21st century.

A while back, I debated to pros and cons of reading actual books vs. e-readers. And while I still truly love reading a good old fashioned book, actually holding the book and flipping the pages and all the delights that come with that, I have made the switch.



And you know what? It's not so bad.

In fact, it's pretty great.

I am shocked to hear myself say that but as it turns out, there really is something to these e-readers. As someone who likes to have a book with me at all times, just in case, it can be sometimes cumbersome to carry around an actual book in my purse all the time. Especially if it's a longer book or a hard cover, my purse can get awfully heavy. My tiny little Nook fits nice and easily into my bag without adding a ton of weight. So that's a bonus.

My nook has a non-glared screen (unlike a computer) so it doesn't hurt my eyes if I choose to read for a long time. While it's still not the same as reading off an actual page, it's not as distracting as I thought it could be. I've made the transition to reading on a screen rather seamlessly, and the added bonus is that the Nook has a back light so if I don't have light access or I'm with others who've gone to bed, I can still read.

My other favorite part of having an e-reader is that I have constant access to my personal library. As of now, I have a whole list of books waiting for me to read. New books. When I was reading regular books I would sometimes finish a new book but then reread an old one or two while waiting to get to the library or waiting til I have money to purchase a new one. Now I have books delivered electronically and instantly, allowing me to ever expand my library. Plus with sites like Book Bub, I can get cheap or free books, really cutting down the cost of new reading materials.

So I've taken the plunge and joined the 21st century. and I'm quite enjoying it.

Maybe I'm just old fashioned.

I've seen a lot of ads lately for ereaders. Kindle. Nook. Other various knockoff brands.

I'm intrigued by the concept and in many ways it's a good one. Buying ebooks saves trees, you can carry multiple books around as well as newspapers, magazines and what have you easily and well contained. It's small and portable so you don't have to lug around a bulky book, especially if it's hardcover.

I know a lot of people who have ereaders who love them. I know others who love the idea and have one on their wish list.

Personally, I'm still on the fence.

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but there's something I really love about holding that book in my hands. I like the small of it, the feel of actual pages and the action of turning those pages one by one until I reach the back cover. It's comforting in many ways to hang on to the story in physical form and get lost in the excitement of what's between the front and back covers. Maybe it's just me, but I don't quite see the charm and wonderment occurring reading a book off a screen.

Not only that, but reading off a screen tends to hurt my eyes. I suppose the ereader screen is a bit different than a computer screen, but it's a screen none the less.

There's just something exciting about seeing that front cover with the (hopefully) engaging and not overdone cover art, the way the title is laid out and the font used. Being able to run your hand over that and know you're about to take another journey into an altered universe where you can escape when reality gets too much.

So there you have it. As much as the ereaders have going for them, I'm just not sure I'm ready to part with my good old fashioned book and the charm it brings to my life.