Let’s Get Physical, Physical
Books for Thought is where I post a discussion topic related to books, reading, writing, or something pertaining to one of the three. I hope you’ll join in, and discuss today’s topic of
physical books VS ebooks
I recently wrote about paperbacks VS hardbacks, and today I thought I’d go in the other direction and talk about physical books (personally talking about paperbacks but generally both) and their electronic counterparts.
Totally random factoid: I read ebooks slower than physical books. I have no idea why. It may have something to do with having to “turn” every page instead of every second page. Or maybe it’s the fact that the words are on a screen and not on paper. I DON’T KNOW WHY, but that’s just the way it is.
Even so, if I did read ebooks at the same pace as physical books, I’d likely still prefer physical books.
Did I mention that? My preference is physical books, by the way.
And I think it’s because holding a book in my hands brings to mind the most basic feeling of “reading a book”. Now, I’m not saying that my ebooks are not ‘real’, but reading one doesn’t bring about the same “ah, I’m reading a book” feeling that picking up a physical book gives me.
I also like the texture of books, and the smell (ugh, perfume it already), and probably most importantly: seeing them. I am a very visual person. I like seeing all my books on my shelf, and in piles on the floor, and scattered around the house. There is physical evidence of the books I have read/have yet to read, and I can look at them with pride and browse them when I am in need of a read. But I can’t do that with ebooks. I can’t bask in their beautiful covers and stroke their spines. I can’t even really browse them (well, I can but WHERE ARE THE BLURBS?).
So my preference for physical books seems to be mostly about my senses. I like holding/touching my books, smelling my books, and looking at my books.
But that doesn’t stop me from buying ebooks. I buy HEAPS of ebooks. I love the instant delivery to my ereader, and most of the time they are considerably cheaper than their physical counterparts. But if it’s a book I think I’ll love? Physical all the way.
(found)
What about you? Do you prefer physical books, or ebooks? Why/why not?
PHYSICAL BOOKS ALL THE WAY. They’re just so much better…they’re beautiful and they smell better and there’s something special about being able to hold a book. I rarely read ebooks. In fact, the only ebooks I read are eARC’s. And even then, it’s a struggle to motivate myself to read it. However, I do like how they’re easier to travel with…though travelling with a physical book has never been a big deal for me as I’ve always done it. I always snag some bargains off of iBooks when they have free ebooks I want to read, but I always forget about them. Surprisingly, I managed to read two over the Christmas season as I was sharing my bed with my sister for a few nights and wasn’t able to get in a good position to both lie down and read, so my phone was a saviour then. But yes, ultimately, physical books will always win.
Thanks for getting that song stuck in my head too, by the way. :)
For some reason, unless it’s an eARC that I am DYING TO READ, I find it hard to motivate myself to read them, too. Which is totally bad because they need to be read!
I do really love the cheapy ebooks, and I find that I have no self control when it comes to them :’)
Mwahahaha! I take full responsibility.
I’m the complete opposite! I read ebooks like three million times faster than physical copies. I think it’s because for ebooks, I can just breeze through them and I don’t have to hold the book. the physical, however, can take me HOURS sometimes.
great discussion!
I think it’s so weird that it differs for different people! I originally thought I might read ebooks faster, but nope. It takes me WAY longer. SIGH.
Thanks, Nova!
Oh boy, it’s really hard for me to choose which I like better because they both have their pros and cons. Physical books: you get the feel of the pages and hear the sounds of it turning. And it doesn’t strain your eyes as much. E-books: really convenient when you’re laying down or traveling, and you have a ton of books in one place. Though I do read more ebooks than physical books….Lol.
I’ll be a rebel and say both!
I go through stages of which I read more. Sometimes I read, like, 100 ebooks in a row, and then I go MONTHS without reading one, haha. I have no idea why, either.
Of course you’re a rebel, Cee :D <3
Oooh, I totally get you!! I love physical books too omg they are so beautiful and I can pet and caress them and just smell the pages and stare at them. I love seeing them on my bookshelf and I love bringing physical books wherever I go. But I do commend the perks of e-books. They’re lightweight(tab/kindle/phone) and I could highlight sentences than tabbing my physical books. I buy & prefer more physical books than e-books but nonetheless, I love both <3
Great post, Chiara <33
I definitely love both, too! But I am a very sensory person, so I think that is why I love my physical books more. The touch of them, and the look. And of course, the smell!
Thanks, lovely <3
I love physical books but ebooks are much, much convenient for me. I don’t have enough space at home to collect them and I don’t like carrying big bags when I’m out so my e-reader is lifesaver during these situations. I buy the print copies of the books I absolutely adore and I’ll keep for many, many years (plus, it’s collector in me to have both formats). xD
I do love the convenience of ebooks! And I’m super glad they exist, and that I have my ereaders.
And I definitely understand not having enough space! My house is PILED with books. Eep.
I like collecting them, too! :D
I do like physical books better mostly because of the same sensory, tactile reasons. I just love the portability and convenience of ebooks. Any book I own right there on my phone or all together in my purse when I travel. And they don’t weigh as much. It’s also so easy but not nearly as much fun.
Plus, my ereader can time how fast I read and tell me how long it’ll take me to finish a book. when I found that I was inordinately excited :)
I am actually really scared of taking my ereaders anywhere, because I’m really clumsy and I just KNOW I would drop it and it would be broken D:
I do like the fact that they give me percentages and reading times! I like things like that.
You cannot leave a Jensen Ackles gif at the end and expect me to be able to form coherent sentences afterwards!!! The evil Chiara, the evil!!!
