By Olivia Schaffer
There was a sadness in the air when a member of our book club in Hermanus announced that she was leaving us. Her reason being that she no longer buys books because she prefers e-reading. The rest of us rolled our eyes with the same thought in mind – there’s nothing quite like the smell of a good book. I guess that is, unless you’re a Kindle user, in which case, you probably prefer the smell of convenience. In the two-decade-old debate between books and e-readers, each side comes armed with strong opinions – dog-eared preferences, and the occasional smug grin.
Let’s start with books. Real books. Paper, ink, spines that creak like old floorboards, and that irresistible scent of nostalgia. There’s something satisfying about holding a book in your hands. Whether you’re lounging in a hammock, curled up by a fire, or propped up with pillows, the experience is tactile, rooted in tradition. You can scribble notes in the margins, use anything from a receipt to a feather as a bookmark, and stack your favourites proudly on a shelf like literary trophies. And of course, dropping a book in the bath is tragic – but at least it won’t cost your hard-earned salary to replace.
Then there’s the Kindle, sleek and smug with its endless shelf space and backlit screen. No more lugging three novels in your carry-on for ‘just in case’… A Kindle fits thousands of titles into something slimmer than a paperback. Want to read at midnight without waking your partner? Done. Want to increase the font size because you’ve reached the age where reading glasses are part of your wardrobe? Easy. And you can buy a book in the early hours without leaving your bed – or your hot water bottle.
Kindles are the answer for travel, convenience, and the modern reader who values space and speed. But they do lack soul, I would say. There’s no thumbing through pages, no folded corners (I don’t do that), no chance of a surprise message tucked inside from a previous owner.
Books aren’t always practical. They’re heavy, they take up space, and they don’t appreciate being stuffed into beach bags alongside wet towels and sunscreen. They also don’t come with adjustable lighting or dictionary lookup at the tap of a finger. But their very ‘inconvenience’ is part of their charm. A book is a deliberate experience. It demands attention and offers presence.
Who, for you, is the winner? Maybe it’s not about choosing sides. Perhaps the true book lover embraces both – the Kindle for travel, for impulse buys, for minimalist shelves. And the physical book for Sunday afternoons, gifts with heart, and the joy of turning real pages.
In the end, it’s not about how you read – it’s that you read. Whether you’re flipping pages or swiping screens, you’re still diving into new worlds, meeting strange characters, and getting wonderfully lost. And that, whether on paper or pixels, is what truly matters. But… give me a book!
These are two of many books on my ‘must read’ list.
Rusty Labuschagne shares the life lessons he learned. How to harness inner strength, how to forgive, and how to show gratitude. He found true freedom through sincerity and humility.
A startling and thought-provoking novel that intricately portrays the drama and heartbreak of two women who rise above cruelty to find love, hope and redemption.
FEATURED IMAGE: Neerav Bhatt on Flickr.