Tuesday, June 27, 2006

No eBook Reader for Me

After I saw A Work in Progress post that mentioned the first ever summer reading issue of Oprah's magazine, I had to run out and purchase it. I haven't had a chance yet to read the articles, but I did scan a few of the reading features.

The first page of "the O list," showed a photo of a Librie, a Sony ebook reader, which can hold up to 80 plus ebooks. It costs $300-$400. The caption reads, "This portable reader lends new meaning to the phrase 'book smart.' Download up to 80 of your favorites (hundreds more with a memory card), and say goodbye to heavy lifting forever." I am usually very smitten by new technology, but I have to admit that I have no desire for an ebook reader. I was reminded of a conversation that I had with Valerie a while back. I think the conversation concerned the possibility of selling some books to Half-Priced Books, which I have done a few times.

I remember that I made some remark about how I like to own books rather than borrow them. I really feel like once I have lived a book that it becomes a part of me. If I sell it or return it to library/friend, I lose part of myself. I know it's silly because I still have the memory of the experience, but I feel a bit mournful when I have to give up a book. I feel like I am returning a lost pet to it's rightful owner. I have taken care of that animal and shared experiences with it for a short time. I know returning it is the right thing to do, but I still want to make the pet mine. I really don't like this metaphor, but it's the best I could do while I was waiting on my online class to re-load so I could finish something before I went to bed.

Oh well. It's rather late, and I have textbook chapters to read before I sleep. Too bad I won't be reading chapters for pleasure tonight. :-(

1 comment:

SassyFemme said...

I know what you mean. I like the feel of a book in my hand. I like to be able to get comfortable reading, and lose myself in the story and the book, turning pages, becoming one with the words on the page so that I'm almost a part of them. ebooks hold no interest for me at all. Like you, I also like to own my own books. I reread favorites many times. To give up a book I've read and loved would just hurt, plain and simple.