EBOOKS // are they actually books, and other critical questions.

Ebooks. Some people love them. Some people hate them.
Some people enjoy their ease of transportation, the lower prices, the ability to change font size. Some people think they aren’t real books.
This age old debate has definitely seen plenty of discussion posts and heated arguments, so here I am, to add another one to that list and discuss the pros and cons of eBooks!

*also I’m currently on holiday so sorry for slow replies/lack of blog hopping!

We’ll begin with the negatives. Probably the most popular debate, particularly among the online book community (bookstagram, looking at you ;).

• They’re not that aesthetic Yes, you can buy cute covers for your kindle or a nice case for your iPad. But will it ever look as nice as a stunning book cover. You don’t get the nice foil effect, or the coloured pages, or the shiny embossing. But you do get a nice black and white version of the cover?
• They run out of battery A book will never run out on you, unless you put the book down or reach the end (but in this case we’ll assume you’re right in the middle, at the juicy bit). What if? You’re at the height of the action, there’s a raging battle, or the MCs are just about to have their first kiss after realising they actually like each other and then… your battery dies. Unlucky.
• Other distractions Especially if your e-reader is a device other than a Kindle or similar, and you use that device for other things (e.g. a phone can also be used for emails, social media, games etcetera), there is the opportunity for distractions. An email coming through from work. A notification that your daily bonus has arrived in Fight List, or your best mate has sent you a funny meme in the dms (of an account you need to request which is always the way). When your device is also your device for other things, it can be a distraction and lead to less reading getting done than you would have liked.

As a Kindle girl through and through (just a step below Dumbledore’s man through and though), I may be a little bit biased. But I personally think ebooks are great. Just saying ;).

• Ebooks are cheaper Once you’ve bought the actual device you want to read on (and this could be a device you already have like your phone), the ebooks themselves are SO MUCH cheaper. For example: I downloaded the book The Night Circus (which I really enjoyed and gave 4 stars) for 99p on Amazon. 99p. It is £7.99 as a paperback.
• You can change the font size/colour How many times have I seen people complain about large books having tiny fonts that you have to squint to read? So many times. Yet with an ebook – font is too small? Easy, click Aa and then increase the size?! Too big? Decrease the size? Prefer reading on yellow paper? Easy. Change the colour. Simple.
• Ease of buying a new book Like I mentioned above, books end. Physical books are also not that easy to go and purchase. You have to either place an order online, or go into a shop, where you may not always be near one. But with ebooks, you can simply go online, hit download and BAM you’re sorted. In under 2 minutes.
• No need to dog-ear Explains itself really. Ebooks save the page for you – no need to dog-ear or panic finding a bookmark. No chance of the bookmark falling out or the page unfolding. Sorted.
• You can buy as many books as you want without taking up shelf space Another common bookworm complaint is not having enough bookshelf space for all the books you have. With ebooks, you’re sorted.

There’s also the question which I actually see mentioned quite a lot and that is – do ebooks (and audiobooks) actually count as reading?
And to the people who ask that question I say: is that actually a question?
Of course they’re reading! It’s the same book, same words, same story, just in a different format!
Why shouldn’t people choose how they want to read?! Surely we should encourage reading rather than questioning how people choose to read!

Which side of the debate are you on? Ebooks or physical books? Or audiobooks?

Let’s talk in the comments below!
Emme x

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