Book vs. Nook: A Skeptic's Take on the E-Reader

As you can tell, I am someone who loves books.  Everyone has their own personal "kid in a candy store" comparison, and for me, it's a book store.  When I walk into one, I am silently mesmerized by all that sits before me.  I will wander up and down the aisles, gazing at the shelves of seemingly limitless options, drawn to eye-catching covers and creative title fonts that pull me in like a moth to a flame.  I will pick up various books, reading back covers to get a feel for each before choosing to place it back or tuck it under my arm while I continue to browse.  I love the feeling of opening a new book, stretching out the spine, devouring each word and escaping to a new place within the pages.  Going to the book store is by far one of my favorite things to do, as most people who know me can tell you.  

And it is because of this love for reading, that my mom gave me a very thoughtful and intriguing gift for Christmas: a nook.  The Barnes and Noble equivalent of the Kindle, the nook is an e-reader about the size and weight of a paperback book.  I'll admit that when they first came out, I was skeptical.  How could I go from reading lovely, physical text, to reading a computer screen?  All the hype and excitement, and I wasn't convinced.

It wasn't until I actually got one that I came around to the idea of an e-reader and realized its benefits.  I don't know how they did it, but the screen actually looks like a page, as if written in ink.  Turning it to the side, there is no glare like on a computer screen.  Books download in a matter of seconds, and with the touch of a finger I can flip through the many covers in the online store.  The size makes it easy to tote around, allowing me to bring several books with me anywhere I go, regardless of the size of the book or my purse.  And anyone who has been in my room before knows that I'm running out of shelf space.  The nook allows me to buy and read the books that I want to read, but maybe don't plan on reading again or don't want taking up space on my crowded shelves.  Win-win.

So while I'll never give up my obsession with book stores or the comforting feeling of holding a book in my hand, it seems that lately I'm never without my nook.  I keep it tucked safely in its case, the latest just-for-fun read recently downloaded, patiently waiting for my next walk on the treadmill or rush hour commute, ready to go with the touch of a button.