Week 11 prompt response:
I have to admit I'm a little against eBooks and audiobooks, but only for myself! I don't find them appealing but if that is how someone else chooses to take in their books, that's fine by me. At least they're reading in some way. The reason I prefer paper books is because of the appeal factors: I don't have to stare at a screen, I can read at my own pace, I can dog-ear pages, I can mark passages. I also prefer the aesthetic appeal of paper books. I like looking at different editions and covers. I like discovering the different layouts and the choices made when publishing. If people don't mind losing the appeal factors of tactile books, then it's okay if they read eBooks or listen to audio books.
Being able to change the font or color of the text seems to detract from the author's vision. They worked hard (probably in conjunction with their publisher) to lay out the book in a certain way so that a certain meaning or feeling is conveyed when you read it. I don't know if fonts and things transfer over to eBooks all the time or if it just depends on the book. If they all come out in Times New Roman 12 point font, then it doesn't really matter if the reader changes the font or the text color.
I don't think that eBooks and audio books detract from someone's knowledge of the genre they're experiencing. Like I said before, they're still reading that book in some way; whether that is on a screen or that the book is being read to them. It's still the same story that is inside a print book.
I do understand that narrators can positively or negatively affect audiobooks. If there is an annoying person on any media that I can't stand, I'm immediately put off by that whether it's a tv show or a podcast. I'm sure I would feel the same way if I were to get into audiobooks.
Both eBooks and audiobooks have their own unique appeal factors. EBooks are easy to take with you anywhere you go and your device can hold more than one at a time. Some people are so connected to their phone or computer that they feel more comfortable reading from the device than they do a real book. I've also heard that it's easier to be more sneaky with eBooks than paper books because then you can read them at work on your computer and no one is the wiser. Audiobooks also come with the appeal of ease. You can do other things while listening to an audio book or play them in the car and still take in the story without having to sit down and read a book.
I have to admit I'm a little against eBooks and audiobooks, but only for myself! I don't find them appealing but if that is how someone else chooses to take in their books, that's fine by me. At least they're reading in some way. The reason I prefer paper books is because of the appeal factors: I don't have to stare at a screen, I can read at my own pace, I can dog-ear pages, I can mark passages. I also prefer the aesthetic appeal of paper books. I like looking at different editions and covers. I like discovering the different layouts and the choices made when publishing. If people don't mind losing the appeal factors of tactile books, then it's okay if they read eBooks or listen to audio books.
Being able to change the font or color of the text seems to detract from the author's vision. They worked hard (probably in conjunction with their publisher) to lay out the book in a certain way so that a certain meaning or feeling is conveyed when you read it. I don't know if fonts and things transfer over to eBooks all the time or if it just depends on the book. If they all come out in Times New Roman 12 point font, then it doesn't really matter if the reader changes the font or the text color.
I don't think that eBooks and audio books detract from someone's knowledge of the genre they're experiencing. Like I said before, they're still reading that book in some way; whether that is on a screen or that the book is being read to them. It's still the same story that is inside a print book.
I do understand that narrators can positively or negatively affect audiobooks. If there is an annoying person on any media that I can't stand, I'm immediately put off by that whether it's a tv show or a podcast. I'm sure I would feel the same way if I were to get into audiobooks.
Both eBooks and audiobooks have their own unique appeal factors. EBooks are easy to take with you anywhere you go and your device can hold more than one at a time. Some people are so connected to their phone or computer that they feel more comfortable reading from the device than they do a real book. I've also heard that it's easier to be more sneaky with eBooks than paper books because then you can read them at work on your computer and no one is the wiser. Audiobooks also come with the appeal of ease. You can do other things while listening to an audio book or play them in the car and still take in the story without having to sit down and read a book.
Do you find it hard to recommend Ebooks or Audiobooks? I'm just curious. I love holding a physical copy of a book in hand, but I also really like the convenience of having a book with me always, on my phone. I think a good narrator can make a good book even better as the reader/listener gets to just enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI don't find it hard to recommend them if that is what the person prefers. Sometimes at my library, we only have the ebook or the audiobook so I have to recommend it. I don't have any problem with them, I just don't like them myself.
DeleteI used to feel the same way, and it took spending asinine amounts of time driving in my car before I really got into audiobooks. I do still find ebooks hard to read, but for me that's because of my astigmatism and screen time issues. Still, I think if you like listening to podcasts, that you might be surprised how good an audiobook can be. I do chores, and drive, and play games on my phone while listening to audiobooks and I have found they can be a nice soundtrack- if the narrator is good. However, I find podcasts boring as hell- so ultimately, to each their own format. And I still, also feel that the physical book is king.
ReplyDeleteTo each their own! I'm definitely an audiobook convert myself but have yet to come around to ebooks. Great post, full points!
ReplyDelete