The thing I always think about first, when someone mentions e-books or audiobooks, is convenience. It's easier to carry around a kindle etc than a whole bunch of books. It's easier to read a book when you can switch up the formatting to the way you like it best. It's easier to log in and download a new book than going out and buying or borrowing one. It's more convenient to just pop on an audio book and let the story play as you drive or go for a jog or wash the dishes or whatever else requires your hands but not your mind.
In regards to Reader Advisory and recommending books to people there is also something to be said for recommending book without having to deal with the preconceived notions tied in with cover and book design. Many different genres have distinctive cover styles. Just by glancing at the front of a book I can, fairly accurately, tell whether a book is a romance, a mystery, Scifi, fantasy, a popular suspense title, etc. Even within a given genre there are different tropes for cover art. There are certain fantasy books that I can tell just from the cover that I won't enjoy, because I know X-type stories get X-type of covers. I know I, and plenty of other people, get into reading ruts and it's easy to get boxed in by book cover assumptions. Or page number. Or size and design of the book. By taking away those properties it becomes harder to stay in that exact rut you've been in. It also becomes easier to sell someone on a new book if they don't come at it prejudging because of visual aspects.
That being said, there are some drawbacks to these formats. Books don't have to be charged. You can't corrupt a book file, crack its screen, or accidentally delete a book. Also, when reading a print book your hands and mind are occupied with that activity. Reading electronically, for me at least, always has the temptation to go... check my email, scroll down Tumblr, watch a kitten video, etc. There are too many other options. Listening to audio books are even worse. Not only does it take me a lot longer, to listen to a book that to read one , but without the visual aspect of reading my likelihood of getting distracted from the story is almost a certainty. By switching to a less traditional format I lose the ability to do justice to the story.
Like everyone, I can see the good in Ebooks in cutting down cost and size ( and I agree with the Powerpoint about being easier for fans of romance and erotica). But I like actually seeing TWO pages, I like to know where I am, and I like not having my eyes water or get crossed. As for audio, it's neat once and while but it does affect pace because reading silently can be sometimes quicker than someone reading every word. I might try to do for books I can't physically get, but I prefer print over digital
ReplyDeleteI agree!! I do not want, nor do I ever want, an ereader. I want to hold a book in my hands, I want to see both pages, and I want to physically turn a page....not slide a screen. Don't get me wrong, I love technology and my smart phone but when it comes to reading I am a little old-fashioned. Also, as Sarah said, you can't scratch a book!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I can understand the convenience of e-books but I still have no desire to own an e-reader. I think audiobooks are great as well as they are great for people that travel a lot and for people that cannot read. I have a harder time visualizing when listening to a book. I get distracted easily when I am listening to someone rather then reading the words myself.
ReplyDeleteLet me paint a picture: I didn't want a cell phone when they first came out. My dad got a free one with his plan and laid it on my bed for me when I returned home from a college break. I thought there was no way I would need it. Why can't they just call the house? Then I didn't think texting was that big of a deal. I mean, just call my cell, right? This continued with Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. Then I became the harshest critic of the e-reader (I would not cheat on my books, ever), but then my mom bought me a Kindle, and now I can't put it down. At first we resist, but it eventually makes sense. I actually get mad when I have to read a book in print. Ebooks are usually cheaper, and I can download a new one from my bed when I finish the first book in a series. My public library has an amazing ebook selection, so I read most of my books from the library. Because I finish most books at 2 or 3 a.m., this option is great for me. I agree that I hate audiobooks because I can't keep paying attention without a visual. I honestly forget I'm reading an ebook. It just feels like another amazing story :)
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