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 love books! I love the texture of the paper, the feeling of them in my hand, the smell of them and the whole experience. I remember where sections of a book are and can read a book for hours (although I rarely get the chance!). I love the whole visual aspect of the book itself too. All of these things are missing from an e-reader. It is not the same kind of experience at all. I just love books!

BooksBooksBooks! All the way! ;)

My husband has wanted to get me a Kindle for past christmasses and birthdays for aaaages but I say no, thanks! :) I just know I wouldn't use it.

I love holding a book in my hand and physically seeing my progress through it. I love the satisfaction of turning that last page when I've finished reading it! I always sit and contemplate what I've just read when I've finished!

E-readers, I'm sure, are great for storing lots of books. But I prefer a cluttered book shelf of actual real books! I love the smell of new books as well as the smell of second hand books!

I love going to the library and even volunteer in my local one once a week.

I just love reading! I always have but seem to read SO much more since becoming a mum. It's how I unwind in an evening.

I have both. I prefer paper form but the e-reader format is so convenient.
I find if I buy a load of paper books I read them... If I buy a load of e-books they sit in my kindle for ages before I get around to bothering with them.

What dragonflygirl1 said!

I love remembering something I read and flicking back to the page to re-read it, or write down a quote or even highlight something. It's such a better experience than an e-reader!

Dog eared pages!!!

Also, I've found bookmarks that have been left in library or second hand books and I love that slight glimpse into someone else's life. God. That sounds creepy, doesn't it?! lol

I prefer a book. I cannot think of any reason why a digital screen would be better than holding a book in my hands.
I like to browse in bookshops, picking the books up and reading the blurb, looking to see if it is a good size to get me through a few days.
I like to not worry on holiday that my book gets wet or covered in lotion, if I run out, there are always book exchanges.
I haven't scientifically researched it but I am sure I burn more calories holding a book and turning the pages

I like both. I prefer paper for reference books and illustrated books. I prefer reading novels on an e-reader, although I do like to buy lovely editions of my very favourite books. with an e-reader, I was able to read Madame Bovary while pushing a toddler on a swing. I love the way they make it possible to keep several long books in your pocket or handbag.

Paper!

Can't even begin to describe how it feels, hungrily opening up a brand new book and knowing that those words are all mine, that I am the first to see those pages and the first to devour them all. And when it's a previously loved copy, I like to think of the eyes that looked before mine, that took the story through those eyes and into their mind and heart and then chose to share or, perhaps, sadly, had to let go of this treasure, this feast of letters that fills the body far better than any three-course meal could.

But then, that's just my personal opinion...

I never would have believed it even a year ago, but... Kindle. I do most of my reading during the commute and the kindle is great for that. So much easier to carry around and easier to read with one hand while holding a train pole.

I do still love "real" books too but find I read them mUCH more slowly as now only read them at home, whereas I will whip the kindle out any time I am out and have a bit of time to kill e.g. waiting for someone in cafe.

Paper is what has worked exclusively for me thus far. Reasons? Reading on screens bothers me tremendously- whether it be my eyes, the tendency for my mind to skim versus deep read when on a computer, or the lack of perceived privacy (real or not) of reading on a device (the worst are magazines, where the ads tend to linger a little bit longer than they should when you try to scroll to the next page and it's harder to ignore them). I also try to set an example to my kids- they don't know I'm reading a book if I have a screen in front of me. Screen can mean a lot of things I don't want them doing. Lastly, it's the physical feel and smell of the book. Of seeing the cover when I'm not reading it, a reminder a universe is waiting for me. It's intimate. Paper books also don't require electricity and as a subway rider I don't have to worry about someone snatching it from my hands.

Both! But if you forced me to choose, I would have to go for my Kindle. I love how I can decide that I want to read something and two minutes later I have it in my hand. Also as I get older I find that I have to wear my glasses to read a printed book whereas I can just make the text larger on my Kindle and don't have to go looking for my glasses! If they could infuse the Kindle with the small of a new book it would be perfect!

