29 August 2010

The Bookshelf Dilemma

Two Years AgoMy bookshelves are sort 0f overflowing and I am buying more and more books as time goes by. I don’t know how I would manage to move all of them while relocating to another city or even a country.  (The picture shows a part of my collection two years ago … lazy to click a present one)

That is where an ebook reader (eReader) comes into picture. Shall I go for one? or not?

  • Don’t I love the “physical feeling” of a book? The smell of it?
  • Don’t I love the sight of the books in the shelf?
  • Don’t I love to tell my guests to “pick that ‘green’ book from the third row from top of the shelf on right side” and then tell them to read something from it. (You know? -- just to spice up conversations and such!)
  • Am I not simply proud of my collection?

An eReader would kill all this fun. So shall I not get one? But then I’ll be missing the technology train. (Which I never missed with netbooks, smart-phones, iPod, iPhone, etc.)

All the bullets above add up to less than 10 percentage of what I love about books. What I want really is the content. So, wouldn’t it be great if I can carry around my collection in a little handheld device? (claiming to give the perfect-reading-feel)

I don’t know. I was (am) quite confused about it. What if I don’t like it after the investment? Wouldn’t it be a waste? What if I do like? Won’t I move away from the good-old-smelly-books?

I spoke with a fellow-reader (RG) and she recommends to take the plunge. I have nothing to lose. And if I don’t like the device, I can give it to someone. Yes, sounds reasonable enough. Still… but… Hmm…

So, take the plunge? or not?

Signing off, Sands.

PS: The title of this post is shamelessly taken from this post @ Within/Without, which provoked my eReader thoughts.

7 comments:

Vimal said...

I bought an e-reader. That doesn't stop me from buying books.

You can have the best of both worlds

Jon said...

No...if u r a book lover go for them
But be picky while buying...I see the crap author Dan Browne in ur collection :)

Sands | കരിങ്കല്ല് said...

@Vimal...

Hmm... etha?


@Jon...

:)
I am actually picky. But when something like Dan Brown happens, I want to have first hand information of what's going on. (I read even twilight - just to be informed)

Anonymous said...

Hmm.. I think e-book reader is a good idea.

Vivek.

Arun said...

buy the ereader man. you have a 2 week return period. so if you dont like it send it back...or even better: i'm sure you have a gadget-obsessed friend ;) whom you can give the device to and hereby motivate him even more to read :D

but seriously, try it out. i've seen sony reader in action. i dont know much about the performance of these things but it sure is practical considering your reading speed; having more than one book at hand would be useful :)

smitha adharsh said...

sorry, I read ur post "Life will never be the same.." only now..
my heartfelt condolence..
I thought y u r not posting anything in malayalam blog..Now I gt the point..but,it's high time to re start again..

Asha said...

enthu venamengilum vangicholu. but make sure you bring all your books when you move, so that i can borrow them :P