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 prefer digital e-books. E-books are very convenient, and clearly this is the format for the future. The e-Reader makes it possible to carry thousands of titles at the same time, and choose from thousands of books without leaving the place where you are (on a train, relaxing in bed, etc.). One does not need to worry about the need for mass storage space. Plus, there is no need to worry about tears/bends/creases/tarnish marks or weather damage, like you would with a physical book.

However, staring at that digital screen can cause your eyes to ache after a while, and having to scroll up and down the pages can be a pain. Plus, for collectors, it great handling a physical copy of a sought after title, and if storage space is not a problem, a personal library can be the source of great joy.

Definitely paper books here too! I love the feel, smell even the sound of the pages turning. I like being able to flick back if I've forgotten a character or got a bit confused. I like taking a book into the bath with me and not worrying if I drop it or get the pages wet. I like being able to leave my book open on my sun lounger and not thinking it would be the end of the world if it was stolen...
I love book covers and enjoy seeing them on my bookshelves, they become like old friends and are special to me.
I have tried to read a couple of times on dh's Kobo and it's not for me - too detached and cold. I also find my eyes get really tired looking at a screen.

I use both. I love my Kindle as I can read one-handed, stock up with lots of reading for the holidays (and leave more room in the car for camping stuff...whereas I used to have to allow room for a pile of books under the carseats, in the door pockets etc) and can download new choices whilst away instead of having to suffer the limitations of English-language sections in French book shops. I love that it fits into my bag so I'm never without something to read. However, I'll never give up on REAL books completely. I love the feel of them, the smell of them, the attractive covers and the weight of a hefty tome. I still take at least a couple of real books on holiday as I won't read my Kindle on the beach (don't want sand in the socket) or whilst wet from the pool. I love to lend books to my mum and my sister and then have them wend their way home to my shelf. I keep fewer than I used to but miss looking at recently read titles on my shelves when I read them on my Kindle. I'm more likely to forget titles and authors too. The only things that really annoy me about my Kindle are the lack of page numbers (how ridiculous is the percentage thing?!) and not being able to flick back to find something easily. I have a visual memory...and know I'd be looking at the top or bottom left or right-hand page in a book to find the name I'm looking for and that it was 20 pages or so ago...and it's a pain to do that with a Kindle. Other things are less annoying but just different. I find it harder to choose new books by authors I may not have read before than when shopping in a book shop. I miss the displays and the recommendations and dislike the popularity lists which give little indication of whether something is wildly popular but utter drivel. However it saves my sister and me a fortune in international birthday postage. I choose something for me from her and she chooses something for herself from me although we do have a chat and think of possibilities together...and then we buy our own.

Kindles are great for travelling, and the price of an e-book can be very appealing, but for me, there's still nothing better than settling down with an actual book. The smelll, the feel, the whole sensory experience, is still very much a part of my reading pleasure.

90% of my books I read are on my Kindle now. I prefer it as it's smaller, lighter, easier to read on the train or slip into a handbag. I never expected to like it so much - it was a surprise gift.

I do collect travel journal type books though and always buy these in the paper so to speak. I tend to savour and reread this and it just feels more enjoyable as a proper book.

I've hundreds of books that make up my library which I only add good reference and favourite books to (space is at a premium). I also have a kindle, a Sony PRS650(additional memory!!) and a Kobo Aura H20(duh..waterproof and additional memory!!). And for some unknown reason, whilst giving me a lift to the library, my father always says..."why do you still need to check out library books?" Well, gosh...not in ebook format and doesn't qualify for a rare place in my library...but I still want to read it!!

I love ebooks for convenience commuting and travelling and they don't clutter the place up.
I also think it's great that publishers and bookshops are making the effort to create some beautiful books that it lovely to own in paperback / hardback - I buy lots of illustrated children's books and cookery books and I aspire to a set of the penguin cloth bound classics with their beautiful covers!

I love the paper books because u don't need to charge them and don't waste electricity. You can conviently carry them anywhere with out the fear of anyone trying to take your kindle off u on the bus or train. So in my opinion paper books are the best.

