I’ve made the full transition to ebooks maybe 10 years ago and have barely bought physical books ever since. I’m a prolific reader, I read maybe at least 1 book a week, and I guess one of the advantages of ebooks is that I can quickly jump to the next book once I’ve finished the one I’m reading.
Recently my wife and I were at Pavillion Bukit Jalil and were thinking of checking out that famous bookshop there, and I realised I no longer have the excitement to visit a bookstore. I recall I’d visit Borders so often back when I younger and we always on the lookout for my next book, or for newly released books by my favourite authors, and was so excited when the next book I. The series’s was available. Nowadays, though, most of them are already in my preorder list on Google Play Books, so the thrill of the hunt is no longer there.
A few months ago I dug out some of my old physical books to read downstairs so that my toddler can see me reading an actual book instead of staring at my iPad or phone (reading, but it looks like I’m just staring at a screen) because I want to encourage her to get into reading too. I’ve found, though, somehow it was a lot harder to continue. I’d keep wanting to switch to the ebook version so that I can read in bed when the lights are dimmer.
How about you guys? What are your thoughts or experiences about the switch to ebooks? Do you still read physical books? Do you miss it?
My reading now is also almost entirely on my iPad (mini ftw), because the books I read have always been harder to find in local bookstores so it has always been easier for me to get my books in digital copies. Haven’t been to a bookstore in quite some time as well.
But bookstores will always have a special place in my heart - I’m quite sentimental about reading hardcopy books - just browsing in a bookstore, and the excitement in discovering something interesting to read, that’s quite a joyful experience. (I mean, scrolling through webpages on the internet for something to read is just not quite that, haha!) And to reminisce how in my college days I and my sister would just hang around in MPH (rip) at Mid Valley, while our friends went for a movie or shopping - that was such a great time.
(Also, the stationery section of the bookstores - I just can’t resist looking at and playing with the pretty things, then picking something to bring home, hahaha!)
But yeah probably will be sticking to ebooks at the moment - the main reason above aside, it’s just so convenient. And I do feel like I read more and faster on the iPad. Perhaps one day I shall visit a bookstore, find a gem, and again immerse myself in a delightful experience of reading a physical book.