(Photo credit: foxypar4)
Okay, major confession time. I see a huge plate of crow just waiting for me. It’s an acquired taste, I’m told, and by the end of this post I’ll have had my share and be picking it from my teeth.
I’ve always said I wasn’t into the whole e-book reader thing. Yes, technology moved ahead as relentlessly as shadows move with the sun. And yes, the e-book movement was only going to gain steam. But I didn’t have to like it. I’d alway–yes, I said ALWAYS–prefer the feel of a real book to that of a piece of plastic. I’d never–yes, I said NEVER–give up on real paper and ink books. ALWAYS. NEVER.
Please pass the crow . . . and could you hand me the hot sauce?
This past Valentine’s Day my wife got me a Kindle touch. I thanked her and was genuinely intrigued and thought it’d be nice to have around, maybe I’d read some books on it, but that was about it. It would never–yes, NEVER again–replace my love for the real book, the feel of pages, the smell of ink on paper.
Yes, I’d like another helping of crow, thank you.
I don’t quite know what happened. The more I used the Kindle the more I liked it. And the more I liked it the more I got used to reading from it, to its feel, its weight, the ease of downloading books, the abundance of free books, the storage capacity. The ability to take a break from reading and play mahjong.
Okay, I can hardly speak now my mouth is so full of crow.
Here it is: IlikemyKindlebetterthanrealbooks.
There, I said it. It’s the truth, too. In fact, I find it difficult to read a real book, the kind with pages and ink and a spine for goodness sake.
Please, don’t throw rocks, the crow is enough, believe me. Even with hot sauce it’s enough.
Question: So how about you? Which do you prefer, e-book or the real deal?
(Please visit my other blog too: www.michaelkingbooks.wordpress.com).
Welcome to the other side!! I have a Kindle Fire and absolutely love it. I still have to read actual books though because I’m in Bible college but definitely use my Kindle for casual reading and entertainment. Enjoy that crow. Its quite tasty I think.
Howdy Mike,
My daughter got me a Kindle Fire for my birthday and I love it. I was using the Kindle App on my smartphone and laptop before that. I get a lot more reading done. Have been averaging about two to three books a week. I love the fact that I can bookmark, highlight, as well write notes on the pages too.
I never thought I would ever like it, now I carry it everywhere I go. The many other features of the Kindle Fire such being able to use the Internet, to catch up with all my writing friends, check e-mail, Facebook, etc. Wonder what it will be like ten years from now?
On side note, I am on my eighth year of being cancer free, colon cancer. I followed your journey also as you dealt with this in you life and was so encouraged.
Each day is a gift, for which I am thankful for! Everything that I went through when this journey eight years ago began made me stronger and closer in my walk with the Lord and the writing, the coffee cup ministry, etc was birthed out of all of this.
Blessings and prayers to your family and you,
Paul
aka The Mayor
Thanks, Paul. So glad to hear you’re doing well. I’m four years out from cancer and had the same experience as you. It changed my life.
I still love real books. If I had to make a choice it would be real books. But my 7″ samsung is a great friend. I usually read 15 or so books when we go on vacation so I don’t have to carry books anymore. I still have a huge library as I loan books out. My tablet does not require a monthly fee and I can skype and take great pictures along with reading. I am usually reading one paper book and 2 ebooks at a time. My mom still can’t figure out how I know exactly what is going on when I read three books at a time. I have the kindle app, the B&N app and the CBD app so when I review one of your books I can put it on all three.
Wow, Terri, you really have it down. I especially like the part about reviewing my books
I’ m one of those that said I would never own an e-reader. I broke down and bought a Nook tablet because I saw it as cost effective in the long run. I’m an avid reader, and I wanted to support the traditional bookstore model Barnes and Noble still believes in while saving some cash. I still have several bookshelves in my house (and always will), but I’m loving the versitility of the Nook. There’s a way to turn it into a full-blown Android tablet legally, so I’m able to do much more with it than read books and watch Netflix.
Though I will always prefer the feel of a paperback by the beach, I’ll always travel with my Nook too!
I felt the same way. I only tried eBooks because my daughter was an Indie author. Now I am totally hooked.
I am like a see saw..some days I want to read on the kindle, but unfortunately my kindle met an awful demise when I stepped on it. I have the app on my iPad and phone, but it’s not the same as the kindle. I may eventually get a kindle fire since amazon and I have such a close relationship. I feel like a traitor to the books sometimes when I read on the kindle app, but I HAVE found that I must use a lot more self control when ordering from kindle as opposed to actually picking out a book at the store. There is much more effort involved in getting in the car and going to the store or library to pick out a book. There’s my 2 cents.
