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While perusing the Fiona Mcintosh listings on Amazon.us, I noticed that the three Percheron novels are available for Amazon's new wireless electronic book, the Kindle.  It's a neat device, being able to wirelessly download a plethora of reading material, but I still love holding the real book in my hands.

Phil

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That's actually a great discussion piece, Phil. What does everyone think about reading books electronically. Now Phil and I are Boomers (aren't we Phil?) so we're from another era. We can remember life before computers. Hell, I took my business studies diploma on a manual typewriter! So we're the sort who like the familiarity of holding a book. Gen X-ers....how do you see this. Gen Y-ers, you're probably completely at ease with the notion of an electronic gadget that downloads a book and off you go. But I suspect that because you're fantasy readers, you're a bit particular about your books and rather like looking at them, holding them, collecting them, getting them down off the shelf and reading them again, thumbing through favourite bits and enjoying staring at bookshelves with their array of lovely artwork. I think in this respect all fantasy readers the world over are similar. However, I shouldn't generalise or assume with such abandon. Let's hear from everyone.....

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Um. I've never been too clear on the whole Gen X / Y barrier. I think I'm a late X. 1979.

That said, I don't think you could pay me to read books using the current style of electronic readers.  I'm another book-fondler. Hey, some of them have nice textures. You also don't need to plug them in, charge them up or replace their batteries either. Not only that, the backlit screens of the readers (at least the ones I've seen) make my eyes sad. Plus, I tend to skim a lot more when I read on a screen (a contributing factor to that may be the sad eyes) and miss out on what might be interesting bits. The other half has been trying to get me into the idea, partly because he likes his electronic toys and possibly also because he'd like to leave a bit of rainforest for the next generation (z?). I'm having none of it.

*ahem* End of rant.

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I'm a little into both sides of the argument. 

I looked into buying an e-reader a while ago and decided that for the price and the damage to my eyes it wasn't worth the risk.  What if i lost my handbag, stepped on it...etc?  I'd have to buy a completely new e-reader.  If it was a book I could frown and bitch, but in the end it's just a book not an expensive piece of equipment equivalent in price to my mobile phone.  The new Kindle....looks awesome.  I'd gladly accept on if given to me...but that much money?  It actually addresses alot of problems i've had with the genre, i think if you could get text books downloaded it's be a fantastic resource.

What if the battery went flat when i was in the middle of a really really good bit in a book?  I dislike downloading thing off the internet, even with a 200 book backlog (think of the room that would free up in my shelf?!?!)

Plus i'm a bastard with my books, I dog ear then, have them precariously stacked in a pile by my bed...under my bed.

I enjoy browsing library's and bookstores for new books, it's how i get to know most of the new authors etc.  I'm quite bad at looking at websites, blogs etc for new tidbits.  These places don't just offer books but opinions and help and a sense of community.  I'd miss that feeling.

 

Ecomnomically it sounds alright, but i'm a notoriously lender of my books, I love to give people my books, I want to see there excitement of something new.  I can't do that with a Kindle...it's a hoarding system.  I don't want ot make people pay for taking a risk in something i want them to experience.  I've been known to give people 20 books at a time...which is an annoying weight of books... but they can do it at there own pace.  I dont' raelly think i'd want to give people my e-reader.

 

I have a nintendo DS and the Dr Kawashima's brain training utilises a book reading format that's very neat due to it's double screens.  I think that integrating the book reader technology into something like that would be much more enticing to me then another gadget for my handbag.  I just recently got the Nokia 95 Because it's incorporated so many of those gadgets I wanted into one item.  Phone, Internet, mucis player, movie player, camera, recorder, sat nav. 

So now i just have my phone, keys, wallet, make up bag and my DS....instead of the added 4 or so items.

 

Give me a week, i promise you i could break the kindle.  What happens if I break it? ....how do i get it serviced, i'd have to send it back to amazon... i'd be BOOKLESS.  That makes me feel naked.  It'd be like my boyfriend without his computer. 

 

I still think it's better to wait for a palm PC/etc that could do the same.  You know it's only inevitable.

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I'm sorry if i'm scary.

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I'm only 17, so when I finally get my pay I'm off to the bookstore I can't sit there at a computer and read, I need to have the book in my hand. I'm one of those ones that loves the smell of books, and am thrilled at stuff like formatting...mayb I'm a little too obsessed lol but definetly books more than technology.

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Another thing that came to mind, that doesn't apply to everyone is that I tend to browse the ending of some books if i'm afraid that my favourite characters might come towards an untimely event....  the kindle doesn't let you do that.....well easily.  Also what about books with glossaries... you'd have to hope that the index page that lists chapters etc would automatically take you there or something.

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I'm sorry if i'm scary.

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I think that the concept is good. I mean, everything's making the change to electronic/digital technology these days anyway. Books are the next things to get there, I suppose.

However, I couldn't imagine not being able to walk into a bookstore, feast my eyes on the cover. If I'm intrigued by title or picture, I flip it over and read the blurb. If the blurb grabs me, I read the first paragraph. If it's got a fantastic opener like: 'He knew the blow would be fatal. Accepted it as the blade came crashing down.' (yes, I do roughly know the opening line of Myrren's Gift off by heart. So sue me, it's my favourite.) then I'll buy it. That's exactly what happened with Myrren's Gift. I would hate trying to base my first opinon of a book on other people's opinons. I don't like that it's not tangible. One of the things I love most about reading is that I sit down, begin to read then look up and realise I'm halfway through the book already and it's three hours later and then I make myself put it down because otherwise I'll have finished it the day I bought it.

I still love my books. My room is full of them. And I agree with Mel - you drop your Kindle and you're screwed. You drop your book and it might get a little bent and dusty, but you can still read it.

I'm sticking with the paper.

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This is all really interesting to read. I think the Kindle and devices of that nature will have their place in our hearts sooner rather than later but for very practical reasons - like travelling for example. It would be seriously handy to be able to just download a book if you're caught without one and you know you're going to be on the move, can't get to the bookshop, in a place where books aren't in English for instance, and so on. I get sentimental about books and I don't want to leave them behind so I lug these bricks around with me all over the world. And like most of you when I decide to read I want plenty. If I'm heading overseas, the bottom of my suitcase has a layer of paperbacks. And they're heavy! So the Kindle does have some major advantages that I can appreciate in certain situations and I would definitely make use of it. However, in a perfect world, give me a book anyday. I like the tactile experience of holding it, flicking back to favourite passages, feeling very connected with the words on the page, the sound of paper being turned, the sense of beginning as you open the cover on a new book you've been waiting to read and let's not even mention the pleasure of going hunting in a bookshop with no preconceived idea of what you might choose but with that sense you are not leaving the shop until you find something. The electronic device can't do any of that for me. And as an author the whole notion of having nothing to hold to show for the blood, sweat and tears is rather abhorrent! What would we all line our walls with and our bedroom floors with and our bedside tables with. Looking through someone else's collection of books is a form of voyeurism that I love....can't do that easily on a Kindle. F

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Slàinte!