I have quite a love/hate relationship with e-books. I’ve never been able to decide what I feel about them, even though I do own an e-reader, and use it. Though, certainly not as much as I do physical books, whether I buy them or borrow them from the library. But… lately I’ve been on the fence. So, clearly the only obvious thing I could do was create a list. Pro’s and cons of e-books. And I certainly would love to hear your input on this subject, since I’m so much of a teeter-totter here. 😉
the pros
1.) You can buy or borrow as many e-books as you want, wherever you are. (Provided you have wifi.) I’m always worried I’ll run out of books (as is often the case!) when I’m on trips or not at home, but don’t want to bring too many. With e-books, I have the weight of one book and dozens loaded on it!
2.) You can borrow books from the library on your e-reader or phone! This is possibly the best invention in all the world, if you ask me. Especially because a) As unfortunate as it may be, I’m not made of money. I depend on the library. And b) I’ve still two years before I can drive, so my mom has to take me to the library, and since she’s superwoman, she doesn’t always have time.
The bad thing about this? YOU CAN’T PAY LIBRARY FEES ONLINE. Why is this?! Surely this is possible. So if I do have over-due books, I can’t put any on hold or check them out on my e-reader until I go to the library. But I want to check them out on my e-reader because I can’t GO to the library yet. But I can’t check them out until I GO to the library. The fix for this issue is simple, but the public library system is still working on website glitches, so I suppose they can’t add anything like paying library fees online at the moment. *Sigh*
3.) Books are cheaper. When I do have the money to buy books, I try not to pay full price, unless I’m doing so to support the author. Used bookstores are my best friends. But again, there’s the no driver’s license problem (ugh. I’m tall enough to reach the pedal! I’m two inches taller than my mom! WHAT’S THE PROBLEM.) (Alright, alright, I see the problem with a thirteen-ALMOST-fourteen-year-old-driving-mostly-being-she’s-so-immature-she-adds-the-almost-there, but still.) (Sorry. I do so get sidetracked.)
ANYWAY. If I buy an e-book, I’m not going to pay the full price. Why don’t I just buy the physical book, then? (With the exception of The Selection series, because I’d do anything to read those books, including spending all of my money and then some in three days to read the three books.) That’s where BookBub comes in handy. Go create an account, will you? It’s a life saver.
the cons
1.) E-books are great, but the e-READER occasionally fails. For example, I have a Kindle Fire HD, which is great. But the glare on the screen is – AGH. I’m looking into a Kindle Paper white, but until that happens, I’ve got to deal with the glare. Also, you can’t buy e-books onto your Kindle or Kindle app on your phone. You can read books that are in your Kindle Library on your phone, but you have to buy them on your Kindle, or Amazon on your computer. I don’t take my Kindle everywhere with me, so my phone comes in handy then! (The small screen doesn’t bother me.) But not if I’ve already read the books on my phone!
2.) My Kindle just doesn’t smell like a real book. That may sound ridiculous, but I take my life as a bookworm very seriously. Ask anyone I know – I can’t read a book without smelling the pages. It’s like looking at a night sky without stars.
3.) These images speak for themselves.
So that’s where I stand with e-books. What about you? Hate em or love em?
Hate em.
I’m not quite sure why, but I just can’t STAND e-books. They’re just so… flat. And they feel fake. :p The loveliness of books is that you can hold the book and smell the pages and
get papercuts.Maybe it’s also that I already spend SO much time on the computer, so staring at the screen some more just doesn’t sit well with my eyes. *shrugs* You can get ebooks for free a lot on Amazon (or for 99 cents) which is really nice.
I completely understand what you mean by “fake.” Lol… one time, I was complaining to my mom about not being able to smell the pages of the book when I was using my Kindle and she says, “So hold one of your books next to your Kindle and smell the pages while you read on the Kindle.” 😉
Very true. I do spend a lot of time looking at screens, too, and I try not to be looking at them for a while before bed… so when I read before bed, on my Kindle, it keeps me awake instead of making my sleepy.
Yes, that is one plus: CHEAP. 😉
I’m with you. I can’t decide. I dont read many e books, but they are conveinent. I also strugle with the glare. I have a nook hd ( and I adore it!) But I’m worried about wrecking my eyes if I read too much on it. My family has a nook paper white so I might use that if I’m going to read on it. I just tend to prefer book books. But I want to read more on my nook too. It is hard to decide. I’ve been wondering about bookbub. I’ll text you about it, or write about it in my next letter. 🙂
Yeah. I really hate the glare. Also, if I look at a screen for TOO long, particularly with my contacts, my eyes start to get watery.
I really want a paper white. I had an old Kindle I sold a few months ago (since it was almost four years old and didn’t even update enough to have newer books to buy ON the Kindle), but it was a paper white and I loved it.
I love them! But I definitely prefer owning a paper copy of a book if I can. It’s just… the FEEL of it, I guess. And you’re right. A physical library is so much more impressive. Though carrying around hundreds of books in one device IS pretty cool, you have to admit.
It sounds like you’re in the same boat as me! There are definitely pros and cons for both. Sometimes, for me, it’s just a matter of which I’m in the mood to read on, since they both pretty much have equal pros and cons.
Hey Emily! I loved this post! I never read on an e-book, the screen (though you can adjust the light) hurts my eyes. I’ll take a good old book any day. I can trust it won’t die on me and I like the feel of the pages. And flipping to the end of the book. Plus I’m old school. I love the pictures!
By the way, I tagged you in a challenge (you’re like the only blogger I know, so…): https://pensandcastlesonacloud.wordpress.com/2015/06/26/three-day-three-quote-challenge-im-alive-btw/
If you’d check it out, that’d be great! Thanks!
I forgot about that – having to keep your Kindle charged! Although, that part never bothers me, since I just remember to charge it up at night and I’m good to go the next day. Haha, you and me both – I’m old school, too. 😉
Cool! I’m going to check it out now. 🙂 Thanks, Grace!
I like using my e-Reader, and I will say that I’ve never had a glare problem with my Kindle paperwhite! I really like that thing, and using Bookbub makes it super easy! I never feel like I’m not reading a real book on my Kindle, so for me it’s no biggie. I think it’s easy in that regard. I really like having a Kindle, so I’m not going to say anything mean about it. No call to do that.
I’m pretty sure I would love my Kindle ten times more if it weren’t for the glare! Actually, I’m thinking I might sell the one I have now to get a paper white… that might clear up a few cons for me when it comes to e-books! I do love it! Good to hear someone less of a teeter about it. 😉
Yesss… I’m with you- I can’t decide!! On one hand, it’s really easy to have my Kindle or device to read on if I’m in a dark car or stuck without books. But on the other hand…I lost the charger to my Kindle, so I can’t use it, and I just love REAL books. 🙂
Not the online books aren’t real, I just meant tangible books. ^^
Oh, no! Ugh, that stinks. My Kindle charger is always in the same place: plugged in beneath my desk. I plug it in at night, read it in the day, and it’s all good. Unless I take it with me on trips. THEN I might misplace it… 😉
I use my kindle app way more than I read physical books because of where I live and what types of books I tend to read. But I will always enjoy the physical beauty of books, and I love browsing bookstores and libraries more than websites.