Comments on: Bibliophilia

By: Moreso

Moreso — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:15:58 +0000

I doubt that the Kindle factory is truly eco friendly. How much energy is required to manufacture a Kindle?
I often wonder the advent of books was frowned upon by those who were scroll fans. “I just don’t like pages,” a scroll lover might say.
I would hate to see books replaced by plastic and micro-chips; however, when I was in college, I would have loved to carry a Kindle instead of that backpack full of text books. Plus, a few animated illustrations, interactive wiki links, and searchable indexes may have enhanced my experience with Calculus, Art History, or Physics. Still, as primitive as bound paper seems, somehow I doubt that books will ever be replaced by electronics completely.

By: Art Jewelry

Art Jewelry — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 15:54:42 +0000

I agree.
I love the feel of a real book.
I have been known to read an electronic version here and there, but nothing beats the feel of having real paper in your hand.

By: Marie

Marie — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 01:57:39 +0000

Nugget: Well, that certainly is one way to look at “eco-friendly.” Perhaps I should have chosen my words better. I suppose it’s hard for me to not feel guilty about my wanton consumption of paper. But, hey, if there’s a good reason for me NOT to feel guilty, I’ll take it.

Anonymous: Alas, I too have books on my shelves that are not mine. Of course, I truly intend to give them back; they are borrowed, not stolen. But I forget, and forget…the moral of the story: don’t lend me books.

Ahem. Unless anyone out there wants to loan me ARCs of books I desperately want to read. Then, please ignore everything I said about forgetting to return things…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 02:36:18 +0000

quick question raises a hand whatinell’s a kindle…?? lol…i was first taught how to read in a private academy school, and mistrust technology in general, so i have my own personal bookcase of books i’ve owned throughout my life, and a few that aren’t exactly mine….< ..< drat

By: Nugget

Nugget — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:11:35 +0000

To those that say that eBooks are ecofriendly as compared to paper books: Your local state park full of misty virgin timber is not being cut down. It’s acres of trees being purposely grown (and saplings replanted) that are harvested for such.

Try justifying some of the rare minerals used in the manufacture of kindles. They are found in specific parts of the world and their commerce funds warlords. Pardon the pun but read up on it.

By: Marie

Marie — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 01:27:58 +0000

Dear Sherry,

I’m so glad you share my love of books!

Marie

By: Sherry McHarg

Sherry McHarg — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:35:09 +0000

I love books, the printed page, the smell of books, the environment of most libraries and the smell of the library. I grew up with those books from an old library which was enchanting and that recollection will never lessen because of the tech of the electronic gadgets that just pixil or whatever the words. It’s the historical discovery of the printing press, that is kept alive in the real printed word, where knowledge, reasoning, the investigative mind reeled off the track. No, don’t give it up.
I can sit and pour over the beautiful images in books and be enthraled and trip my imagination and compel me to reproduce some piece of it in a drawing or on clay. Love it!

By: mordicai

mordicai — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:57:52 +0000

See, not that I disagree, but I heart some of my facsimile books SO MUCH. Oh Voynich Manuscript!

By: marie

marie — Sun, 25 May 2008 23:01:57 +0000

I do recognize that there’s at least one big plus to the Kindle: it’s eco-friendly.

Also, I recognize that me raving about the Book of Kells overlooks something important: of course it’s better to see parts of it online than never to see it at all, just like you can look at a facsimile version of Shakespeare’s folio if you can’t get your mitts on a real copy (but then, who can?).

By: mordicai

mordicai — Sun, 25 May 2008 17:20:01 +0000

The kindle! Enemy. Mostly because well, you don’t own anything with it. You license it. I try not to get into a meddle with those copyright issues until they are all sorted out. Anyhow, my books don’t need batteries, for instance, & I can stick my thumb in to mark a page, & well. I think kindles & their ilk have a ways to go before supplanting such.