To e-read or not to e-read?

When e-books first came out, I was quite resistant to the whole idea. I couldn't imagine giving up so-called "real books" to read a soulless, uninviting electronic file.  As time went by, I gradually opened my mind to the whole idea. As a fast reader, I often brought several books with me on vacation (this didn't work so well when I was flying). I wanted the practicality of bringing a dozen books with me without taking up so much space. My husband sure didn't enjoy stopping constantly on road trips to buy books and it just seemed like the smarter way to go.  I wasn't willing to give up my "pretty" books- my shelf full of old hardcover books just can't be replaced by an electronic shelf- but for the everyday read it seemed like a great option. Once I embraced the e-reading movement,  I started thinking about what type of  device to buy. At first I only considered  the e-reader options but when the tablets started to come out, I wondered if that would be a better way to go.

I am not good at making decisions and I was torn. I loved the idea of the "smart ink" technology on many E-readers since it would seem more like a real book, but I also loved the functionality and practicality of the tablets. My laptop, at four years of age, was a bit of a senior citizen and my techno-savvy husband recommended the ipad for its high quality and great features. I started to lean towards the tablet side of the question and although I considered other brands, the ipad2 just seemed to be the best option for me. My husband very kindly bought me one for my birthday in July and I love it!  I take it with me wherever I go and I use it constantly, particularly for reading and for the internet. Sometimes I wish I had chosen an e-reader because there can be glare on the screen when you are reading outside or in the car, but I absolutely love the other features of the ipad. One great feature is  the fact that I am not limited to one merchant; I can purchase books from ibooks, Amazon and Kobo. I love this because I can shop around for the best price and use a variety of gift cards. Sometimes I have to check all three just to find the book I'm looking for so it works well to have the choice. I would consider that a significant drawback if I could only buy from one merchant because of the e-reader brand.

One of the perks of e-books is the price. For example, when I decided to read the Game of Thrones series, I found the first four books for $15.00 on Amazon. You can't beat that. Or when the last Jack Reacher book came out, I was able to purchase it for only $12.00 (rather than the $30 in stores) and my husband and I were able to read it at the same time, on different devices. As well, I can borrow books from the public library without having to leave my home and I never get overdue fees since the books are removed automatically from my device.

Although I will continue to buy hardcover classics to decorate my living room, it feels very liberating to stop cluttering up my house with books I probably won't read again. I have embraced it wholeheartedly and I don't plan to go back.  Anyone who is resistant to the e-book movement, keep an open mind. You just might love it!