When I talk with book lovers and mention that I read with an e-reader, the person usually states “I hate reading on screens,” or “there’s no way I’d read an eBook, I like ‘real’ books” I nod with understanding as the person lists the benefits of reading with a “real” book. The most common reason for the love of “real” books is the tactile experience.
Reading is a form of relaxation, and I get that reading with a “real” book is part of a ritual that connects some of us who were around before computers and phones were part of life with our past. I definitely understand that connection.
The objective of this post is to give my experience with e-readers, because I find people instantly assume that in order to read an eBook, one must read on a phone, tablet (such as an iPad or Kindle Fire) or computer. I rarely use any of these options. I have a vision problem that makes me very sensitive to light and reading on the usual tech screens grows painful within an hour.
My preference is the Kobo Clara and the Kindle Oasis. Both e-readers use e-ink (with Kindles it’s called paperwhite) which mimics reading on paper. The devices can be read in bright sunlight (hello beaches). The font styles, sizes, margins, and line spacing are all adjustable, a great feature since I’m needing stronger and stronger eyeglasses as I get older. And, the best part is that neither device hurts my eyes.
The Kobo Clara is the one I use the most. I like it a little better than my Kindle because it has a soft orange glow in the evenings that lets me read in bed without disturbing my hubby. The Kindle’s light is slightly brighter and if I could lower it one more level it’d be perfect.
The cost of the eReader is often another protest. Who would want to pay $100 or more just to read a book? It’s a fair point. However, you have access to library eBooks, countless free eBooks, and lately, I’ve noticed that eBooks are cheaper than the print books. With some of the best-selling authors, I’ve gotten their books for $2-6. Hence the reason my reading pile is so big.
I baby my tech. My Kobo is about ten years old. My current Kindle is about seven years old. I’ve owned three different versions of the Kindles, not because they wore out, but because my first one was purchased in 2007 and the tech evolved.
Do I miss “real” books? I thought I did. Until someone loaned me an epic fantasy book that was nearly 1,000 pages. While reading it, I protested that I had to hold the book with two hands instead of one, plus I couldn’t easily carry it around with me and read in snatches. So, I guess over the years, I’ve adapted.
Do I still own “real” books? Yes. I collect books. There’s that warm fuzzy feeling that I get when I look at my favorite books on a bookshelf. I reminisce about what a great book it was and often seek out the author to see if they have any new books.
Then there are some books such as cookbooks and art books that the print version makes way more sense than the eBook version. It’s a tactile thing. I can flip through it, mark it up, and study the pictures in more detail.
If you’ve never used an e-reader before, I recommend you give it a try. You might find you read more books with an e-reader because of the convenience.
Most of the time, I don’t know where my phone is, but I know exactly where my Kobo is.
