It has long been predicted that traditional books are about to be replaced by little machines on which you can download any novel you fancy. But the technology has never really been up to the job - until now. Here Andrew Marr, who treasures his smelly, beautiful library of real books, spends a month with one of the new gadgets.
- The Guardian, Friday 11 May 2007
- Article history
Andrew Marr reading a new ebook. Photograph: Graeme Robertson
If you are selling ebooks, I'm a hard sell. For one thing, my enthusiasm for traditional books is just this side of pervy. I live among mountains of them and always have, among the most beautiful mass-produced objects of all time. Some of my most treasured possessions are broken-backed, scribbled-in, jacketless books first read when a teenager; they've lasted longer than merely human friends. One variation of bliss is a low, soft armchair with decent light and several hundred well-written pages to wallow in. I like it that, with all these warnings of electronic smog, books don't plug in, beep or suddenly produce pop-ups. They are pleasingly silent and dignified, there when needed, discreet and patient.
I like certain paperbacks - those old Penguins, the Picadors of my youth - but hardbacks remain the most sensually attractive, good cloth covers - powder blue, or cream, preferably - and thick, matt paper and a classic typeface in dark ink. Illustrations? Yes, please, but not too many. When I eventually become a nasty-minded, dribbling old man I'm sure I will be found creeping round second-hand bookshops, sniffing the produce, snuffling with pleasure.
We can't deny that technology has offered very many opportunities to acquire new knowledge.Nevertheless, we shouldn't depend that much on it,from my point of view as it can 'betray' us. Replacing books with ebooks has both advantages and drawbacks.For instance, while reading a book you get a great satisfaction holding it in your arms,smelling it to name but a few.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand,it's much more comfortable carrying only the ebook instead of all these heavy books to school.But books should never disappear!that's for sure!!
There is no doubt that ebooks are useful and surely a breakthrough but I would never substitute the feeling that an old has and the warmth that it conveys.In my book I think that books would never get obsolete no matter how many years go by.Sitting in your garden or by the fireplace with the company of the book is a feeling that an ebook never provide...
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