B.A.B.A.E.L.

I've never been one to fetishize books.

Sure, I've appreciated a nice binding and cool detailing. Yes, I own several volumes more or less because they look nice. Yeah, I've even sniffed the lovely pages of a book or two.

However, I've also been known to break spines, read while doing messy activities thus getting dirt or food all over the book, dogear my pages, read in the bath (resulting in not only little water deformations all over the pages, but the occasional dropped book), and many other abuses I'm probably not thinking of.

That's because, for me, books are mostly meant for one thing -- reading. And I will read anywhere, and anyway I am comfortable doing so.

I've been surprised to discover the hostility that e-readers have brought forth from my fellow book-lovers. I didn't realize that they so literally loved the books themselves, as objects, rather than their contents. I've also noticed a common theme among their objections: They've rarely ever held an e-reader in their hands. It's obvious from the complaints they make.

So, in defense of e-books, here's why you'll pry my e-reader out of my cold, dead, hands:

1) Gone with the Wind only weighs a few ounces.  As does War and Peace, Moby Dick, and well... all books. Talk about wanting to curl up with a book? The e-reader is the ultimate "curling up" device!

2) To reiterate: the e-reader is the ultimate curling up device. Not only because it is lightweight, but I only need one had to operate it. I've grown to love curling up with it on a chilly night with only one finger poking out of the covers. I've gotten so used to the whole process that I've actually (gasp!) started to prefer e-books to "real" books. It can also be held horizontally or vertically and page turns accomplished in a variety of comfortable ways.

3)True e-readers (so not the iPad, folks) are easier on the eyes. I'm so tired of hearing that people do not like to "read on a screen." This isn't any screen you've ever seen before. It is practically indistinguishable from paper and ink. So why do I say easier?  For one, the background has a slightly grayish tint rather than bright white, reducing page glare, and mostly because I can make the font ANY SIZE I WANT! I've really been enjoying this when I read in bed at night. I have terrible vision, but with the reader, I am able to blow up the font, take off my glasses and read in comfort until I nod off.

4)There is nothing better than an e-reader for bath-time reading. That's right, I take my expensive electronic device in the bath with me.  Yup, I did just say a few paragraphs up that I've dropped more than one book in the tub. I've dropped my e-reader in tub, too. Luckily, unlike a book, I can pop my e-reader in a waterproof bag.  Those that are less clumsy or paranoid than I can even simply pop it in a ziplock bag! (This is also the solution for beach reading as well.)  Try that with a book. It's unbelievably convenient.

5)Know what else is convenient? Being able to carry hundreds of books in my purse.

6)Know why I have hundreds of books to carry? Because sources for free e-books abound. My favorites are my library, and FeedBooks. I've never had more in my TBR pile than I do now.

That said, not all e-readers are created equal. Any of the touch-screen models are going to have greater screen glare. The iPad is not an e-reader, really, so it really is like reading on a computer screen. The Kindle has that cool whispernet thing and that not-so-cool proprietary format thing. The Sony Reader is a little on the heavy side. I use the Astak Pocket Pro, which I like, but  is not only not as slick as other readers out there, it has no comfortable method of page-turning when held horizontally. (But it is red!) And no true e-reader can display in color or deal very smoothly with images.

There are also, at least currently, plenty of reasons people may like to still use paper books, besides familiarity. For now, e-readers remain the domain of those who can afford them. Sharing e-books can be tricky. Reading should never be solely handy for the wealthy.

But mostly? I think this e-book thing is here to stay and is growing every day. And you know what? I welcome it! People were scared when Gutenberg  invented the printing press (yes, really!) and yes, it resulted in the loss of those beautiful handmade manuscripts with the gorgeous illumination. But we all know there were gains to be had, as well. And there will be with e-books, too.

I don't know that I've made a believer out of anyone, but I am glad to be a voice in the book world that actually appreciates the advances and advantages of e-reading. We're out there!

Mostly I just want us all to agree, it isn't the format you read on that matters. It's the reading that matters. I read, you read, we all read. And that's a good thing, right?