Ereader all the way. I love reading not books and my kindle paperwhite suits me perfectly. I'm a bit of a Luddite but it's one piece of technology that I wouldn't want to be without.

I can collect, store and carry around hundreds of books on one beautiful little device in a smart case without having to devote house space that I don't have to books.

And I don't sleep well so if I find myself awake in the middle of the night I can read a few pages without putting the light on, or I read in bed in the dark anyway before I go to sleep.

Books - for nostalgic, sentimental, and probably illogical reasons but also because no-one has bought me a e-reader and I can't afford to buy one myself!

I have a kindle, but its been requisitioned by my DCs, who use it to download books.

I didn't find it very practical when I did get a turn, as I mostly get books from the library and from charity shops or jumble sales, and it seemed very expensive to keep ordering the books I actually wanted to read on the kindle.

I have used the iPad to download books from the library when they are available, but I would normally just order the paper copy unless I am in a real hurry.

I was a sworn book reader, even after I was given my kindle for a while.

But I've now been converted I think. I was given some book books for my birthday and I'm so used to my kindle I really struggled to hold them and turn pages without them catching on the duvet whilst reading in bed . They also made my handbag really heavy whereas I carry my kindle around all the time without noticing.

I have an amazing waterproof cover so I can read in the bath or in the beach. You don't get that teeth on edge damp or hot hands on paper feeling either.

I was able to read 8 books on my last holiday, couldn't have done that with real books. I love that I never run out of things to read.

I have the basic kindle, no backlight for me as they're not great on the eyes or for insomnia.

Real books for children definitely, but once you have a love of reading an e reader is amazing. I can see e readers could help to get a book phobic child reading though so not die hard in my books for children rule!

Books all the way, reading to my children at bedtime wouldn't feel the same with an e-reader. The physical books bring the stories to life. Also for me, being able to read in the bath is my me time and something I couldn't do with an e-reader.

I prefer paperbacks because I am old fashioned and like to turn pages

Paperback - I always forget to charge the kindle or upload new books - for me a book is easier and just "always there"!

I read from both although I do prefer physical books to my e-reader. The e-reader wins for convenience - it's great for travelling and to take loads of books on holiday but I just can't get over the fact that the experience of reading a proper book is better!

E-reader ... love taking all my favourite reads on holiday... with 20 kg baggage allowance - packing as many hard back books would mean no room for my bikini!!!!!

I know e-books are convenient but you can't beat holding a real book and flipping through real,pages. I love reading all sorts of books.

E reader. Good for short sight. plus you can stroke a cat with one hand and read with the other

Paperbacks are my preference. I like to physically turn the page, put the book down and pick it up as and when I like without having to load up an E-reader. I find the E-reader fiddly and it also hurts my eyes. I am happy to buy second-hand or take out of the library. I would worry about taking an E-reader to the beach or losing it and you just don't get that worry with a paperback. Happily old fashioned x

I was a die hard paperback fan until I got my Kindle Paperwhite. I still think a paper book wins on all the tactile and sensory aspects but I am now a convert to e-readers.
I can hold it with one hand and still turn the pages
The pages don't blow over in the wind
You cant really lose your place
I can read on my Kindle, iPhone, iPad... I am never without a book!
I can take as many books as I like with me and still only carry something that is lighter and less bulky than a paperback.
Big thick tomes aren't big and thick.
No one knows I am reading crap.

TBH, it's just the next stage of evolution for the book. Cave paintings, stone carving, velllum, big hefty hard backs... its probably now the turn of the paper book to move over.

I imagine that ancient scribes were unimpressed by the invention of the printing press.

I don't understand how you can "forget" to upload new books. It's no different to "forgetting" to buy a new paperback.

I've remembered another positive: I can get the next book in a series, or simply a new book, instantly.

E-reader. Books are very bulky and I find them difficult to read in bed which is the only place I can get a quiet time to myself. I wouldn't be without my Kobo

Paper books but having to increasingly go for ebooks due to lack of
availability.