April 16th, 2012 
Vicky 
Hello and welcome to our fifth Bookish Ramblings post here on Books, Biscuits, and Tea. Bookish Ramblings is a weekly discussion (hosted by me) where I talk about blogging/reading related topics and invite you to share your opinion with me and everyone else. This week I’d like to talk about something that I’m sure involves most of us bloggers. That is,What do you think about ebooks and ebook readers? Do you prefer physical copies (paperbacks/hardbacks) or ebooks? Why? Do you think ebooks could replace physical copies in the future?
When I started blogging last year, I had no idea about such things as ebook readers. I know I must have been living under a rock at the time but it’s true. Then I started my blog and discovered NetGalley. At the same time, I started receiving review books from indie authors and most of them were ebooks. At first I read these and all my NetGalley books on my laptop but even though I don’t mind the LCD screen, the noise of the laptop’s fans soon drove me crazy and I realized that sooner or later, I’ll have to jump on the bandwagon and buy an ebook reader.
I ordered my Kindle in November but I’ve been in love with it ever since. It makes my life so much easier and reading ebooks much more pleasant. I don’t have to stare at my laptop’s screen for hours, it doesn’t have noisy fans to give me a headache and I can finally curl up in bed with a cuppa tea instead of carrying my laptop everywhere. In short, it’s great and I’m glad I decided to buy one.
However, I was flicking through my Book Depository wishlist the other day and started thinking about how whenever I’m looking for a new book, I don’t even consider buying the ebook version – I always go for either the paperback or the hardback edition. It’s interesting that even though I’m running out of space and soon I’ll have to start thinking about getting a new bookshelf, I still prefer physical copies.
Why? For a start, ebooks don’t have shiny/glossy/gorgeous covers I can stare at for days. And even if they had one, it still wouldn’t be the same. You can’t touch ebooks and you can’t smell them either. If you don’t remember someone’s name or a location and you want to look it up, it takes a while to find it, as opposed to simply flicking through the previous chapters in a paperback or a hardback edition. But most importantly, I’m a book hoarder. I love seeing all my books lined up on my bookshelf, organising them in an alphabetical order… and yes, I know I’m weird. 
But I think this is the main reason why I’ll always prefer physical books to ebooks.
Ebooks are really practical and perfect if you’re on the go all the time but for compulsive book hoarders like myself, physical books will always come on top. As a blogger, I love the fact that I can use my Kindle to read review copies I get from publishers or NetGalley. But would I buy a Kindle if I wasn’t a blogger? Probably not. As much as I love it, if I didn’t get review copies or didn’t know what NG was, I wouldn’t bother. I love paperbacks and I’ll always be that way, no matter how much I love my Kindle. And as for ebooks replacing physical books, I don’t see that happening in the near future. They might at some point, but not anytime soon, if you ask me.
What do you think? Do you like ebooks or you’d rather stick with physical books? Why or why not?
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I was set against ereaders for a long time. I thought it wouldn’t be the same as reading a ‘proper’ book and I didn’t want to be a part f their decline.
I was given some money to buy a present for myself when I went on holiday over Christmas and I started debating with myself whether to buy a Kindle. I ended up buying one and I do like it. Once I started reading on it, I soon forgot I wasn’t reading a ‘real’ book.
But I still prefer paperbacks. I love covers and you don’t get that with a kindle edition (the grey picture doesn’t count). I also like to see books lined up on my shelves, although I have to give them away every so often due to lack of space, keeping only my favourites.
I do think kindles etc have their place but I hope they never replace paperbacks.
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I completely agree!
I like to see them all lined up on my bookshelf, even though I’ve reached a point where I’ve literally no more space left for new books and I keep piling them on top of each other. At the same time, I still prefer paperbacks to ebooks. I love my Kindle and I love how easy it is to use and how real it feels but it’ll never replace the real thing.
By the way, I love the Saved By Cake challenge idea on your blog!
I’m a huge Marian Keyes fan so I’ll have to keep an eye on your blog and see how the other cakes turn out, hehe. x x
I think I’ll always prefer the physical version, too. It’s nice having something more solid to hold to, and seeing your progress as you go into the book.
I also bought my kindle recently, and I adore it! I find it awesome when I have to go on a trip or something along those lines, because I can take 50+ books for me and, of course, they don’t weight or take space. And it’s definitely better than reading on a computer.
