In an age where technology is taking over most of the print media, we still have books. Be it school books, fiction or non-fiction, books are still being published.
I have been an avid reader since I was taught to spell. The love just grew from 25 pages to 50 pages to 100 pages to 300 and 600 and it goes on. During my school days, I’ve been caught with storybooks under my chemistry or physics books multiple times. Any regrets? None whatsoever.
I’ve been hoarding books since I can remember but recently by family gifted me a kindle as a graduation present. I’ve been torn between paperbacks and ebooks since then. Here’s my list of pros and cons for each.
Pros –
- A physical book in the hand to hold
- Able to flip front to back easily
- The smell of a book
- Able to make notes
- Easy to stick post it’s at intervals
- Using lovely bookmarks or anything as a bookmark
- The satisfaction of closing the book and keeping it on a shelf after finishing
Cons:
- Expensive in terms of buying a series
- Can tear easily if not handled properly
- Stains, crumbs, need I go on?
- Chances of not getting it back once you’ve shared it with someone
- Difficult to lug so many while traveling
- Storage issues
Pros –
- Connecting with the newest technology
- Can store up to 1000 books at a time
- No weight issues
- Can download pdfs or epubs or get downloadable links from authors/publishers
- Can read anywhere, anytime (even in the middle of the night)
Cons –
- Need to charge batteries
- Not as colourful as the original books
- Can’t move pages as easily as in paperbacks
- Doesn’t have the feel and smell of a physical book
If I’ve missed out on anything, let me know in the comments below. Cheers to reading, paperback or kindle 😉