I love both! I adore my kindle and love that I can buy books at a fraction of the price of hard copy ones. But I do love books, sometimes there is just no substitute for the feel of a book or the beauty of a well designed book cover. So I'm firmly on the fence! Also love the kindle for the ability to read huge works on it like Game of Thrones without having to lug a massive book around.

I only read book books. I love holding a book and the feel of the paper in my hands.
I'd quite like to try a kindle though - it would be great to be able to take something a bit lighter on the train and to be able to read without turning on the light and waking DH when I can't get back to sleep in the middle of the night.
So although I'm a book book person, it's partially by default.

Books win for me. There's nothing like the smell of a new book IMHO. And standing in Smith's or the bookshop (or even Tesco) looking at rows and rows of books having a real job deciding what to buy. And charity shops and car boots, a haven for books that are just begging to be read. If you listen carefully you can hear them whispering pick me, read me!!! And they are so bargainous you have to come home with a carrier bag full to add to the ever growing pile beside the bed.

I vowed I would never get a Kindle but OH bought me one a couple of years ago and I do use it and have downloaded hundreds of free books. Whether I get to read them all is another matter!!! And I can't believe how many shit free books there are too. Totally cringeworthy. The Kindle doubles up as a tablet for the internet. In fact if truth be known I surf the net more than I read on it.

My kindle is great for using on holiday. I've got much more room in my suitcase for clothes nowadays! And I really got my money's worth from it when I was in hospital.

But for everyday reading you just can't beat a paperback book in my opinion. I love reading in the bath and on the rare occasion when I've bought a kindle version of a book (because it's been considerably cheaper) I've found it really frustrating not to be able to combine my two favourite pastimes!

I like both, e readers for holidays and travelling, proper books when they are special to me and I want to keep them for my library!

I still prefer paperbacks although I have read a couple of ebooks. I tend to buy mostly secondhand from the charity shop and then donate them back ot charity

Both and neither. I don't have enough time to read books like I used to. I commute with my toddler, so I don't read as much as I did before she was born. My phone is brilliant for keeping up with news, essays and articles, but I don't feel like I retain as much as when I read the printed page. When I was desperate to find some child developmental information and advice, I bought an ebook to read during feeds and other quiet moments. Most of the time, it's too easy to be distracted by Facebook and emails when I read digitally, and I like the experience of reading a good paperback. Once I get hooked, it's very hard to put a book down. I've even risked losing a precious couple of hours of sleep just to read a few more chapters of A Kim Jong-Il Production.

I love an actual book, I have loads, I'm terrible at hoarding them but I think if I travelled a lot I'd definitely invest in a kindle. Quite a few people I know with kindles really didn't think they would like them but wouldn't be without them now.

Paperbacks, always. However the arguments here for an e-reader are very persuasive...holidays, especially.

I love the feel & smell of a book - but it's not always practical for me to carry one round - particularly big & heavy ones. Especially when you're going on holiday & have a luggage weight limit.

My kindle cover opens like a book so I still feel I'm holding one. I've got hundreds of titles so I can dip in and out depending on my mood.

It's great for DH who has dyslexia & can choose the font style and size he finds easiest to read.

From bibliophile to kindlephile in less than a year. Call me a kindle convert.

I have both. My kindle is really practical and efficient but it just seems soulless somehow. Some books just have to be read in paperback form

I like both, e-books for the convenience and cheaper price, and paper books because I just prefer the feel of a paper book. It feels more real somehow and I like having a physical copy to keep or lend to friends. Overall, I'd say paper.

I read everywhere, on the bus, in waiting rooms of various types, in the park at the beach. I prefer books because they do not require a fully charged battery and strong arms to hold an electronic devise and I do not need to hold it a certain way to avoid excessive sunlight. I like to see what other people are reading by the cover of their book, some of the better books I have read have been noticed in the hands of others. Browsing through the library and book shop is far more pleasurable than searching online, true you can see how the book has been rated by others but I have always preferred to make up my own mind anyway. Paperback or hardbacks books fo me everytime.

Definitely printed books for me. I like the experience of reading print on paper, and much prefer it to screen time. I find paper relaxing. (IT professional, not averse to using technology.)