is not being able to flick back to check who characters are or details of the plot.

I have 2 DC and also really agree with Mcnorton that there are so many amazing books for young children that can't be replicated in the same way electronically. My daughter is 7 and reads more than anyone I have ever known. We use the library a lot and she also has loads of books from charity shops and car boots which we can pick up for literally pennies. However my son (had to use this icon & he loves Dr Who ) has a visual impairment and both my big bug bears are around accessing books for him. The first is that the font size in so many children's books make them inaccessible for him so the Kindle is great as he can adjust the font size. However the children's books on Kindle are so expensive, several we have looked at are more expensive than buying the actual book off amazon which really infuriates me.

[TheNunsOfGavarone]

Another thing in favour of Kindles for me at least is that it's difficult to take a sneaky flick forward and see what's going to happen. It's a very annoying habit of mine so I like that I can't do it so easily on Kindle. But then if I want to recap it's more difficult to flick backwards.

[Iaintdunnuffink]

I didn't think I'd ever really get into e-readers, now I don't bother with physical books. My Kobo is easy to hold, I read lots in bed and it's nice not have to battle to keep it open. My eyesight isn't great and I can adjust the print size. For Christmas I'm getting the Kobo Aura so no more faffing with lights when it's dark.

I used to love owning books.

[MiddleAgeMiddleEngland]

Books for me, I don't have a Kindle.

I'm interested in the actual book; the design, the illustrations, the dust jacket if there is one, the typefaces used, the type of paper etc, etc. It's not just about the words.

I also love the smell of books, especially old ones. Perhaps one day they'll have a "emit booky smell" button on a Kindle?

I take them on holiday, on trains, on buses, to the dentist, etc. My bag isn't complete without a book or two (or three or four).

We'd need a serious re-build and re-decoration project if we were to get rid of our books. Virtually every room has built-in bookshelves and we have freestanding bookcases as well. I like living in a library, it feels cosy. Visitors are welcome to browse and borrow.

The teenage DCs are the same, they love real books and don't want Kindles.

Tomorrow I will collect a book I've ordered. It will have a gorgeous dust jacket, lovely thick paper and a sewn in silk ribbon bookmark. Can't wait

[taffleee]

Oh the feel and smell of a book, especially old ones that you know havee been read and loved!!! Isn't there just something special in that??

Yes, the kindle for 'reading purposes', but wouldn't it just be a shame if books were lost to this??

I still miss 'taping the charts' (record, play, pause) of the radio!!! Just those things you looked forward to!! Everythings so 'on hand' nowadays!! (i'm 34 btw, how ancient do I feel!! lol!)

[lottieandmia]

Kindle, without a doubt!

[GuernseyTeddy]

Sammylou - def get a kindle for feeding reads. You and baby can snuggle up for ages for a read, and no one can bother you as you're feeding baby!!

[ILetHimKeep20Quid]

I love books. That's why I have 45 on my kindle that I can take anywhere.

Not a replacement for proper books, an enhancement to reading.

[babybythesea]

I don't think you have to choose.
Some books I love on Kindle, others I much prefer to read as paper versions.

Broadly, factual books I prefer as paper versions, and anything a bit complex (where you might want to flip backwards and forwards to check details on characters - not easy on a kindle). And I prefer the classics in paper - I have built up a good looking collection of classics and I like the look of them and the experience of reading them by turning pages rather than pushing a button.

Easy reads, a kindle does well. Am currently storming through the Agatha Raisin series on kindle - it's brilliant for that. And definitely a winner for travelling, where luggage weight is an issue. Not any more it's not...!!

[Mcnorton]

I've always been a big reader and my son (5) is quite keen too (full disclosure, I'm a librarian, but in a backroom tech job not a frontline one). I have loads of paper books, plus a couple of different ereading devices. I like all formats, and buy more books in electronic format because of the immediacy, but also now find I buy more hardbacks for the feel and design than I used to! I wish I'd had an ereader when breastfeeding, would have been much easier.

I don't think you can beat real paper books for young kids though, it's not just about words, it's about lay-out and images and browsing too. Maybe once they are reading text only it doesn't make a difference, but picture books aren't as good on an device. I've tried some early reading books on a kindle app for my son and he gets cross with it (despite liking computers and computer games in general), but he will happily sit with a pile of paper books though.

[sammylou35]

I am a librarian and I can see the benefits of having a kindle but I still love the feel of a book. I haven't been converted yet......but seeing GuernseyTeddy's post I might have to ask santa for one as I am pregnant and feeding and reading sounds lovely! As long as people are enjoying reading I don't think it matters what format they use.

[GuernseyTeddy]

Kindle paperwhite great for when feeding DS (14 weeks). He likes to take his time over his bottle, and so I don't get bored and rush him I always have the kindle in the side pocket of the feeding chair. Lovely relaxed DS curled up into one side of me with kindle resting against my leg propped up on the footstool. No way I'd manage with the bottle, a heavy book and page turning; DS would end up wearing his milk.

[SilverCharm1]

Kindle - or rather my smart phone - for light reads. Love travelling with the phone as book. And for more serious reads the paper every time.

Mind you, I have been trying to read The Rest is Noise and it is so big that my wrist can't cope! So might have to resort to the kindle for it. I wish there was the option of a dual purchase - hard copy and kindle. You get this with some DVDs so why not with books.

[confusedwwyd]

I love my Kindle. I've read some really good books which were free. If I don't like one I delete it and get another one- I don't then have a rubbish book cluttering up my house to get rid of. I have my favourite books on paper as well but kindles are the future. If anything I would have thought it would encourage kids to read more not less.

[DontHaveAtv]

I love my Kindle. I love real books too. For me its about space, I read so much I didn't have anywhere to store my books.

Plus as soon as I have finished a book I can download another one straight away.

[DuchessofMalfi]

I love both books and kindle/kobo. I find I read quicker on my kindle, and it's more convenient to slip into my handbag when I'm going out and know I will have time to read.

I don't like lugging a heavyweight book around with me :o, so often have a book, and an e-book on the go.