I'd contemplated buying a NOOK, as I'm old and most of my authors are not carried in stores. Then a friend posted about reading paper books until her dying day. And I read an excerpt from a book where the author railed against e-readers, stating that nothing beats the feel of paper under his fingers. Both these instances reinforced the fact that my love for the written word needs to remain secure in the paper book realm.
There's a joy in browsing shelves. After my web order, I realized that I had neglected to purchase a new release that I really, really, really wanted to read as soon as possible. I headed to my local Barnes and Noble, and let out a contented sigh as I entered, inhaling the aroma of books, nerds and coffee. I grab the last two copies of the book I came in for, then notice a 50% bin with a book by a long lost favorite author. $6.00. Then happened on a Jim Butcher book for 45% off. $8.00. HOW COULD I PASS THEM UP?!?! As the cashier totaled my purchase and placed in a bulging plastic bag, I was giddy. I couldn't wait to get these books home and READ THE CRAP OUT OF THEM.
Sometimes I feel that the simple joys in life are the only things that keep me from being a shut in. Which is odd, considering these books are going to make me a recluse for a bit. So. That's confusing. I have dinner plans tonight and tomorrow, and plans with myself for Friday, but Saturday and Sunday you'll probably find me in my room, curled up with a quilt, a dog named Kevin and a shit ton of books.
OH MY GOD! I GOT CONFIRMATION THAT IT SHIPPED! IT SHIPPED! YAY!
I just peed a little bit.
The awesomeness of a book purchase of that size is exciting, even vicariously!
ReplyDeleteI'll admit it, I've got a Kindle, because The Future, but if it's either a series that I already have the previous books in paper form, or I just really dig the author, I'll always buy the physical book. I originally wanted the Kindle after my months of traveling around the world with books. I wanted something that was more portable, even though no matter where I was I always stopped in at any new/used book stores I found, and I really enjoyed the take a book, leave a book policy at a lot of the hostels I stayed at.
I know exactly that book smell you were talking about. My roommate once described my room as "Smelling like a used book store", and I was overjoyed.
In all honesty the turning point for me to decide to seriously get a Kindle was when xkcd compared it to The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. http://xkcd.com/548/
So yes I own a Kindle, and I buy real books too. Of course it also helps that shortly after I got my Kindle I was "bequeathed" a folder of over 1500 ebooks...
You had to throw a Hitchhiker's Guide reference in there. Now I HAVE to look at it in a new light. Thanks, Marson! Thanks a lot!
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm too sentimental. I remember where I got almost all of my favorites, and downloading an e-book wouldn't be the same as finding a bookstore in the Netherlands that carried English versions of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series with the variant covers. Or the Terry Pratchett I bought in Prague on my first day alone in a foreign country. Hey! TP has been with me during some great moments.
I see the convenience and I think it would be good for a jetsetter...but then what would I put my boarding passes in? :)