In the past year, most of my reading has been done on e-reader devices. For many years, physical books have been my preferred choice given what was available to me, the ability to write notes in the margins, and the tactility of the experience. But since I’ve been writing more, I’ve gotten used to reading on the computer (given all the editing I’ve been doing for my books).
The switch from physical books to e-reader devices has been a long transition for me. For years, I’ve enjoyed having a library of books on my shelf. To see all the books that I’ve read gave me a feeling of accomplishment. But overtime, I found that I rarely returned to those books, and those books became more of a reminder of what I’ve read rather than what I would reread.
I have had an affinity for physical books as far back as I can remember. For one, reading on paper is easier on my eyes, and reaching the end of a book after leafing through all the pages is a reward in itself. Also, in a book that has pictures/illustrations, the images appear much more vivid on paper (at least to my eyes).
As I’ve transitioned to e-reader devices, however, I find them to be a more practical choice. The biggest adjustment was getting used to reading on a screen. At first, I could only read for so long until my eyes got tired or sore. But as I wrote more on the computer, I got used to reading on the screen.
The great thing about ebooks is how inexpensive they are compared to physical books. Also, it’s great when you don’t have to wait for a book to be delivered or to pick it up from a store/library when you can just download it. Another great thing is that if you don’t know what the definition of a word is, you’re just a couple clicks away from finding out.
For me, this is a huge plus since I used to read with a dictionary on hand. The downside was that this delayed the flow of the reading experience, and after taking the time to look up the definition, I would have to double back in the book to recall what I was reading.
Overall, the ease and versatility of ebooks makes them an economical and efficient choice. I will still read physical books from time to time, but it’s great when I can access so many books (as well as the chapters within them) with just a mouse click away.
Fallton Havenstonne 