When e-readers first started becoming popular, I was in the camp of people who rejected them. I would go on extended (and likely quite boring) monologues about how they were going to destroy the publishing industry and wreak havoc on local book stores.
I maintained that I would never get an e-reader because I liked the physical presence of a book, liked the heft of it and the feeling of the pages turning, liked seeing the artwork on the cover page, and occasionally a large 80’s-looking photo of the author on the back.
And then I was given an e-reader for my birthday, as the giver thought it would be great for me when I travel. You see, whenever I went on trips I would get stressed at the idea of running out of books to read, and would cart around five or six books in my suitcase.
On principle I wanted to hate my new e-reader, but then I tried it on a trip, and you know what? It was pretty great. I was able to buy titles directly from the e-reader bookstore, and had a selection of e-books at my fingertips at all times. On planes I could read using just the light generated by the device itself, without having to turn on my overhead light and earn the silent fury of the passenger trying to sleep beside me.
The Yellowknife Public Library also has e-books that you can download onto your e-reader “on loan”.
In my day-to-day life I still prefer reading a “real” book — I still like a little weight in my hands and the satisfaction I feel as I get to the halfway mark, then the final stretch of about 30 pages left. Also, after spending so much time during the day in front of a computer monitor, cell phone or TV screen, it’s a nice break. But next time you see me on a plane I will have my e-reader in my carry-on (and probably a paperback as well).
-- Jenny Aitken