I started out with a Kindle on my PC which then migrated to both my PC’s. I then bought the cheapest Kindle that Amazon had. I quickly filled it up with free books, lol. Now I have the Kindle Fire, which I love. And it has all of your books on it, lol. I just finished reading “The Hunted” last night. It took me on quite a ride. I love your books and am looking forward to your new “Michael King” book, which I had to preorder in hardback, lol. Mine goes with me everywhere I go, also. And I can also get Facebook, and play my “Words With Friends”. Now who would have thunk that this 64 year old great grandma would be so hooked on this technology:)
I have an iPad with Kindle on it. I am always on my iPad, a contraption I poked fun at, an iPod on Steroids.) This is what I find about myself…I almost avoid reading everything on my Kindle or iBooks (another app used to hold books/PDFs…reading material.). I love love love my ink and paper books. Sure they take up room and I am willing to pass them on and let someone else read and enjoy them like I did. However, I am still more of a voracious reader if I have that hard copy in my hands. My digital versions are just okay in my head and I never seem to fully enjoy all those words you authors have to share.
I started out with the Kindle for PC and began collecting the free books offered. Thought that it would be a great way to get new authors that I wasn’t familiar with and to get books that otherwise I wouldn’t buy at the store. I have since moved on to the basic Kindle but have to say that I usually only use it if I am going to the doctor’s office or similar and don’t want to take an actual book. Probably 85% of the time read an actual book over reading the Kindle. Not that I dislike it just a personal preference.
I also swore I’d never replace real books with ebooks. And so far that’s stood true for me. I have the kindle app for pc that I downloaded so I could get 7 Hours. I downloaded a few other books, but I have to confess that I haven’t read much of them. I still don’t really like it but that may be because it’s on my laptop and I don’t have a reader. Maybe one day I’ll make the switch and have to eat crow, as well, but for now I’m still in love with my paper and print.
Always happy to meet another kindle lover! I have had one ever since they came out and have always preferred reading on it to reading paper books. I still read paper books sometimes but it only reinforces how much I love reading my kindle. I now have the touch and the fire and both are great.
I love my Kindle and prefer it to real books. I rarely re-read books, so I don’t like having to figure out what to do with all the books I accumulate. I’ve given hundreds away to friends and the library and in some cases the recycling bin, but there’s still more. When publishers started using NetGalley, that was all the motivation I needed to spend the money on a Kindle. Digital copies are definitely my preference and most publishers are happy to accommodate. About the only paper copies I get these days are unsolicited or from the 2-3 publishers we work with that do not use NetGalley. I look forward to the day when the unsolicited material comes through e-mail.
For just plain enjoyment reading, I like the Kindle. But for reading and blogging, I still prefer the paper copy. I tend to have a photographic memory, and I rely on it to remember the important issues I want to use in my blog. I have a cool book holder so I don’t have hold the books with my hands (in fact, I have arthritis from holding them by hand.) But I still prefer the paper copy.
I have a Kindle (not a Touch), and I do enjoy reading novels on it – but not as much as the real thing. Mostly because I can easily go back to pages in a book when I want to check something for review with greater ease. Don’t feel too bad, Michael. To each his own, you know?
I had a similar experience to your, Mike. My husband bought me a Kindle Fire and I was not sure how I felt about that. It didn’t take me long to get hooked. I downloaded the One-Year Bible as well as some light fiction reading. It’s so easy to carry with me, plus I can get on the Internet to check email. I still enjoy reading ‘real’ books, but ebooks don’t take up space on my already crowded book shelves.
I really enjoy reading ebooks but there is something magical about a paper copy, the smell of the paper, texture of the pages…ect
As much as I love an ebook, the paper owns my heart.
Btw did you really eat crow?
Does it taste good?!
I have to admit…an e-reader does have some advantages. But I am still in love with the printed page. Still old school here!!!!
Sometimes we are pulled along kicking and screaming into this technology upserge. And as we get older, it seems to get worse! Argh, I can’t keep up, maybe I just don’t want to keep up, maybe I am desperate to stay in the know, but just can not bounce like I used to.
One day we’ll just have to “think” of a book and it will be completely downloaded into our heads. Does THAT appeal to you? It doesn’t to me. sigh.
I’m just hoping for the second coming before all that goes down! I still want to enjoy some of the old fashioned life experiences and antiquated ways. That’s why I go to Landis Valley Farm Museum every year to study old German crafts. That is why I grow my own vegetables and make my own….lots of things. Sorry. Page turner here. Some things just can’t be let go of that easy for me.
For general reading I enjoy my Nook. I enjoy being able to switch over to the web or games. I can carry a virtual library in my purse. But for research or teaching, I still like a book I can underline and make notes in.
I have a Kindle Touch, and still prefer real books. I have over 40 books I got free on the Kindle, and will pick up a real book before I read them. It is cool, and there are advantages – like taking tons of books with you wherever you go on one device, but give me real books any day
I’m picking a little crow meat out of my teeth too, Mike. Pass the toothpicks?
I don’t own an e-reader, but I have tried the Kindle. I’ve also read short stories on my Mac. I prefer the printed page: turning them, flipping back a few to re-read, placing the bookmark in the middle; feeling the upraised letters on the cover, stamping my name on the inside; and other physical things like that. But I’m glad that there are people who enjoy e-readers. That gives writers more options and opportunities.