Books are here to stay

I'm reading a really good book now by Joe Hill called NOS4A2. It's the first of his novels I've tried and it's been a real page turner.

I say 'page turner' in reference to the book because it's a real book, not one read off an e-reader. Books are dependable, you can count on them. E-readers, not so much as I've discovered.

I've tried using a Kobo before and must admit I found it easy enough to use. When the black line of death crept across the screen though it left me less than impressed. My wife Heather sent it back and it was replaced free of charge. But the other day when she picked it up to continue reading the latest Ken Follet novel she started a few weeks ago the black line of death appeared again. It was done.

There's not much you can do with an expired Kobo. It's been three years since it was replaced so the chances of the manufacturer replacing it again are slim. Heather downloaded the book to her laptop so she could finish it. A laptop is not as convenient as an e-reader but it will do in a pinch.

 I do a lot of reading online. Given the nature of the business I'm in (media) much of my days are spent in front of computer screens. The newspapers and magazines I help produce are all compiled using computers. At the end of the day the product is printed but to get to that point requires the use of a lot of online technology. Plus everything produced on paper goes online.

When I want to sit back and read for pleasure it's nice to open a book, you know those things we've been reading from for thousands of years?

Stephen King, who is Joe Hill's father, said in a recent interview with Huffington Post that books are not like compact discs or phonograph records that have now been almost completely replaced by music downloads.

"There's a deeply implanted desire and understanding and wanting of a book that isn't there with music. It's a deeper well of human experience. Here's another thing: if you drop a book into the toilet, you can fish it out, dry it off and read that book. But if you drop your Kindle in the toilet, you're pretty well done," he told interviewer Josh Zepps.

I couldn't have put it any better than King did right there. All I would add to his comment is that you don't have to drop a Kobo in a toilet to render it useless. It pretty much does that all by itself.

I look forward to finishing Mr. Hill's book NOS4A2. It's not hard to tell his father has had an influence in his writing. When I'm finished I'll put it on my book shelf alongside his father's many books. Then I'll go out and buy another and if I drop it in the toilet (I won't) so be it. Real books don't short out or need upgrades. They're perfect just the way they are.