In which Anna speaks up for all types of books

[annathepiper]

I feel the need to make a clarification on my previous post, which is intended to be more about my general bemusement about not getting the “old book smell” thing rather than a statement about print vs. digital in general. And yet, I’ve already started getting comments from various folks about “I prefer print because…” or “I prefer digital because…” Not just “I prefer”, either. I’m getting words like “aversion” thrown around, too.

Because yes, this is a contentious topic. And trust me when I tell you, folks, that I’ve heard all the various arguments for people’s preferred reasons for reading in whatever format they prefer. Many of them I do indeed adhere to myself.

I like print because…

• You don’t have to recharge a print book
• You don’t have to go to the trouble of cracking the DRM
• You can more safely read it in the bath (though I note I’ve actually dropped more print books than ereaders into the bath water)
• You can read it when the power goes out
• A well-designed book IS a thing of beauty and a joy forever
• If I ever lose my ereader, I still have the backup print copies of books by my most admired authors (the people I buy in both formats)

And I like digital because…

• It’s way easier for me to carry my ereader on a commute
• I have lots more books at my disposal on the commute
• I can immediately start a new book if I finish one partway through my lunch break or bus ride
• Ebooks take up no shelf space and the number of them I own is limited only by the space on the device
• There are some books I can in fact only get digitally, like all my fellow Carina authors’ books
• It’s way easier for me to buy Quebec SF/F in digital form than it is to order the books from Quebec
• I own so many print books already that I’m chronically out of shelf space, so I pretty much HAVE to buy digital right now

Notice here though how I say “I like…”, not “I prefer…” Because yes, I do like both formats. Both have their good points. Both have their bad points.

And I’d like to ask all of you out there, no matter which type of book you prefer, to be aware of how you present your preferences. I think I speak for digitally published authors everywhere when I say, for example, that it’s hurtful to hear someone say to you, “Well gosh, I’d love to read your book, but I only read real books.” As if that story you labored over for several years to get written, edited, accepted by a publisher, and then edited some more until it was fit to ship is somehow less worthy, less real, than books manifested in paper and ink.

I’m here to tell you, people, to the people that wrote those ebooks and to the people that enjoy reading them, those stories are every bit as real.

Likewise, digital advocates, be mindful of how you present yourselves too. It’s equally hurtful for people who love their books in physical form to hear “you’re behind the times” or “you’re stuck in the past” or “you’re being hurtful to the environment because your books are using paper” or whatever.

Those of you who know me well may recognize the similarity of this argument to ones I’ve put forth advocating against computer or phone evangelism, too. It’s the same principle, really.

Because what it boils down to is, people like what people like. You don’t have to explain it. You don’t have to defend it. Just remember, the feelings of the people who love print are every bit as real and valid as the feelings of the people who love digital, and vice versa.

And as I pointed out in the previous post, books themselves are powerful creators of emotion throughout our culture. Justifiably so.

On that, I think we can all agree!

Mirrored from angelahighland.com.

Comments

[mmegaera]

“Well gosh, I’d love to read your book, but I only read real books.”

Grrr...

And amen to you.

[annathepiper]

I've had this one said to me. It stings. Have you gotten this one too?

[mmegaera]

Yes. Several times. It's very hurtful.

I'm working on getting my books out in POD this summer. One reason is that I'd like my 89-year-old mother (who doesn't say hurtful things like that, but who also doesn't do ebooks -- or computers) to see my books. At least that's what's getting my rear in gear to do it.

[annathepiper]

*nodnodnod* I've got to find a way to better distribute the print editions of my own stuff. Mostly because people who don't already know me probably aren't going to bother to contact me to ask for print copies directly, as months of experience has taught me!

[mmegaera]

I hate marketing, with the passion of a thousand suns. Production and the technical details I can do. But getting the stuff out there and finding people who might want it? Is like wossname rolling the boulder up the hill.

[annathepiper]

Oh god YES. Preach it, sister. Testify.

[fayanora]

Also, Project Gutenberg has a bunch of free public domain ebooks!

[jjhunter]

And LibriVox is creating an archive of audiobook equivalents!

[annathepiper]

Ooh, I didn't know this. Awesome.

[jjhunter]

LibriVox: acoustical liberation of books in the public domain

LibriVox volunteers record chapters of books in the public domain and release the audio files back onto the net. Our goal is to make all public domain books available as free audio books.

[mmegaera]

Now that's a boon for everyone.

[annathepiper]

VERY cool. :D

[annathepiper]

Project Gutenberg is ALSO a thing of beauty and a joy forever. :)

[snippy]

I only like REAL stories, the ones told me around the fire by the tribal story teller!

[annathepiper]

In intrepretive dance and hand signs! All these newfangled WORDS just get in the way of the story!

[mmegaera]

Ooh. May borrow that the next time someone's a jerk like that?

[snippy]

Of course, feel free!

There's nothing wrong with liking paper books, just like there's nothing wrong with liking scrolls (we Jews use them, after all) or a wax tablet if that's what tickles your fancy. I myself own and buy both e-books and paperbacks and hardcover books. I do think privileging form over function is a privileged position by definition.

[mmegaera]

Thanks. I own books in four formats -- hardback, paperback (both trade and mass market), audio (in two formats, used to be three before I finally ditched the cassettes), and electronic. I've happily got my bases covered [g].

[annathepiper]

I had an earlier post about privilege in book formats, in fact. I readily acknowledge that I'm in a position of privilege re: income in that I have multiple devices I can happily read ebooks on. For that matter, I also have enough disposable income to have shelves and shelves and shelves full of mass market, trade, and hardback books. Way more books than I have time to read in a timely fashion, in fact!

On the other hand, there are questions of age and able-ism involved with print, too. I've seen a lot of people posting about how being able to read ebooks, on which they can adjust the font size to something comfortable for them to read, has made it way, way easier for them to enjoy books.

[fayanora]

Another good thing about ebooks: one can put the e-reader down on the table or bed and read hands-free (except for page turning), which is hard to do with most paper books.

[annathepiper]

I like that, yeah. I like having the ereader plunked in front of me while I eat lunch, sometimes propped up against my backpack, and all I have to do is tap it.