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.