I would be lying if I said e-reader tablets were not marvelous devices. After all, it’s every bookworm’s dream to have access to thousands of reading materials at the tip of their finger.
Tablets and e-readers are convenient because they are easier to travel with and are environmentally friendly.Indeed, some readers are completely satisfied with reading their favorite stories on a hand-held screen — others solely want the pleasure of a paperback or hardcover read.
Can these digital reading appliances substitute the paperbacks that are currently sitting on the bookshelves of our bedrooms? Can we really become completely digital? Are we really willing to let our paper books go?
It’s a matter of personal preference. I am a proud owner of an iPad that houses 40 of my favorite novels from Little Women and The Wizard of Oz to Jean Rhy’s Wide Sargasso Sea.
The convenience of being able to switch between screen and paper more quickly comes with a caveat — the time- and resource-intensive nature of printing paper books has been leading several publishing houses to go digital.
However, I do not believe that we should completely turn our backs on print. It’s not only a disadvantage for those who prefer them but it would also mean losing a piece of world culture. Even if digitized, the significance and originality of a paperback will deteriorate over time and one day became an archaic thing of years gone by.
During the 15th century, the publishing industry led to a larger diffusion of knowledge throughout the world. Six hundred years later, digital appliances are yet again making information and knowledge even more accessible.
No matter your take on the issue, it signifies the inevitable march of progress.
