Having been bought a Kindle for Christmas My (naughty) little sister seems to have made it one of her missions in life to persuade me that I too should have one. How refreshing then to read this article ........
E-books? I like a paperback, says Franzen
Not an writer I'm familiar with I have to say but I know he is highly regarded by many readers and book critics alike I was surprised to read that Jonathan Franzen, author of FREEDOM, and THE CORRECTIONS was no fan of digital readers warning (and I quote)
"Our desire for the instant gratification of e-books is damaging for society.
Consumers had been conned into thinking that they need the latest technology. "
- The Telegraph (January 2012) Click HERE to read full article.
Hmm, to be honest I do think he has a point to make about our increasing need for instant gratification in all manner of things.
As for consumers being conned into thinking that they need the latest technology?
Call me old fashioned if you like BUT I have to say that a part of me, a fairly considerable part of me, agrees wholeheartedly with this statement.
It amazes me how many people (mostly younger people in my experience) buy the 'latest' technology only to find that a short while down the line it is no longer the latest technology and so, though there is nothing wrong with it and it is still perfectly usable, needs replacing ...... an expensive business and not usually good for the environment though it could be argued that it keeps the makers of such items in a job.
What thinks you?
Oh, and another thing,
To be discussed soon ..........
Since when did they start cutting back the classics in order to make them "less tedious for a public more used to the work of JK Rowling and Dan Brown"?
Oh, and another thing,
To be discussed soon ..........
Since when did they start cutting back the classics in order to make them "less tedious for a public more used to the work of JK Rowling and Dan Brown"?
16 comments:
I actually prefer my ereader over paper books. Mostly because I can adjust the font size to make reading easier on my eyes. I'm not a Franzen fan so what he thinks doesn't sway my opinion. I don't feel I've been conned at all - instant gratification is not why I own an ereader.
As is my reading has been reduced to blogposts and Internet news lately, so I can't argue either way.
But I see the point in both arguments...
I must say I am a BIG fan of "real" books. I tend to be a very tactile person and Darn-it!!! I wanna feel a real live book in my hands...lol Also keeping up with the latest tech is a chore...and an addiction, oh and lets not forget...quite an expense. however I do enjoy new gadgets...guilty pleasure :o
I love the feeling of a book in my hand. My iPhone has a Kindle option so I tried it. It's fine and it is nice that I can carry multiple books with me but I just can't get into it. I don't want to curl up with my phone. Growing up I had fantasies of living in a large house with a library. I would sit in a chaise next to a fire. That fantasy included books not a device -- haha.
:-)
Traci
'Consumers had been conned into thinking that they need the latest technology'<-how interesting this quote is. I find it true as well in many cases.
And the lastest gadgets are always getting upgraded. Newer versions always come out, especially during the holidays...
I'm old fashioned too, and don't have an e-reader. I refuse to get one! lol.
Petty, terrific post! I don't have an eReader yet, but I think in some ways they are a wonderful idea. I love printed books, but am running out of space for them. This is but one example of a benefit of an eReader.
I do agree with the statement about instant gratification, though. We become too accustomed to "instantness", and lose patience (and other attributes) as a result.
As you know, I'm a fan of both. I love "real" books and will never give them up, but my favorite thing about my Kindle is being able to keep the font at a size which is more comfortable for my eyes.
I'm holding off simply because I don't know how much I'd spend replacing my books!!
Great perspective Tracy!
John
I've never used an e-reader, and I've only read a very few books in PDF format on a computer. I like the idea of having so many books stored on a single device, but do prefer paper to hold.
And I definitely agree with that quote.
i don't know much about this, but my son is using kindle and he says it is convenient during travel as he need not carry voluminous books. May be a young fellow he is in sync with the latest technology . But I do not know what effect it would have on the eyes and later on the envt.
I'll never give up my physical books, and you can't decorate a library with eBooks!
That being said, I love my nook! I have access to eARCs now, and will always have something to read while I travel without taking up valuable room in my suitcase.
There are pros and cons to both sides, and I'm happily on the fence between my library and my nook, reading away!
E- books , can't get more bizarre.
The feel of the paper back, the hard bound, the scent of the old and the new, the words that dance like the hand written manuscript,and above all empathy -do we get these in a electronic gadget?
I think it is wrong and misplaced perceptions and vanity that is showing off when we see folks in the air plane or trains , showing off their gadgetry .
It is like having a robot as companion.
brilliant post, great perspective, tracy!
i'm afraid i don't know much about it, need to know more i guess.
i think i'll never give up my "real" books...i like the feel and scent of the paper of physical books...
big hugs!
Well; I read Franzen´s article the other day, and I found it rather silly. He more or less said the world would stop turning around if people switched to ebooks.
As I know they are much friendlier to the environment than paperbooks, I disagree completely. Some gadgets are just unnecessary toys, but it is much smarter for me to buy British and American ebooks than shipping books all around the world so I can read them.
I'm going to have to disagree with Franzen. I love my e-reader just fine and it serves some good purposes (espeically when traveling). It doesn't mean I don't want or like printed books but there is a point to them -- they aren't just "evil.' Plus now, you can get a basic Kindle for almost nothing. I think the key is to wait long enough for the technology to improve and find its purpose and for the prices to go down.
I refuse to be won over by the e-readers. The more gadgets and gismos on there, the more there is to go wrong. One of the latest ereaders is being marketted as "the brand-new social reading experience." Apparently this means you can click a button and tell people on Facebook what you're reading. I've been doing social reading for years. My best friends are those with whom I can sit next to on a train, in a coffee shop, or in the park and we can be quite happy reading our books. I think e-readers have their uses - saving space or good for travelling - but I'm sticking with my paperbacks.
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