Juliet Stouffer
Physical books
by Julia Sikorski Roehsner
Every book I own is precious. They’re all mostly at home right now, young adult and children’s books, fantasy and romance, and realistic fiction, crammed into my tiny house with its tiny bookshelves, stacked and double-layered, occupying the living room and the dining room and the porch and my bedroom. Inevitably, the lesser-read gather dust and make me sneeze, but I don’t box them up, and I wouldn’t dream of giving any of them away — though my mom would really like me to. I like seeing them, a mismatched, hard-soft rainbow of stories.
I’ve never been a lover of the smell of books. I prefer brand-new books to secondhand ones, and despite their aesthetic allure, I tend to lose patience wandering through independent bookstores. But there’s something about holding a real, physical book. Feeling the paper between your fingertips, the crisp snick when you turn the page. I’m that person who reads a book from front to back: all the title pages, the copyright and acknowledgements, the author bio, the author’s headshot photographer, the cover artists, and that elusive page that tells you about the font. I love a good chapter illustration or paragraph divider. Sure, ebooks have some of those things, too, but it’s not the same. You know it’s not.
Physical books are chewed-on board books; homemade bookmarks; scribbled author signatures; rectangular, tissue-wrapped birthday presents; a dozen different editions of the same book “because this one has bonus features;” they’re Little Libraries; and “here, you can borrow my copy.” Physical books are more than just a medium for reading. They’re a form of connection.
Do ebooks have their advantages? Of course. They are more accessible; they take up less space; they don’t use paper or ink. But we already spend so many hours staring at screens, straining our eyes and bodies as we disengage from the world around us. Plus, numerous studies have shown that readers absorb more information from physical books.
Books are my version of a comfort blanket. I will hold my physical books close to my heart for as long as I can.
Ebooks
By Kim Tran
As an avid reader, I have consumed books in many ways: physical, audio, and electronic. I can confidently say that electronic books are simply the best. Here are five reasons as to why you should invest in an ebook or Kindle.
The convenience of transportation. Have you ever read a large and lengthy series such as “The Lord of the Rings” or “Throne of Glass?” In case I found a moment to read, I would lug around massive 300-900 page books to school, work, and everywhere else I went. It was difficult to put in my bag, and was even more inconvenient to carry around in my hand. Having an ebook that fits into my back pocket or neatly in my bag makes reading incredibly easier. Not only can I carry one book wherever I go, I can carry up to thousands of books all within a small device.
The immediate access to reading whenever you want. Sometimes I will finish a book at midnight and am in desperate need to start the sequel because the ending was just that good. My Kindle allows me to download books and read them within seconds. This comes in handy when authors release books, and as a college student without a car, I am able to access new releases the moment they are put out.
The customizable reading experience. Sometimes printed books are harder to read because the ink is too light or the font is small and illegible. Having an ebook allows you to customize the font, color, and size of your current read. You never have to worry about picking up an oddly printed book again. Not only can you customize the book, but you can also adjust the brightness and tone settings. Reading is a part of my bedtime routine, and being able to comfortably read in the dark is an absolute game-changer.
The ability to search and annotate your book. If you ever lose your page, you can search for the previous chapter you read. If you are a reader who loves to highlight certain chapters or lines, you can do that right within the ebook. No need to buy extra pens or highlighters anymore.
The sustainability and cost efficiency of an ebook. Having an ebook saves space on your shelf and is cheaper than buying a physical book that you would only read once. Having a Kindle subscription allows me to borrow as many books per month as desired for the price of one book, less than that, actually. As college students, I think we are all hoping to save money where we can.