Paperback or E-Reader? Join the great debate to win £100 of books or e-books

[RachelMumsnet]

Are paper books old news? These days there are more e-readers and literary apps than you can shake a USB stick at. We want to know if you've eschewed paper for digital, or if you reckon a well-thumbed paperback beats technology hands down. Join the discussion to let us know which medium you prefer and why, and you'll be entered into a draw to win £100 bundle of books OR £100 e-book bestsellers courtesy of Bloomsbury.

I do have a Kindle with over 200 unread books and I'll take it on holiday to save space but I do love physical books and can't stop buying them! My latest arrived by post this morning and there is a TBR pile next to my bed that would frighten the horses. I keep ploughing (wo)manfully through it but usually have bought another few before I've finished the one I'm reading.

I'm a 'both' kind of person.

I got an ereader so when I go on holiday all my books fit my handbag instead of taking up valuable space and kg in my suitcase. I was convinced when I took 8 thick paperbacks for my 3 week honeymoon & still had to borrow books from the onship library! I'm such a quick reader I need at least half a dozen books for a two week holiday. The benefits of an ereader are you can have all your books in one place and just move on to the next when you've finished instead of having to carry two around because you're not sure when you'll finish one (currently my DH's issue on our very rare weekend away). However I genuinely agree with the phenomenon that you remember less when you read it on an electronic device. I can remember characters and plots from paper books I read many years ago. If it's been a while since I used my ereader I can't always remember the start of the book I'm halfway through. Also you can't share an ebook so you can recommend it to a friend but not share a copy around. Ereaders do take up less space in my cluttered house though.

Having said that I love bookcases and looking at all the interests of the people in the house. My DD loves books and they're so nice to share, look at the illustrations, point out things and words, turn the pages and play 'snap' by shutting the book quickly like a crocodile! She has 3 bookcases already and they're full of wonderful gifts of books which she can take off the shelves herself and 'read' them on her own. We can swap them around, buy and sell second hand and generally be more generous with them. They do take quite a battering but it shows they're well loved!

E-reader.... Due to lack of book clutter and instant availability of books. Also, it's much easier to take 10 electronic books on holiday.

Paper for me, preferably secondhand. I love the surprise element of finding something you fancy in the library or a charity shop.
I also like hunting for specific used paperbacks on Ebay followed by the wait for it arrive through your letterbox - another surprise as I've usually forgotten about it by then.

Paper every time. Hardly use my kindle!

Paper books all the way for me. I love the feel & smell of a paperback. I've been contemplating getting an e reader for a few years not, but can't bring myself to do it. I'd feel like I was cheating on my books!!!

I do love both. However if its a nonfiction book, it's got to be a proper book. For fiction, especially bedtime reading I do prefare my tablet as it's easier to hold.

real books all the way as I like to swap a good book with a friend ....but as a children's librarian I don't care what medium kids read on as long as they are reading

I have a mix of both plus audio books so I can listen whilst running or doing housework!

I always thought I'd say books, but after recently getting a kindle I'd now say both. Nothing beats the feel of a paperback but an e book is so easy to travel with, for downloading and so on. I love all books in whatever format!

Ebooks for me, I like the immediacy of downloading to my phone but always real books for readi g with my daughter if for reference books, cook books etc

I am almost exclusively a paper books person - I have occasionally read books on an e-reader, but I don't like it - I much prefer my books papery!

I find e-readers too inflexible - it makes them uncomfortable to hold, especially when I read in bed. Also, I have never had a paper book stop working because its battery has died!

I love reading on both! I do love a proper old fashioned book and if a favourite author has a new book out I will probably buy a paper copy to keep, but only because I am likely to re-read it at some later date. I have far too much stuff though and buying e-books stops me adding to that clutter so I feel like I am doing my bit for the environment by reading books electronically.

ebooks so I can prop up my ipad in bed and don't need to hold a book and don't need a light on!

I've had a kindle for 3 and a half years now and I would never go back. I love how you can read a whole series of books just at the touch of a button and don't have to either wait for the library to order it in or find it in a book shop. I have a lot of collections from unpublished authors such as Heather Atkinson who is one of the best writers I've ever come across. You cannot buy her books anywhere else. I do still have an old collection of paperbacks but they've been put away now and I've replaced them on my kindle. Plus when you go on holiday you only need your device to carry a whole assortment of books! Yippee!

Like many others I never thought that I would take to readers but then my dh bought me one for Christmas, we have bookcases every where. It is fabulous and I couldn't be without it now. The convenience of it , the fact it weighs very little, that I can sync it with my phone . I now prefer to get books on my Kindle . I do still get given paper books as presents and will borrow from the library.
Plus my dh is delighted as it means he gets to fill the bookcases

A real book... although it would be nice if I could somehow magically shrink them so they took up less room the rest of the time. Plus if we only had ebooks what would happen to the lovely libraries?! :(

Nothing and I mean NOTHING can ever replace being able to fold the top corner over to save your place...

Even though you could possibly call me a child of the digital age, I still prefer paperbacks. I don't feel motivated to read a book on a Kindle or other electronic device as I associate it with a million and one other distractions and notifications.

A book - now that's tangible, it won't distract you, and it signifies 'me-time'. I am a member of the library and I love going to pick out a new book - it's really exciting. Downloading a file on a Kindle just cant compare!

Nothing and I mean NOTHING can ever replace being able to fold the top corner over to save your place...

Not true :)

I love a paperback to read. Its the feel of a new book. You can see how much u have left to read. I love a book on a kindle for holidays. So lightweight. x

I really want to love my Kindle but I just don't! I have a minimalist fantasy of having my whole library in my hand but it would cost so much to replace everything. I think if you own a paper copy you should get a digital one free. I like being able to flick back through pages to find something and can't get the hang of it on a Kindle. I do like being able to press a word to find the dictionary meaning but I get a bit carried away and do it so often I lose the sense of what I'm reading. I will keep trying as I like the idea but in practice it isn't working for me at the moment. Paper for me. Bookcases full of books make good wall insulation anyway!

E reader hands down, hundreds of books at my fingertips and shockingly tidy to boot!

I like both. My kindle is perfect for our camping travels to keep the weight down. I still like the feel of a "real book" though and read loads at home. Our shelves get so full though .. I feel a charity shop donation coming on :)

Paperback. I've always loved reading from being small, my mum always bought me books as gifts and I lived going choosing one. I still love it now and feel its a real treat when I buy myself a book. There's nothing better than having a neatly night with a new book.