And yep, the thing that definitely bothers me the most is that I can’t go back and re-read certain parts of the book. It would take me forever to find, and then I’d have to turn back to the point where I was reading… not useful.
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I know, right? I mean, I know you can jump back to a given location in the book but it’s useless if I don’t know how much I have to go back to find the part I’m looking for.
Ebooks are definitely super practical if you’re a commuter or if you travel a lot! I live right in the city centre and I don’t travel a lot so I don’t mind carrying one book with me
I soooo agree with you! I love my Kindle and it was wonderful to have the possibility of having 70 books with me on my holidays last summer but it will not replace my books. Here, I call it my Kindle and my books – does that say enough?
but for me actual book will always be my number one.
I lack space on my bookshelves but still I love buying books. I only buy ebooks when I am not sure if I will like this book, I know that I won’t reread it ever again, if it is way cheaper than the actual book or I want to read it on holidays.
Buying a Kindle was the best decision I made last year
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So would I! I love my Kindle but I mainly use it for reading my e-ARCs or Amazon freebies. If I know a book is a must-have and I’m dying to read it then I’ll order the paperback/hardback edition
Great post Vicky! I have to say I have mixed feeling about this because I have pro’s and con’s on both. I love paperbacks because I love the feel of them but I hardly ever collect them. If I read a book on paperback I’ll always buy the hardcover. BUT with eBooks I love it when I’m running out of space on my shelves. However I still don’t really feel like I’ve got a book with eBooks. lol I think I’m fighting with myself over it and I don’t think I’ll ever choose which I like more!!! lol
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I like hardbacks too!
My only issue with them is that they take up much more space and some of them (especially if it’s a long book) weigh a ton, lol. *small hands FTW*
I could have type this blog, you know.
I still think that my decision to buy an e-reader is one of the best ideas I’ve ever had. It’s so much easier to read on my e-reader when I’m traveling to school.
It’s better to bring my e-reader with me on holiday, since my father always complained about the space all my books took :p
But there’s nothing that can compare to paperbacks (don’t really like hardcover). The feeling of a book in your hands, the smell. And if I buy a book, I really have the feeling I bought something. When I buy an e-book, it doesn’t feel that way.. It’s not really touchable. And I have the same thing: if I’m on the internet to buy books, I never go to the e-book selection. I always wonder around looking for paperbacks I want.
I’m also a book hoarder. I’m always busy with my books. Putting them on another spot, putting another order in my collection. I love that
And with an e-reader, I really miss that feeling. But it’s so much easier with Netgalley and on the road.
I have noticed that I read much faster now I have my e-reader. Do you have the same feeling or is it just me? :p
Melanie @thedailyprohecy recently posted..Old review 8. Mercedes Lackey – Beauty and the werewolf.
Yay, book hoarders unite!
I consider myself quite lucky because whenever I’m on holiday, I take only one book with me. I’m usually knackered by the time I get back to the hotel/hostel and I don’t feel like reading so 1 book is usually more than enough. Plus, I’m not a commuter either so it doesn’t really matter if I’m carrying a book with me or not, hehe.
But yeah, it’s definitely very practical and it’s SO great, it’s much better than reading on your computer.
Actually, there’s a few people who said that they think they read faster on their Kindles but I don’t think I do. Well… it depends on the book, I’d say. I like the fact that it tells you how far you’ve got so far in %s which is great for motivation
But for me it’s rather the book itself that matters, not the fact that it’s an ebook or a paperback. 
I’ll never like ebooks as much as actual books, i like to hold them, flip the pages, not.. read electronically. It’s not fun, I don’t enjoy it at all.
I’d choose paperback over ebook anytime!
Ella
Read Into Hiding
Looks like us book flippers/book smellers and book hoarders are the majority
I agree! I’m pretty sure I’ll always prefer physical copies. I like reading ebooks too but they’re nothing like the real thing. They’re practical if you’re on the go or if you have lots of e-ARCs to read (or have no more space left in your house) but I wouldn’t choose an ebook over a paperback. *shakes head*
I prefer to read a paperback or a hardback, but since I joined Netgalley, I also read kindles on my PC.
I think it is very hard to read on my screen, so I consider to buy a kindle soon!
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I am/was the same as you!
I prefer paperbacks/hardbacks but NetGalley was the main reason why I finally bought my Kindle. I found it really hard to read on my computer and it’s been a great decision, that’s for sure. I love my Kindle, even though I still prefer my paperbacks. 
