I didn’t grow up surrounded by books, at least not to the degree my children have. (I was, however, given the gift of thousands of hours listening to jazz and classical vinyl played on an audiophile’s system). A bookworm at heart, I was a regular fixture at my local bookmobile. Nothing delighted me more than filling my plastic grocery bag until the handles stretched.
Fast track to the digitization of books. One of the first successful online publishers of ebooks was an erotica publisher. The ebook format was perfect for readers who wanted to be discreet about their reading material. Especially since most bookstores had a limited supply of erotica on the shelves. I had the inside track, thanks to my dear friend romantica/erotica author Cathryn Fox, who was published with Ellora’s Cave as well as most of the major NYC houses years before FIFTY SHADES made its debut.
For various market reasons, other publishers saw the value of a digital press and they began to add these to their enterprises. My critique partner Kelly Boyce, who writes fabulous Western historical romances, sold her debut novel THE OUTLAW BRIDE to Carina press. Her book was only available in digital form. I realized that to read my friends’ books — and stay current with my industry — I needed to buy an e-reader. Two years ago, I asked for one for Christmas. My husband surprised me with an iPad, as he knew it could be a useful tool for when I travel to conferences. So I downloaded the Kindle app, the iBooks app, and the Kobo app, and quickly became a convert to ebooks.
Amazon is an incredibly clever corporation, and even though I knew I was falling prey to the lure of instant gratification with their “one-click” buy button, I couldn’t help myself ☺. I love the option of sampling first chapters, and being able to buy according to mood or need.
In addition to convenience, the beauty of my iPad is that I can turn it horizontally and read with the leather cover acting as a bookstand. This gives a two-page view, just like reading a book. At night, I balance it on my stomach, and I don’t have to hold it. This is important to me, as I suffer from a condition in both shoulders, and holding a heavy book is problematic for me.
For the first year of using my iPad as an e-reader, I loved it. I have a small house, and our bookshelves are always at more than 100% capacity (despite the cleanout I just performed, resulting in five banker boxes of YA books for my local library). I was delighted that I didn’t have all these extra books taking up space.
However, I have recently noticed that my reading habits had seriously declined on the iPad. Having internet and email access temptingly available at the touch of a screen meant that I often would peruse the news, Facebook, and check emails every few pages of a book. It was too much like a computer screen and all my bad internet habits resurfaced.
So this summer, I returned to reading physical books. I started with James Rollins’ BLOODLINE. The book itself is quite lovely: beautiful hardback, nice quality paper, and it has obviously been created with care and elegance. It also has the signature ink illustrations that James Rollins often includes as visual clues to his stories.
I enjoyed that book. And I enjoyed the reading experience. I looked forward to it when I went to bed at night. And I realized that I missed reading physical books. I missed the textured smoothness of paper under my fingers, the crisp pulpy smell of the pages, the heft of a book in my arms. I missed holding my spot with the flyleaf.
I did not miss my iPad (shhh….).
Yesterday, I conducted an extremely impromptu and unscientific poll on my Facebook page to find out whether physical books trumped ebooks for my readers. I was blown away by how many people responded, and by their obvious passion for the written word, whatever the format. They provided thoughtful and thought-provoking responses to the debate that is currently consuming the publishing world.
And now, dear readers, I turn you over to the experts: my dear readers who shared their thoughts in my oh-so-unscientific yet extremely illuminating poll. Here are a few of their comments. (You can read the full post on my page.)
“I need a good ‘tub book’ and for that it must be paper!”
“I…like how the print [of an ebook] can be adjustable for the elderly.”
“I…prefer e-readers for their capability of carrying lots and lots of books.”
“I like the feel of a book in my hands and the simple action of turning the pages, one by one, as the story unfolds.” [As a writer, this comment made my heart smile].
“I collect hardcovers of my favorite authors, the rest – ebooks!”
“…one can’t beat the versatility or convenience of e-books. A library in your pocket!”
“There is no such thing as cuddling up with a good laptop or e-reader.”
“I love to use my iPad to read, especially in bed at night… I don’t need a light on and I am not disturbing my husband.”
The readers who preferred paper books are whom I will coin, “experiential” readers – those who immerse all their senses in the reading experience and describe the pleasure of holding, smelling and cuddling with a book.
I hear you! They also like the fact they can lend their books, read them in the bathtub, and although this wasn’t mentioned, I’m sure enjoy the physical beauty of a book.
