The Hopefuls discussion

This is another kindle vs paperback argument.
I have been arguing with myself for the last couple of months about the positives and negatives on E-books or paperbacks. On one hand I love the e-books easiness of being able to carry it anywhere and the quickness of being able to think I want to read this book and then having it straight away and not have to worry about postal and packaging or delivery estimates... But then I sort of feel like I'm cheating slightly and I would hate for a day - like music - where the actual physical book becomes slightly more rare. I love the smell of new books and the reading of the actual book rather than clicking the button of my kindle and it turning the page... But I can't argue that e-books are just slightly better in every way - price, convenience, weight... Am I the only one being to set in their ways to change? Thoughts?

I find this a really difficult argument, like the argument of how to pronounce 'Oreo'. I think paperbacks are really good to have because if you want to swap books with someone then you can, it also helps when you want to try out a book but you don't want to buy it because you don't know if you'll like it. E-books are usually a bit cheaper and easier to buy, like you said, but I personally think its good to have both so that you get a bit of classic and a bit of modern.

I always prefer to read shorter books on paper or hardback, and read the really thick and heavy books on my ereader, because if I tried to carry around books like Les Mis or The Once and Future King around all the time, I'd end up breaking my back or something

The only reason I pay more for my books is the experience of going into a book shop, I find it really relaxing, it sort of keeps me sane, also I'd like to support the book industry, like you said, we could see a rare amount of books in the future.

I do like that my kindle has a bunch of books in one small space however I'm scared to take it anywhere in case it breaks, I'm constantly losing it because it's so small, and it runs out of battery, books don't need to be plugged in!!

Ailish wrote: "The only reason I pay more for my books is the experience of going into a book shop, I find it really relaxing, it sort of keeps me sane, also I'd like to support the book industry, like you said, ..."

I had never thought about the actual experience of going into a bookshop! I think it's going to be always paperback for me!

I love reading paperback books and am not a fan of ebooks. However, some of the novellas in series that I read are only available as ebooks, so that is the only time I will read an ebook.

I always prefer paperback over hard back and if I've started reading a series in paperback I don't like to get the rest in ebook form.

Both :) I usually buy bks first in ebook format and if I really like the book then, I will also buy it in paperback :)

I have limited space for books and this way my book shelves (physical) are filled with all my favs only :)

I well just read paperbacks only have got a Kindle yet

I personally love reading paperbacks. I love going book shopping in bookstores and second hand shops. It is just so much fun and I can never imagine myself not doing that. I also love having physical books in my room. To me they are the best decorations. Plus I also love it when I can let someone borrow a book or when I can donate a book I don't want to own anymore. It is all a lovely experience for me. But I also enjoy reading on my kindle. I need to do it more but what I have read on my kindle has been nice. It is very convenient and not as weird as I thought it would be. It feels like reading a normal book to me. Personally, I will always prefer the physical book to e-book but I think both are amazing and will be reading both formats in the future. I can see why people would love e-books though. There are so many reasons. I know some people don't like clutter or like owning many things so a kindle is a perfect way for those people to own a giant library of books without having there house covered in stacks and stacks of books. Plus it is convenient and cheaper than buying physical books sometimes. There are just so many positive things about e-books and I think it is wonderful that technology has allowed such a wonderful thing to be apart of this world :) So yeah I can see both sides of the argument but personally I can see the positives and enjoy both formats for what they are.

I've just purchased my first Kindle, thank you Student Loan Company ;) but I'll still read paperbacks (the ones I already own). I'm running out of storage now so I feel that this is the best option. :)