Along with the advent of electronic book readers, comes the imminent question-- are books dead?
There's no denying the convenience and novelty of reading an electronic book. The ability to download just about any book in seconds, the option to change the font and text size, the saved trips to bookstores--it's all very appealing. But, can a piece of fancy ($500) plastic ever truly replace a worn-out-with-love collection of ink and paper sandwiched together by hard leather bindings, housed in a warm, mahogany bookcase? My biased language might tip you off as to where I stand on the subject.
In her Newsweek article "Turning the Page," Anna Quindlen contemplates the alleged "death of books," and questions whether or not it's possible for multiple formats to coexist.
She points out the American "either-or," ultimatum way of thinking, citing that (in the past) many believed that television would be the end of radio; that movies would murder live theater; and that musical recordings would eternally silence live concerts. Quindlen points out that "all these forms still exist-- sometimes overshadowed by their siblings, but not smothered by them." She's right. Just because you love NPR doesn't mean you can't watch 30 Rock. I'd hate to think I lived in a world where I would be forced to choose between Chicago the movie and Chicago the musical, simply because only one form of art can successfully thrive at a time. I love it all too much.
I've always believed in the power of books. They have the power to open our eyes and our imaginations, but they ultimately force us to figure things out. They take us out of our constructed routines and force us to spend some time with ourselves. Reading is an intimate experience; it's challenging, rewarding...it's timeless. So whether we're holding iPads or hardbacks, I guess it all boils down to this...are we reading?
No comments:
Post a Comment