The readers who have switched to ebooks cite factors such as:
- availability of titles (especially in rural areas or for new releases that are digital-only)
- privacy (useful if you want to check out Fifty Shades without the entire office watching you)
- convenience (you can take it travelling, commuting and have a variety of titles at your fingertips)
- and price point. Who can forget that e-books are generally less expensive.
- one reader raised the red flag about possible negative health effects of using an e-reader, namely exposure to radiation. I’m not current with that concern, but I have read a few articles about the sleep disorders being triggered by the use of blue light emitting from a screen prior to bedtime. I do think that can be an issue for some people, but from my own experience, my big fear is my iPad falling off my lap and crashing to the floor when I do nod off!
And then there are hybrid users, like myself. People who still love paper, and will buy their favorite authors to keep on the shelf– but buy ebooks to keep the bookshelves under control. Or choose ebooks because they can afford to buy more books if they are in digital form. Or because the convenience of e-readers sometimes overrides the pleasures of paper books. Did I mention that my iPad was extremely useful when we went camping? I could read by the campfire because my screen was backlit, thereby freeing up a flashlight for my kids to use on their own books.
What is interesting to me is that the hybrid user seems to be the most prevalent trend both in my poll on Facebook, and at book clubs where I am a guest. When DAMAGED was first released in June 2010, I can hardly recall anyone who had read the e-version at a book club. But over the course of the past two years, it seemed more readers had switched to e-readers. Most recently, the general consensus at book clubs was that they now use their e-readers for vacation reads.
As a reader, I prefer paper. As the owner of a house bursting with books owned by teenagers who have refused to give up the pleasures of paper books despite the fact they can text at the speed of light, I am thrilled that my children derive so much pleasure from a book. And yet, after cleaning out those bookcases yet again, I value e-readers.
As an author, I get paid roughly the same for either format, so it doesn’t affect my earnings (at this point in time). However, a significant benefit of a paper book for a new author, is that one’s book can be more easily discovered when it sits face out on a bookshelf in a bookstore. I believe I gained many of my readers at retail stores, who saw the cover of my books and decided to give them a try. The vertical Top 100 lists on Amazon are really only helpful for readers to discover a small number of authors.
I have had a few readers attend my signings and almost sheepishly admit they read the e-version of my books. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter to me whether my readers enjoy my series in paper or on an e-reader. Just as long as they enjoy it. ☺
What do think? Has the pendulum stopped swinging between e-books and paper books? Which format do you prefer?
I think e-readers raise the bar for authors. Every page must be good otherwise we lose our audience to re-runs of Mad Men.
Posted by Norb Vonnegut | September 22, 2012, 12:09 pmSo true, Norb – that has been my experience with my iPad.
Posted by pamelacallow | September 22, 2012, 8:20 pmGreat article. Another point that I failed to make is that I see an increase in e-books. Yes, I understand that the writer slaved away in creating the story but my point is because it is electronic the price point should be lower. I can understand paying a higher price for the book itself but not for the electronic version. I don’t want to ruffle any feathers but I really wanted to bring up this point.
Posted by aida alberto | September 22, 2012, 12:13 pmThank you, Aida! I agree that there is a trade-off between paper and e-books, and the price should reflect it. I think the question of what percentage the ebook should be discounted is the real issue. It seems to me that there is a cut off point for most people in what they are willing to pay, myself included. However, as an author, it does concern me to when people expect that the average ebook price should be 1.99 or 2.99.( Indie authors can afford to do it because they gain a much higher royalty from the sale of each book). When I skim through Amazon’s Top 100 list, I am struck by the disparity of prices. At the end of the day, people will likely support an author if they feel they are getting value for their money.
Posted by pamelacallow | September 22, 2012, 8:30 pmGreat post, Pam! It’s great to see all the different sides to e-reader vs print. Although rather than it being one or the other, I prefer to embrace both! And love both for all the reasons stated above. Although I have managed to cuddle up with a good e-reader.
Posted by Kelly Boyce | September 22, 2012, 12:38 pmThanks for dropping by, Kelly! Glad to hear you have made your e-reader cuddle-able! I balance mine on mypug Peaches, which adds a cuddle factor.
Posted by pamelacallow | September 22, 2012, 8:31 pmI agree, Aida, that e-books should cost a little less.I recently had the price discussion with Amazon.com. An e-book that I bought was pricier than the paperback and I was miffed. Sadly, prices vary by country and as a Canadian, I’m paying more, even though I’m buying from an American site with a strong Canadian dollar.