Ahem…I think every book lover would definitely lean towards physical. Just being able to hold them in your hands is such a joy. I don’t mind ebooks either though, especially for when I’m going on a trip. Bringing a bunch of physical copies for that is just not feasible. I think I read a lot slower when it comes to ebooks as well..I keep checking the percentage read and it’s just not as satisfying when it doesn’t change at every tap
Mwahahaha! :D
It annoys me when the percentage doesn’t change! And I’m so obsessive with it, I check it constantly. Maybe that’s why I read them slower ;P
I mostly get my books from the library nowadays, so I tend to prefer ebooks. Because library books are sometimes a little… Dodgy. Creased pages, no “new book smell” and sometimes an odd stain. It’s pretty rare though. I think there’s only one book that I returned unread because holding the copy felt a little grimy. :/
Yeah, some library books can be pretty gross, haha XD
YOU KNOW WHAT? ME TOO! I have no idea why. I just think we have to flick the pages more on an ebook and I get lazy. Wow, actually that’s a silly thought. Actually wait, not really. I read the first third of The Mime Order in eARC form and I remember how long that took me BUT I’ve just been eating up the physical copy. Hmmmm very interesting indeed
YAY! I WAS STARTING TO THINK I WAS THE ONLY ONE.
I wonder what it is? Maybe it’s the digital words? Or the page turning? I don’t know *stroked beard*
I take longer reading physical books than ebooks lol. I think because I like to take my time reading physical books. And sometimes I feel like rereading a certain part, so I flip back, things like that. I love reading physical books, too! Not that ebooks aren’t fun, it’s just that when I read an ebook I think my eyes get tired faster.
I swear I race through physical books, and totally struggle to read ebooks at the same pace >.< I also love flipping backwards and forwards in physical books, which is one of the reasons why I like them better! I get more tired when I am reading ebooks. Like, I can stay up all night devouring a physical book, but want to go to sleep after reading only a few pages of an ebook XD
I’m with you Chiara – physical books all the way! Like you said, I just love the texture, smell and feel of physical books so much, and that’s not possible in ebooks. I really only use ebooks for whenever I have to download an eARC from Netgalley / EW, and that’s basically it. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous post!
My physical books will always be my babies. But I love eARCs! They are fabulous :D
Thanks, lovely <3
Haha, I actually read ebooks faster than physical books. And I like both format, and audiobooks as well. :) But if it’s a book I really loved when I read the ebook or books I’m really, really forward to – I need to have those in paperback, or even better hardback.
I may be the only one who reads ebooks slower XD And I have never actually listened to an audiobook! I just don’t think I’d be able to concentrate enough.
Yes, definitely! If I really love an ebook, I usually buy it in physical form :D
It’s really old because I actually generally read e-books faster. :P I think it’s because the screen is smaller and so I get more motivated to read more. I have no idea. :3 I have no preference to be honest. I like mixing it up because it keeps things interesting and keeps me out of reading slumps!
I like mixing it up, too! Although I find if I have read heaps of ebooks in a row, I NEED to read a physical book to feel it in my hands XD
I am honestly torn on this one. I like ebooks because I always have my kindle with me so I can read in line and such so I get more reading in. Plus when I do go to the gym, I can read with my kindle easier than a physical book, ha! However I refuse to pay full ebook price generally since I don’t like paying for something I can’t hold in my hand!
I’ll always love having at least some physical books though because I do definitely love seeing them on shelves and stacked in piles, haha. It’s hard to forget about a book that is sitting right there next to you ;-)
Yeah, I am definitely not a fan of paying the same price for an ebook as one that I can hold and see!
And yes, seeing books on my shelves (or on my floor because of a lack of shelves) makes my much happier than seeing covers on my Kindle/Kobo!
This is like the first time I’ve read a post saying they read slower in ebooks! That really surprised me because I read way faster with ebooks than physical books. Maybe it is because it’s not a “real” book. I think I’m in between. I love physical books because of the reasons that you said. BUT, I don’t have enough space for them in my room :( When I buy a physical book, I make sure it’s a book I will definitely read because I don’t want to buy a book that I’ll never read. For e-books, I love how I can zoom in to the book and be done with it in less than a week. I mainly use my Kindle for the eARCs I receive. I DON’T buy books from my Kindle b/c I’m afraid if my Kindle breaks, I wouldn’t have the book anymore. So basically I use my ereader for ARCs and buy physical books.
It takes me SO much longer to read ebooks, but I don’t really know why D: Maybe it’s because I have to tap my ereader? I don’t know >.< Yeah, I mainly use my Kindle and Kobo for eARCs, and that is such a good thing because in Australia we don't very many physical ARCs! I also buy cheaper ebooks of books I'm not sure I want to buy in physical form, especially because of lack of shelf space. Sigh.
Honestly, I like both, I mean whatever is cheaper. But recently, I bought this beautiful physical hardcover of Fairest, and it really made me love physical books more. They’re just beautiful to look at :D
Ah, yes! I have seen that hardcover and it is SO BEAUTIFUL.
I really like buying ebooks when I’m not 100% sure I want to fork out the money for the physical copy ;P
This is so true, I love real books and have become lazy with the ebooks, also my “real books” are in the UK. I need to do something about getting them to Australia I think! I do love the feeling of holding a book and watching me progress my way through it. Opening the book for the first time ever etc its awesome
There’s just something that I really love about physical books, although ebooks have their perks, certainly. But like you said: there’s something special about opening a book to its first page!
It’s funny, we’re complete opposites! I actually read ebooks faster than physical books for some reason! I have no idea why, maybe because I can read them late at night with the lights off or maybe because I don’t know how many pages I have left. Nevertheless I do prefer physical books because there’s just something so lovely about being able to hold and feel a book and they have much more beautiful covers!