The truth about e-books - am I right?

The insidious truth about e-books suddenly struck me last night. How it is in the interest of online booksellers like Amazon to promote these items either to download onto their own brand Kindle or other e-readers such as the iPad etc.

I'd been seriously considering getting one as it would be easier to transport reading matter and I would no longer have a pile of books by my bed. But then I realised I could no longer pass on books to friends when I had finished with them.

The life of a book is varied and long. It is bought, read and often loaned. It can go to a charity shop or it can be resold. But there is just one initial purchase from the publisher. An ebook can only be read by the purchaser, it can't be loaned to a friend. Therefore there will be more downloads and more money to be made by publisher and online bookseller.

And then even worse as a friend of mine pointed out. You never actually own the e-book. If a government ever wanted to censor reading, all they would have to do is delete the e-book from existence and poof it would be gone from your e-reader. Frightening eh?

So I think I'll hold out for a while longer and continue reading books the traditional way so I can share amongst my friends and family.

Comments

[Toffeeapple]

I agree with you. I just know that I wouldn't be able to get on with a Kindle or whatever other reading device. I have to have the book in my hand and a lovely bookmark to go with it. As you say, the pleasure may be shared with friends or charity shops if it is in a book. The thought of censorship, well that is just too frightening for words.

Your dinner party looks like fun, is that your own wind electricity generator (thingy) in the background?

[Miriam]

You are right, I love to read a book and pass it on. Only this weekend my daughter passed on three books to me that she'd enjoyed. I have looked at a Kindle but I'm holding out, but like everything else I'll probably give in eventually!

[Gill Thompson(dosierosie)]

My husband has a kindle and loves it but I prefer good old paper.
Gillx

[Gina]

I'm with you all the way. I'd much rather have a real book to handle.

[Joanne Tinley]

I never thought about the censorship possibility before, but you are right! I love reading and go back to read old favourites again and again. I probably will give in and get something like a kindle eventually, but not for now, and I'll still keep my bookshelves.

[D]

I just bought mine a couple of weeks ago and love it! But my deciding point was when the library started carrying the e-books. No more late fees.

I held off for a long time, but I have to say, I really am enjoying it. No more panic about not having enough to read and I'm enjoying not losing my place when the book collapses without my finger in it.

Surprisingly, I'm actually using the dictionary function, too.