Memes & Memos
 
I love to read. More specifically, I love books. Even more specifically, I love to own books.

We have a wall-length bookcase full of books, like trophies on display. I like being able to reach in and find a favorite book to share with a friend. Dozens of cookbooks near our kitchen showcase our culinary preferences. Our nightstands are stuffed to the gills with novels and nonfiction. I have a personal affinity for coffee table books, particular of art, music and travel destinations. A book from a place you've visited is a beautiful souvenir. My favorite gifts to give kids for baby showers, birthdays and Christmas are children's books. Not to mention, books make great decor. Open any Pottery Barn catalog or home decor magazine and you'll see gorgeous homes filled with gorgeous books.

Clearly, I am not in the market for an e-book reader. Or am I? I consider myself an early adopter, but I am still not ready to adopt a Kindle or Nook.

E-books are making their mark and people continue to take note. The New York Times recently announced that it will be including e-books on their fiction and nonfiction bestsellers lists beginning in 2011. So, how does the old-fashioned version compare with the new tech-y version of books? Newsweek has a great infographic that compares books with e-books here.

What are the benefits of e-books?
  • They are cheaper to produce and therefore cheaper to buy.
  • You can buy an e-book instantly with a one touch purchase.
  • They are searchable and automatically save your page. No more losing your bookmark.
  • Many offer interactive features that may add to the reading experience.
  • They take up less physical space.
  • Like books, they are portable, but you can take hundreds of them with you.
While e-books may provide convenience, for me they lack a certain something for the experience, like battery operated candles, or digital picture frames.