Opinions and Editorials Section
By Abby Knox, Newswire Intern
If you enjoy reading in any fashion, I am sure you have been asked, “Do you prefer printed books or E-books?” Although there are pros and cons to both paperbacks and E-books, most book nerds have a preference for their go-to type of read.
Although I applaud those who have their Kindle covered in cute little stickers and take it wherever they go, I am proud to say that I will forever and always choose a paperback book to read.
Knox’s bookshelf has been filled to the brim with titles she collected during the pandemic.
Over the last two years, I have purchased over 100 books, and a large, white, floor-to-ceiling bookshelf that is bursting with those books. I have also purchased a Kindle, along with a monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited. So, what is my opinion on the matter?
My reading journey started during the COVID-19 pandemic when the whole world was shut down. I was beyond bored of mindlessly scrolling on whatever social media platform I fancied at the time, so I decided to pick up a book.
The first book that got me into reading was After by Anna Todd. Now, that book series could have a whole article written on it because of just how strongly people feel about that series, but that is for another day. This series opened a whole new world to me. The world of romance books and books in general is a world where everyone can find a book out there just for them.
First, let’s talk about paperback books. With paperback books, the reader gets to hold the actual copy of the book in their hand while also getting the freedom to be creative in the way that they annotate their books. From using tabs to getting markers in all different types of colors, the ways someone chooses to annotate their books are practically endless.
With paperbacks, I have bought an extensive amount of bookmarks and annotated in numerous ways. I have pastel highlighters and special pens that I prefer to use when annotating a book.
Now, let’s look at the cons of paperback books. Unless you are getting your paperback books from the library, purchasing all these books gets expensive. Trust me. I would know. Borrowing books from the library is free, but if you like annotating your books as I do, the library doesn’t approve of you highlighting and making remarks throughout their book. Obviously.
On the other hand, Kindles are convenient but only if you purchase a monthly subscription where there is a wide variety of books available. Otherwise, the selection of books offered for free is slim. Although the convenience of a Kindle may be eyecatching for some, the convenience comes at a price that can be high depending on what you are looking for in your Kindle.
When buying a Kindle brand new, Kindles can cost anywhere from $99 to $399. Remember that those prices do not include the monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited which is $11.99 per month, which went up $2 back in May of 2023. However, if you have purchased both the Kindle and Kindle Unlimited subscriptions, the convenience of being able to read whatever you want wherever you want is quite enjoyable.
No matter which method of reading you prefer, I hope this article has encouraged you to reach for your book or Kindle and get lost in the world of reading. If you are not reading any particular book right now, I hope reading this article encourages you to pick up that book that you bought from Target two months ago that has been collecting dust.