But it’s really practical for all those e-ARCs!
At first I was appalled at the whole ebook thing. I will always love the feel of a real book in my hands as I read it, but my Kindle makes it easier (and cheaper) to buy a lot more stories.
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Kindle all the way!! I’d much rather read on my Kindle than a paperback or hardback now. It actually feels uncomfortable to read a paperback. MUCH prefer my Kindle!! I can’t read and eat with a paperback. I have limited space and I can have as many books as I want. With my Kindle I can. I can honestly say I’ve never smelled a book. I read faster on my Kindle too. I LOVE MY KINDLE!!!
I did a discussion post on this topic several months ago, here’s what I have to say:
http://www.thesweetbookshelf.com/2012/01/kindle-vs-traditional-book.html
Mary-Sweet Bookshelf recently posted..Review: Rules of the Game by Sandy James
I remember the first time I ever saw a Kindle, one of my friends’ mother-in-law had one – I was seriously blown away at how awesome the concept was. I’m really anal about the condition of my books, so this seemed like the perfect way for me to read and not ruin my books.
Then the next Christmas, my husband got me a Kindle and I got him a Sony eReader. I am in love with my Kindle. Where I would’ve brought a book back in the day – now I bring my Kindle. I still read “real” books just as much, but if I leave the house, I don’t bring them with me. Just my Kindle. I personally think that if you truly love books, it doesn’t matter what form they come in, as long as you can read them
I will always love physical books, but this year I have gone almost completely with ebooks. We move a lot, and I have had to part with books, simply because it wasn’t practical to ship them. Now I can carry them everywhere! Another reason, is that I have RA, and since I read alot it is easier to hold my nook.
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I know what you mean! I’m a book hoarder too, and whenever I buy new, physical books, I open them up and smell them. I just love the smell of fresh paper. I’m weird like that.
I prefer reading physical books because they help me get into the story better. I mean, it’s holding a real book in your hands and not just some device. It doesn’t feel the same.
I think eBooks will replace physical books in the future. Not yet, but it might happen. These eBooks have already gotten hold of my dad–he tries to discourage me from getting physical copies from the bookstore. Says they’re a waste of space. But, please. It’s nice to see your room stacked to the ceiling with books.
Meg K. recently posted..Book Review: Tomorrow Land by Mari Mancusi
I think there is room for both in the world. I used to hate the idea of ebooks but now I have no idea what I did without my Kindle. As a blogger who doesn’t live in the US or somewhere else with major publishers, 99% of the review books I get are ebooks so it’s invaluable for that alone.
While I adore getting books in the mail and having them on my shelf, I find them heavy and tiring to hold while reading and prefer my Kindle in that aspect.
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I personally like both. Plus, I still like going to the library and checking out books. I think that we will have paperbacks for the time being. I still know people that refuse to get an ereader.
Marika
Marika Weber recently posted..Hunky Hero Giveaway Blog Hop Starts
Great post, Vicky
& I am with you on all the points you have made. I will always prefer a physical copy to an e-book, to be honest I hate e-reading. I bought a cheap E-reader just for review copies of books & I haven’t even been able to read more than 3. I don’t know why but I just don’t enjoy it. I am a book hoarder myself & I love looking at all my pretties on the shelves & also being able to say to friends & family “Go pick a book from up-stairs.” You just can’t do that with E-readers & unfortunately I don’t think I will ever warm to them. If they ever did replace physical copies completely I would seriously miss the stacks of books I haul in & out of the library on a weekly basis. 
Carly @Fiction Fascination recently posted..Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright – Blog Tour
It looks like I’m in the minority here, but I much prefer ebooks over print copies. I live in a very tiny apartment, and I barely have room for my school textbooks as it is – I can’t imagine having even more shelves for the books I read for pleasure. That, and I love the convenience of having several titles to choose from in one device.
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Ah, I’m with you on that one! My room is tiny and even though I have quite a large bookshelf, I now reached a point where I can no longer fit in anything else. So now I basically keep piling them up on top of each other, haha. I’ve no idea what I’m going to do with my books when I move in about 2 years’ time!
