Kindle or physical book?

Kindles are wonderful for travelling and reading in bed (light) but the great drawback for me is that it's so difficult to look back to check on something I've forgotten. It's difficult to look forward too but that's probably a good thing as I have a tendency to look at the end before I've finished! I don't want to be startled by a sad ending!

I'm finding it more and more difficult to concentrate on a Kindle book. Yet when I sit with a physical boom in my hands, I seem to be able to focus.

For me, a 'real' book is special. Our home is built around our books. I still have most of my son's childhood books. Some of which I've already passed on to his son.

I love my books - but for convenience it's the Kindle every time. I have Kindle versions of many of my paper books...

I download samples onto my kindle for holidays and then order from the library when I return. I went off library books when I read ,on here I think ,where people were reading their library books and decided to order only recently published ones in the hope that they weren't being read in the loo. I do like books but if I buy one or get a delightful freebie from Gransnet I like it to be read by at least half a dozen people before it goes to the charity shop. I get a bit peeved when I find I've hand a book to a friend to read and pass on and it's still on their bookshelf. Books have to be one in one out

I love our books, they are all round the house, every so often we have a clear out and take quite a few down to a charity shop, ones that we will never read again, or pass them on to friends. I never part with a book I have loved. I've kept most of my childrens' books and read to my granddaughter who is 5, when she is in the mood. I think one day my children will appreciate that I have kept their childhood books, I hope they will keep them, but maybe not. I wish I still had mine somehow or other all I have is my Wind in the Willows, I particularly wish my mother hadn't got rid of my Alice books. I have a lot of history books, many belonged to my father and my husband has one or two treasured items from grandparents dated and inscribed. I have thought about getting a Kindle, particularly for holidays, books can take up a lot of space. I think I read recently that there is a resurgence in the desire for the physical book and Kindle sales have dwindled somewhat.

You need both! Why should one count the other out? I have different books on Kindle than in paperback. The writers I have come to love over the years I always buy in paper because I know I will read them again. Light weights I get on Kindle and throw them out after reading. I like to take my Kindle with me when I think there might be a boring half hour to get through.

Definitely paper books, my kindle failed when I tried to turn the corner of a page over. (and before you slay me, I don't do that to real books)
Never seems right to read from a screen.

Kindle. You don't have to yank it open like you do a paperback. So your thumbs don't ache.

The only downside is you can't always remember the name of the book, or the author's name because it opens where you left off.

I don't see it as being either, or. Both have their place, for too many reasons to count, and long may it last.

I love my books, and I'm growing increasingly fond of my kindle. The problem I have is that I spend as much time browsing for books as I do reading them! Tell me I'm not alone!

hummingbird, you're not! that's me too, I like to read reviews and get people's opinions.

pompa try a light touch with your little finger- ladylike. Mine turns the page easily and smoothly.
We have 5 bookcases in the house (3 IKEA Billy) and some years ago I decided not to buy another Billy and that means for every paper book bought, one has to be thrown away or given away.
The Kindle is the answer and its perfect for reading in the car in traffic jams or when visiting the children who never have a nice reading lamp like I have at home by my own bed.

Mainly Kindle for me as I have arthritis in my hands and shoulders and find heavy books hard to hold. I do not find that reading in a digital format takes away from the reading experience.

For gardening, craft or cook books I still prefer a hard/paperback book as it is easier to see the illustrations etc.

I have read 2 books today, one on the Kindle and the other a 'proper' book. I like both, but holding the Kindle makes my arm ache (!) so the book wins. The Kindle is useful when travelling, as I am. Both have their place.

I have not got a kindle, so I am reading paper books.
I think if I was to get a kindle as a gift or even win one (heaven knows I have tried) Then I think I might stay with the kindle. My neighbour has one and she says she wouldn't be without it now, Great to take on holiday, you are not carrying heavy books. You can read in the sun and you don't get a glare when reading outside. So easy to just slip in your bag, to go on the plane, the car, take it wherever you want, and its light. You don't need lots of bookcases as you have not got a pile of books.
So I asked what are the bad points she said they isn't any.
So I said Oh right and that was the end of the conversation. All good points and no bad points. So my fingers are crossed and I will see if I get one for my birthday on the 24th, maybe Valentines day Noooo I guess I will have to win one, anyone sees any kindle comps for me, will you please le me know.
Thank You.

I haven't got a kindle so I am still on actual books. I can see the uses of a kindle and may get one eventually. My mother has just got one for her birthday and really taken to it- it means that she has a constant supply of books now that she can no longer physically get to the library.
I have used the library with my iPad but the books disappear as soon as they are due back!

Tried to read on my tablet but hate the feel of it and if you need to go back to refer to anything it's really difficult.Give me real books. The feel and smell of a new book still gives me a thrill!

Tried to read on my tablet but hate the feel of it and if you need to go back to refer to anything it's really difficult.Give me real books. The feel and smell of a new book still gives me a thrill!

I am a total bookworm and never thought i would move to a kindle!!! but i love it i am on Netgalley & in exchange for a honest review i can read books for free!!

I love both. At one point I only read from Kindle but because I'm a bookshop addict I can't resist buying books. Definitely Kindle for traveling as easier to carry than a bag of books.

Love both real books and Kindle.
Kindle pros: read in the dark without disturbing anyone, download sample before buying, take enough books on holiday even by plane, page marking, search facility and special offers. Also means I have read hundreds of books I would never have even heard of or afforded.
Cons: I hoped to replace many of the books I have paper copies of to clear some room, but many of them are not available or only available on iBooks. Often see cheap books I'd like in e.g. The Works, only to find them £3-4 dearer on Kindle. The Amazon Prime offer of borrow books for free turned out to be one book a month. Since I read 3-5 books per week, it's not really a great bargain.

I read both - usually books at home & kindle when I'm out

I always read in the bath, daren't use Kindle as have been known to drop my book......

I have always loved reading ever since I was a very
small child...I think the eBooks are a wonderful invention. They are great for people with poor eyesight as you can enlarge the text to suit your personal vision. I now have cataracts forming and cannot read a book anymore, but thankfully can still read my Kindle....I also find when travelling that an eBook has more benefits, its easy to hold easy to pack in your handbag. Best of all if the book you start reading becomes a bore there are dozens of other books on the eBook to keep choosing Fromm without trying to cram two or three other books into your luggage. And best of all thousands of free books to download.