Amazon Kindle versus the romance of books

The smell of ink on paper, the touch of the page between your fingers, the joy of opening a pristine new book… versus soul-less electronic reading devices like the new Amazon Kindle. So you may have guessed which camp I’m in.

While I’m not exactly sitting on the fence, I am trying to be objective. But, to me, e-readers seem like a solution to a problem that just doesn’t exist. They take about as much space in your handbag as, um, a paperback. And Amazon boasts that the pages read “like real paper, with no glare”. Ah, just like a book then.

I’ve always thought that the expression “You can’t judge a book by its cover” was, frankly, wrong. Which is why I would lament the loss of a beautifully illustrated book covers: in its stead an ugly plastic case as the gateway to your favourite stories.

To be honest, I’m usually a sucker for “pretty tech”. But, even if Apple get on board and make e-readers in every Opal Fruit shade, I will remain steadfast in my view: long live books!