I know some people still love the feel of a book and there are a myriad of distractions when reading e-books but I actually think I read more and BUY more books now. I’m not interested in borrowing a friends hard copy of the book, I buy the e-book. It’s so easy to take my reader in my purse that I have it everywhere so I’m never stuck in a waiting room twiddling my thumbs.
Posted by Karen W. | September 22, 2012, 12:50 pmHi Karen! I’m surprised to hear the ebook was higher than the paper — I would be miffed, too. It’s interesting that it is the norm for us to expect that we pay less for ebooks now. And glad to hear that you enjoy the immediacy of the e-reader. That was one of the things (still is), that keeps me engaged with my iPad.
Posted by pamelacallow | September 22, 2012, 8:33 pmI think we are in a point of transition and it will be a few years before we come out the other side. There are people who still love records though for many of us, even the CD is dead. We have a longer history with print (whether a book or a scroll)- much longer than with recorded movies or sound, and books are a symbol (regardless of what’s inside them) in a way records, movies, etc are not (maybe art would be the only comparable medium). I think it will be years yet before this plays out, for cultural reasons and a pratical one – this technology is still in its relative infancy.
From a practical standpoint, there are still places e-readers lag behind – the tub being a notable one – and for those who may still not “trust” technology. I am a hybrid, probably more a book reader than an e-reader. I have a kobo because reading on a backlit screen for pleasure isn’t pleasurable. If I want a “reference book” – a cook book, for example – I like a physical book for it’s “flippability”. Or I go online, looking for chunks of information. But a novel – that simply go cover to cover – it doesn’t matter as much.
Aside from pricing and all that other stuff – it plays a role but I’m not sure yet how big a role. Someone smarter than me would look at diffusion theory and figure that in somewhere. If you can afford an ipad/kindle/kobo then you’re already in a much different economic bracket and the price point might not be as huge an issue. Pricing in ejournals in the academic world is still evolving, and they’ve been around for 15 years or so.
Great article Pam. I was also a great lover of the bookmobile – they are disappearing, which is kind of too bad, but I loved them too! And used them.
Posted by mlhelliwell | September 22, 2012, 1:03 pmHi Michelle,
Glad to meet a fellow bookmobile-phile.
You raise a wonderful point about the culture of books. I was watching Farewell My Queen last night, which is set during the French Revolution, and the main character is Marie Antoinette’s reader. They showed her reading from a beautiful little leather and gold-embossed novel. Sigh. I don’t think book lovers are ready to give up the beauty of books completely.
I’m the same regarding flippability. Most of my research books are in paper, because I love to flip through them. Same with cookbooks. Years ago, when I practiced law, I was not a big fan of the online service for legal research because I found flipping through legal research subjects in the books would give me some creative ideas for arguments.
Posted by pamelacallow | September 22, 2012, 8:37 pmGreat post, Pam! I love both formats. For me, they each have their time and place. Keepers and research books are paper for me, and fun, fast reads are ebook. I bet I spend an equal amount of $$$ on both.
Posted by Paula Altenburg | September 22, 2012, 1:17 pmI bet you do, Paula. You and I are both research geeks. I am always amazed when I add up how much money I spend every year on my materials. Good thing it is tax-deductible!
Posted by pamelacallow | September 22, 2012, 8:38 pmWhen it comes to e-books vs. paper books, it seems like all I hear are arguments from both extreme sides of the debate. There are those hardcore old-schoolers who think e-books are the end of the written word as we know it or those e-book authors who consider physical books to be like dinosaurs on the verge of extinction. Ask your average author and they’ll probably tell you they like both. (For the record, that’s my stance.)
What the responses from your readers (and the comments here) make clear is that the e-book or paper debate isn’t a philosophical one but more of a practical one. For readers, the decision depends on factors those partisans on either side don’t consider. Bookshelf space. Convenience. Where the book will be read and when. Bookstore availability. Price.
Basically, I think this means that e-books and paper books can and will live in harmony for a very long time. (Or at least until hologram books are invented, in which case we’re all screwed.)
Posted by Todd Ritter | September 22, 2012, 2:04 pmSo true, Todd.The debate can be quite extreme. I wanted to examine it from the reader’s perspective, rather than from the industry perspective, because it is consumers who are driving this. I think you are right that things will balance out in this market. Thanks for sharing your thoughts – especially the hologram books, LOL!
