E-readers

I am a bit bemused by e-readers, these 'electronic books'. Forgive me a moment but to me a book is something you hold in your hand and feel the pages. I love the smell of books - sometimes musty (when borrowed or 2nd hand) or fresh when bought brand new. I love reading the back cover for a little description of the story within and the critical reviews of this adventure yet to be discovered.

I cannot understand how e-readers will ever take over from a real, honest to god book. You cannot loan an e-reader book to a friend nor can you donate it to a local hospital or give it to a charity shop.

Real books however can be given on loan with the knowledge that the recipient may love the story as much as you have. A real book can be donated to your local hospital library or charity knowing it will again bring joy to someone else.

These plastic/metal 'electric books' cannot be shared in the same joyful way. Now do not get me wrong I am not a technophobe quite the opposite. I took to my iphone with joyful ease and love my laptop, facebook, twitter, blogs and online gaming (I don't play very often however). I often play xbox kinect with my 8 year old son and use youtube to get workouts to try at home.

All I can say really is give me a real book any day, mark the page with a book mark or leave it upside down open on the page - a real page not a screen that may be difficult to see in sunlight. If I drop my book on the floor it will not crack or break the worst that might happen is I loose temporarily the page I was on, I locate same and off I go again. Nor will it be pron to technical glitches or freezing or any other gremlin that may decide to invade an electronic device.

Long live real books!!!!