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Kindle vs Paper Books, Blow by Blow

It’s nearly Christmas and like a lot of us, I am thinking about my wishlist.

I was talking to my Book Club about the new Kindle and whether it was a good decision to buy or not. At only £89, it’s mighty tempting. One of our friends was raving about hers but I wasn’t convinced. This might be surprising to some. I am a tech-savvy person. I enjoy gadgets. But, when it comes to books, I am reluctant to move to electronic versions.

Here are my reasons:

• I am constantly connected to electronic devices, whether its my desktop or iPhone. I am probably looking at one form of a screen or another for the majority of my waking time. When I read a book, I want it to be different. Books are my down-time, my escape. Continuing to read on a screen just seems like a continuation of my working day rather than a leisure activity.
• I love the feel of a paper book. I like holding it in my hand. I like the feel of turning the pages and using a favourite bookmark. I like seeing the cover artwork whenever I look at my books.
• I just don’t think an electronic device… ANY electronic device (sorry Apple, you know I love you) can compare to the experience of reading a traditional paper book.
• Not all books are available on Kindle.

Here are the buts:

• Electronic devices are a greener option. Are they? Yes, they save trees, but what about:
1. the materials used to make the device
2. the electricity
3. the manpower
4. the working conditions
5. the money and resources it takes to ship the products

(You know, the ‘Carbon Footprint’?) Has anyone done a comparison of Carbon Footprint of a traditional book vs an electronic reader? I don’t know, but I’d like to.

• You can search and download a new book any time on an electronic device, including borrowing from an online library. (To get a new paper book, you have to physically go to a bookstore, library, or buy one online and wait for it to be delivered.)
• The Kindle holds 1400 books. I have several hundred books, but to have 1400 paper books available to me, I would need to buy a new house!
• Kindle books cost less than traditional paper books.
• Kindle books can be read on any electronic device I own.

So, on paper, it looks like the Kindle wins hands down…That being the case, why am I still reluctant? Why am I finding it so hard to ‘move on with the times’? Maybe it’s because I’m a writer and abandoning paper books seems like turning my back on my roots. Maybe it’s because I don’t want to see paper books become extinct. Like so many art forms, bookmaking seems to be a dying breed. I don’t want that. I feel like Meg Ryan in ‘You’ve Got Mail’- the owner of a small independent bookstore (which I happen to absolutely love over big, commercial chains) fighting against the wheels of ‘progress’. My children have at least 100 books between them and they love them. I want them to continue that love and respect for physical books. I want them to know that not everything in life is electronic. I guess I’m just a purist in this respect.

I don’t know whether or not Father Christmas will be leaving a shiny, new Kindle under our Christmas tree…check back to see how the story ends.

In the mean time, leave me a comment. Have you made the switch to electronic readers? Are you against them? Help me decide what to do!