The Book is Dead, Long Live the Book!
E-readers have been around for a few years now, and there’s no denying that they look as though they’ve got their digital feet under the table.
There are a few different models on the market today, all lightweight, easy to carry when travelling, sporting many days worth of battery life, and an extensive catalogue of books and other publications availble to buy and read. Prices vary from around £60 to around £200 depending on the model, size and the brand.
Since their release, I’ve been stubbornly of the view that I don’t want, or need an e-reader. The reason is plain and simple; I love my books. Some might say I’m a trifle addicted. For me, there’s nothing quite like walking out of a bookshop with a bag laden down with them, or a parcel arriving with literary treasure packed inside, or rearranging my bookshelves to make them fit. Or the heady rush of adrenaline when I find that rare book I’ve been looking for, and have to have it there and then, and damn the expense! Subterranean Press, I’m looking firmly in your direction here!
However, I’ve recently been contemplating my book collection, and while the general progrosis is good, there are a few anomolies.
One of the problems is that I’m starting to run out of room to house new additions. I’ve sold a few volumes locally, but not enough to make much of a dent on the overflowing shelves.
There are also a few books that I’ve had since I was about twelve or thirteen, and whilst they’ve not been abused in any way, they are showing their age. My copies of David Eddings’ Elenium and Tamuli books are the first that spring to mind; the glue that holds the pages to the spine has dried, and the pages have started falling out in thick wedges. If I want to re-read them at any point, I will have to replace them.
These books, I have to admit, got me through some dark days in my teenage years, and so hold a particular sentimentality. If I look at replacing them, do I trawl Ebay and Abebooks for direct replacements, taking the risk that they may have the same aging issues? Do I purchase the newest versions, with new shiny covers, or do I streamline and go digital?
It’s something I will have to consider, for as much as I dislike buying a file, rather than something physical, I only have a finite amount of space.
