Happy Friday everyone! I hope that you have some great weekend plans. My older son had his last day of school yesterday. He is happy to be out for the summer, his younger brother loves that he is home more. I am still staying at my in-laws’ house. Monday I see the surgeon to determine if I can begin putting weight on my hip and walking. I should be off crutches by the end of July.
I will be so excited to finally be home again. Well, today I am bringing you a new type of post that I will be trying to do more often…a discussion post. Obviously, you knew what it was if you read the title. As all of you fantastic book lovers know, there has always been a huge debate about ebooks and hardcopy books. Here are my thoughts on both, the good and bad.
Ebooks
Pros
- Space saver: Let me be real here for a minute…I love books. I would spend all my money on books if not for adult things such as bills or my kids. With ebooks, I can own thousands of books and they only take up the space of a small tablet device. This allows me to buy all the books my little heart desires!
- Cheaper: Ebooks tend to be much cheaper than physical copies. This is simply because the publisher does not need to spend vast amounts of money on paper to print them. When you love buying books, saving all you can on them is a bonus.
- Easy night reading: I really enjoy that I can read my nook or kindle (yes I own both) at night without some little book light. It is built right in and adjustable, sometimes with a night mode that limits blue light as well.
- Lightweight: Have you even been reading a really big book and your arms feel like they are about to give out? I have. The ease of reading such large books as ebooks have my arms thanking me. I can read a 600-page book and hold my device comfortably in bed at night.
Cons
- Additional costs: This is one that many fail to consider. You not only have to pay for the ebook itself but for the device. What happens if your device crashes or something else happens…? All your books are lost. You not only have to buy the device to read your books, unless you use your phone, but you have to buy a case as well.
- Battery life: We are so tethered to outlets these days, always charging phones, tablets, laptops, etc. Now you have to charge your device so that you can read a book. I cannot imagine the horror of really wanting to read a great book only to find you are unable because your device has died and there is no charger within your vicinity. The horror!! I hope you brought a backup physical copy of another book to keep you busy.
- Formatting issues: I have read many ebooks that have such bad formatting issues. This takes away from the story and it is hard to move past some of these issues.
- Technical failures: With more technology comes more problems…that is my go-to saying. There are so many possibilities for issues to occur that could prevent you from reading those precious books.
Hardcopy
Pros
- Smell: Nothing compares to the smell of a book, you all know what I am talking about. That big whiff you take when walking into a bookstore or library…that is the smell. It is so comforting. So much so that you can even buy book scented candles, new and old.
- Weight: There is just something about holding a heavy book in your hands. I have fallen asleep many times with a book on my chest, but it is special holding the hard copy of someone’s incredible hard work…their baby. Again, it is comforting to hold a thick, heavy book while in bed at night.
- Decor: Books can be used as decor in any room. Don’t use silly magazines that nobody will read, use books! There are so many cute book decore images…go ahead, search Pinterest.
- Autographed: It is super exciting to buy a signed copy of a book or take it to have it signed. Unlike an ebook, you can bring this with you to be signed. Yes, I am aware that now authors have begun selling autographed ebooks but it is not the same.
Cons
- Paper Cuts: Paper cuts are a reader’s enemy. You are really into a good story, turning the page with an urge to know what happens next when BAM!! Your book turns on you and assaults your poor finger. Just hope you do not bleed on those precious pages.
- Lack of space: Books take up a lot of space. I have three overflowing bookshelves and it is not enough. I suppose I could simply get rid of some that I do not plan on rereading or reading, to begin with, but I have to admit something to you all…I might have a problem. It is possible that I am a book hoarder. I hate parting with those precious paper passports, my portals to other lives. It is also difficult to take multiple books with you when you travel.
- Cost: Have you seen the cost of some of these books lately? I have seen one hardback that costs almost $30! That is almost a bill payment for the month. Now Imagine buying multiple books a month…my bank account would not be happy with me.
- Aging and damage: The sad truth is that time is not a books friend. Pages may yellow and become brittle. If you keep books for a long period of time, you may see aging. If you do not keep your books in perfect condition you will also see typical damage. This includes bent corners, worn edges, etc. I am a perfectionist and love my books in pristine condition. I love the cheap price of buying used books, but I do not always enjoy the condition they are in.
Those are some pros and cons for each, ebooks and physical books, from my perspective. What are some of your pros or cons? Do you prefer to read ebooks or physical books? Personally, I prefer hardcopy books but I read ebooks as well. When discussing physical books, do you prefer paperback or hardcover? I hope you enjoyed this post, please comment below and contribute to the discussion, I would love to hear your thoughts.