My First Love

I bought my first Kindle about 5 years ago. It was insta-love and I lost my heart as soon as I held that most glorious of all devices in my hands. I had acquired not just another gadget but a dangerously addictive power: to possess any book I desired instantaneously with a mere one-click buy. In the years that we have spent together, my Kindle and I, my fervent passion for it has mellowed down to a deep affection. I still carry it on my daily commute, when I am travelling, and even use it for my everyday reading. In an interesting preference reversal, though, lately I have found myself gravitating toward buying more of print books.

In some ways, I have gone back to the reading habits of my pre-Kindle days. Don’t get me wrong, I am crazy about the convenience my Kindle offers: all my books wherever I go. It’s just that I have realized I cannot forgo the experience of reading a Hardcover/Paperback. I need books. The old-fashioned kind. Ones with a spine, and a cover that you can open, and pages you can turn.

The other day, I  met up with another bookaholic friend for lunch. She has recently bought a Kindle and as she talked about her reading experience with stars in her eyes, I was reminded of who I used to be. And I found myself explaining, as much for my sake as hers, why e-books will always be second best for me.

So, here’s my unpoetic but heartfelt ode to print books:

1.       Charmed by the Cover

It is not for nothing that so much money and effort is invested in coming up with just the right cover for a book. How many times have I picked up a book ‘cos it had a gorgeous cover? Too many times to count. No e-inked black-grey cover can come anywhere near the vibrant colors and the intimate feel of a cover on a print book. The cover is the gateway to the magical experience of losing ourselves in the story. It is the cover that says 'Open Sesame' and leads us in. I have often been mesmerized by book covers and longingly traced my fingers over the photograph/illustration/artwork on it as if the very act of connecting would let me enter ‘The Forgotten Garden’ or ‘The Lake House’ or ‘The Chamber of Secrets’.

2.       Fascinated by the Feel

I like flipping pages, being able to move to previous pages without losing my current place! There is certainly something to be said for a format if you can exercise the flexibility of being in two places at the same time easily without having to type in a location(s). I often do this: flip to earlier pages when the murderer is announced in a mystery novel to identify the red herrings that misled me or the clues I missed. And, I do this while staying on the page I have reached. No ‘flip-the-page’ effect on an app or e-reader can provide the feel of turning a page over and moving to the next.

There are also those pop-up books I adored as a child. Open the book and out pops the castle, ready for you to step in and wield the magic wand! 

Let’s also not forget books which promise an immersive experience such as ‘S’ by J.J. Abrams. Would you really want to read 'S' on an e-reader?

3.       Seduced by the Size

In my college years, I had a soft corner for big fat books. The more the pages, the more desirable the book. Of course, this was selectively true. It held ground only for fiction and not those boring tomes on Economics or Accountancy. Even though I may not have much time to read lengthy novels these days, they still hold a powerful attraction for me: those huge convoluted family/business sagas where betrayals and loyalty came from unexpected corners. There is no fun in reading fat books on e-readers. Each book looks and feels the same. One size fits all.

Lest you think am not enthusiastic about my Kindle, let me reiterate that I am very fond of it and take it everywhere. However, print books have something e-books cannot have. Individuality! They come in different shapes and sizes, use different fonts and varied covers, and their pages can be snow-white or ivory-cream or golden-beige. Each book has a unique identity. It is special.

Last but not the least, what they say about not being able to forget your first love ever is true. My first love was an Enid Blyton Hardcover with a colourful cover illustration, a friendly font, and charming characters.