Posted by pamelacallow | September 22, 2012, 8:42 pmI’m a fairly recent convert to e-books (got a Kobo Vox last year) and while I do like it for times I’m on the ferry and in town, mostly I prefer paper books. I think the two formats will settle into a pretty even balance…there will always be people who LOVE books and for them, nothing beats paper…but it’s great that e-books are around too for frequent commuters and travellers and those who don’t live somewhere that it’s easy to either access or store paper books. At the library, our patrons are still taking out tons of paper books, but they’re also borrowing e-books. Kids still seem to love browsing and taking out stacks of picture books, fiction and non-fiction in the old format…
Posted by ladytess | September 22, 2012, 4:11 pmHI Tess – thank you for sharing your perspective.The convenience and accessibility of ebooks is one of their great selling points, I think. And isn’t it interesting how kids really still prefer the hard format. Mine do. Still can’t convince them to try an e-reader! One of their arguments is that they love to re-read the books. They are very careful with them and truly treasure them. It’s lovely to see. That’s why I don’t buy the argument that the next generation will have short attention spans and will only want to read from a screen. I just don’t think that’s the case.
Posted by pamelacallow | September 22, 2012, 8:45 pmI’ve had a love affair with print books for too long to ever change – probably. I never wanted an ereader but happened to win one. I read the one story from the author that I won from and it was nice to take in my purse but I don’t travel much so not a big deal. I downloaded tons of free ebooks and have won some. But I much prefer my print books. I like being surrounded by them (much to my husband’s dismay). He says one day he will come home and find me buried by books lol. I also like to lend them to friends and family. I do think though that the young will probably want ebooks and I do admit they take up less room and are probably great for students. But you don’t have the thrill of holding an ebook, the smell, the touch, the glorious covers. Yes, ebooks are more practical but it’s just not the same. I can see a future when trees are too valuable and only the rich will have print books (especially hardbacks).
Posted by catslady | September 22, 2012, 8:58 pmYou and I are obviously cut from the same bookworm cloth, Catslady! Thank you for sharing your love of books with us. Very good point about the value of the resources that go into books.
All the best,
Pam
Posted by pamelacallow | September 23, 2012, 11:43 pmInteresting post, Pamela. I ride the hybrid route. If the story looks like a one-read amusement, I’ll buy the eBook so I don’t clutter my shelves. If it’s a favorite author, I might buy both (and I think publishers would do well offering a package deal upfront, both versions for a combined reduced price.) My collectibles, new and classic, line my bookshelves not my eReader.
But for the actual act of reading I prefer eBooks. They travel light and are easier to page turn when I read during lunch or on the treadmill at the gym. The only downside? I’m a page flipper. I like to backtrack, reread scenes or check back for clues, and occasionally I’ll do the cheat and read the last chapter to see where the story is headed. I haven’t mastered that skill yet on my Kindle/Nook/iPad (yes, I use them all.)
Where is the industry heading? Look to the music business. The year iTunes opened they sold @250,000 songs. Last year they sold 2 billion.
Posted by Rochelle Staab | September 22, 2012, 9:33 pmHI Rochelle,
I love hearing your perspective of this, because you have “been there, done that.” You raise great points about the package deal for books/ebooks — I think that’s quite brilliant.
And so impressed you read the ending of a book. I absolutely hate knowing the outcome before I read a book or watch a sports match!
Thanks for sharing!
Posted by pamelacallow | September 23, 2012, 11:45 pmHi, Norb. Good to see you here. This is a very interesting discussion, but y’all should limit your findings to U.S. residents who can afford to choose between reading a book in print or on an iPad screen. Many people in the world cannot afford either. They are sleeping several to a bed and have little shelf space for books. They store and read books on their smartphones.
Posted by Eddie Vega | September 23, 2012, 4:24 amGood to see you, too, Eddie. Thank you for this clarification. Talk about challenges. I personally find it so hard to read articles on cellphones…but if there are no options…
Posted by Norb Vonnegut | September 23, 2012, 10:56 pmAs I understand it, Norb, the new iPhone will have a larger screen that will make it easier to read eBooks, e-mail, and spreadsheets. There will come a time when most daily operations will be done right on a mobile phone. My dentist told me he was moving his billing and scheduling operations to his phone.
Posted by Eddie | September 23, 2012, 11:23 pmHI Eddie,
As the author of this post, thank you for broadening the perspective of this discussion. I think the other issue for people not in the North American market is accessiblity to the ebook files.
My vision is too poor to read a book on a smartphone, so I don’t envy older readers in those countries.
I appreciate you bringing a non-North American point of view to the discussion, Eddie!
All the best,
Pam
Posted by pamelacallow | September 23, 2012, 11:48 pm