EBooks. They’re loved. They’re hated. They’re shoved in the “they’re not real books!” corner with audiobooks. I don’t know where you all stand on the great debate, but my view has changed recently. Here’s how . . .
February 2015: I am required to read several books for two classes. We read the books at a fast pace and I don’t want to wait for Amazon to ship me my books. So I borrow my mom’s tablet and buy the eBooks. It’s convenient for sure, especially since I can highlight and make notes without feeling guilty. And the size is perfect for eBooks—7 inches. But it can never replace tangible books for me, and I don’t think I could ever get used to reading eBooks.
April 2015: Classes are coming to an end in matter of weeks and I’m reluctant to return mom’s tablet. My birthday is in a couple weeks and by boyfriend shows me an amazing deal on Amazon. The Kindle Fire 7 HD for $80. I promptly tell my parents for my birthday. They buy it, but it’s backordered until June.
June 2015: I finally get my Kindle. I’m looking forward to using the Overdrive app—a digital library where I can checkout eBooks. I plan to only use it for library books. Any books that I will own will be tangible. I have respect for people who like eBooks. But I need to feel the book in my hands for me to be satisfied.
July 2015: I get some eBook samples as an easier way to find out whether or not I’m willing to spend $15 on a tangible book. Then I discover how cheap eBooks are compared to tangible books. I knew they were less expensive, but I thought it was only by a couple of dollars. I buy my first eBook for $2. I finish it in a couple days and buy more.
August 2015: Can’t bring myself to buy eBooks that cost more than a couple dollars yet. But when I see a book I want to read the first thing I do is see if I can check out a digital copy. It’s free and easier. I can check it out wherever. I can download it instantly. I can turn it in easily. I can highlight my favorite passages/quotes without feeling bad about it. Several times I have had to stop reading to charge my Kindle, but it doesn’t take long and I had already been reading for hours by that point. I have an anti-glare screen protector so glares don’t stop me.
September 2015: Amazon has a huge sale on eBooks and I buy A LOT of them. I didn’t even have to have awkward small talk at checkout. I find out that Stephen King has another book of short stories coming out in November and I don’t want to wait for the paperback. I also find myself lugging several books to and from my apartment whenever I go somewhere for an extended period of time. This is because I can’t decide what book I want to read while I’m away.
October 2015: I decide it’s time to buy more eBooks. My first full-price eBook will likely be the Stephen King book. I save money, time, and awkward social interactions. Will I give up tangible books? Never. But I predict that I will begin buying more eBooks than tangible books. One thing that I’ve noticed is I feel better about buying eBooks if they are less than $10 and if I don’t like the cover art.