I love my Kindle, and as much as I loved holding books, physically turning pages and oh the smell of a new book! Nothing compares to the lightness of being able to carry as many books as you want without the weight or space! It was because of my mom getting me a Kindle for Christmas that I began blogging. And I think it’s great how e-readers have evolutionized reading for readers but authors themselves as well. How many wonderful books would I have missed out on if I didn’t have my Kindle? Too many…
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Great post! I love both, but I prefer physical books more. You can actually feel and smell them, not to mention the nice covers! E-Books are so practical though; such a thin device can store thousands of books.
I was a kindle for a 30th birthday present and I have to confess I hadn’t really considered an ereader before. However, I do love the convenience of it – I just adore how light it is, easy to carry and like you being able to read netgalley and review books! But you’re right I keep buying physical books as well as there is something I love about putting book on my shelves and of course I covet pretty book covers…If I had to choose only one, it would be physical books – but I love having the option of either!
Mel S recently posted..Hellforged Review
I honestly couldn’t give up either one. I love my Kindle for its efficiency and speed (and those dangerous midnight 1 click downloads, hah), but I still love paper books, too. I love the tactile pleasures of both, and I love the experience of both, I think it really just depends on the book.
Wendy @ The Midnight Garden
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I like this post. I had to think about it after I finished reading, and I think I agree with you. Had I not become a book blogger and been given the opportunity to read ARCs via NetGalley, I probably wouldn’t have bought an ereader. In fact, I rarely even buy books for it. I’ll get the odd novella or companion book to a series, but I think I’ve only actually bought one book for it. The rest are usually gifted or free.
I definitely prefer actual, tangible books. I love the smell, the weight, the turning of the pages. I don’t think I’ll ever give them up!
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) recently posted..COVER LOVE: Paper Towns, by John Green
Yes, I love my Kindle. I actually have two. But, the e-book pricing wars are kind of annoying me. Currently, I’m waiting until all the hoopla dies down before purchasing more, until then I have plenty of books in my library to keep me well read. LOL
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I think I prefer traditional print books over e-books. Honestly, I forget about my Nook from time to time. It’s only when I go to the library and use their “digital library’ that I remember I have an e-reader. Also, I totally understand where you are coming from when you talk about your book hoarding. I love the feel of books. The pretty covers images and fonts are nice to look at as well. With an e-reader, or at least with MY e-reader — I have a 1st generation Nook, you don’t get that color saturation.
Great post, btw.
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I was once a book hoarder, but I gave up my hoarding ways last year. I just got to a point where it just wasn’t important for me to keep them. So when I finish a physical copy now, I pass it on. I prefer ebooks. Physical copies take me longer to read, and they’re more of a pain for me. So when I finish a physical copy, I pass it on to a good home.
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I love both!! I go through phases of wanting to read the physical book, loving the smell of a new book. However, my hands suddenly get tired of forcing the book to stay open. I love my ereader (Kindle) and will read on that for several books. I buy both of them very equally. I will never miss browing a physical book store!
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I still haven’t got down to purchasing a Kindle. While paper books does mean we don’t save the trees, somehow reading paper books is a sin, I can live with.
I began accepting books for review only recently and am still trying to stick to paperback editions.
After an entire day of staring at the computer screen at work, I sure don’t need to look at a pdf/word document of an ebook!
Guess, someday, somewhere down the line, printed editions will be no more…. but till then, I want my paperback! (I think hard back copies are a luxury, but paper backs a necessity!)
LuKa (Lubna) recently posted..We Interrupt our Programming
Amazing post,Vicky.I agree with everything you say.I prefer printed books and nothing in the world is not better of the smell of new book while you turning the pages.I just buy bookshelf and I needed another one.
I am the opposite. I love my Kindle and have had it since 2008. I appreciate that I can hoard as many as 3000k books on it. I could never have that many in my house. I also appreciate the ease. Only having to pack a small Kindle when going on vacation. So much more convenient. I gave up on book hoarding because I don’t have room. Nice to see the discussion here.
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I never thought I’d ever buy an eReader and then, with all those eBooks through NetGalley, I finally caved after only two months of book blogging. So, you’re not alone in that decision! Reading on the computer screen sucks!!
!
As to which I prefer to buy? Honestly, that would be paperbacks. Or hardcover editions that have been seriously reduced in price. More than a year has passed since I bought my eReader and I only purchased three books, yep THREE, and that was due to the fact that those novels were from indie authors and not available as physical books (at least not at the time). The thing is … as much as I appreciate my no-name eReader which has served me well, I am now contemplating getting the new Kindle Touch. But that’s a story for another day
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