books rethunk

I've been gradually opening my mind to the concept of e-books taking over the publishing world. The biggest barrier for me is one I find it hard to verbalize. I suspect this is the case with many people. How do you describe the difference between holding an actual book with a cover and pages in your hand, compared to holding an electronic device?

But, I have tried.

The day I knew 'they' were winning was when I entered a contest to win a Kindle. So, I wasn't as against the device itself, but rather the expense, perhaps? Since I normally don't buy books at the usual new price, but rather review books for free,borrow from the library or my mother's extensive book collection, I object to being locked into reading at a cost higher than my current one.

But this was before I found myself surrounded by a sea of children and parents waiting to go into the Storytime Hour at my local library.

I saw toddlers, and babies, preschoolers and kids in strollers with moms, dads and grandparents. The library had provided books in baskets in the foyer where they were waiting. Adults knelt on the floor and sat in chairs with children on their laps. Kids were lifting the flaps of flap books, pointing to colorful pictures, drooling on books, listening to the adults read, and prattling about the pictures.

Instantly in my mind, I replaced each scenario with an e-reader. It was not a pretty sight.

All that work. Gone in an instant. I wasn't going to be able to keep up the pretext of going with the flow into a new generation of e-reading. And now I had one solid reason why.

What's your opinion on books vs. e-readers?