Chapter 4 Journal Entry Part B.

Which would you prefer to use in your college classes, regular textbooks or electronic textbooks? Why? Which would you prefer for your leisure reading? Why? 

I definitely prefer regular textbooks vs. electronic textbooks. I feel like I spend all day long at a computer as it is, and having to read everything online would simply drive me nuts. I stare at a computer screen at work for hours a day, and then I do a large part of my homework on a computer. I just think my eyes would kill and my head would too, if I had to read all my text online. Right now I have one class (Healthy Living) online and I don't like it that much because I can't do my homework unless I have a computer. I don't like scrolling down the pages and not being able to highlight anything or write notes in the margins. Plus, I can't take my book to class unless I have a laptop. 

I'm not too concerned with the cost of my textbooks right now, and I prefer having something in my hands and on my shelf. I like to study on the couch, or at the table, or outside, and a textbook is something you can take with you. 

For leisure reading I definitely prefer regular books. HOW CAN YOU ENJOY A BOOK YOU ARE READING ON THE COMPUTER? To me, the joy of reading is that you cuddle up on the sofa or in bed, and just read. I take a book with me in my purse and read when I have down-time. It's nice to have a book in the car to read (when my husband is driving) and I often read aloud to both of us (which creates some good bonding time as well).

 I have sweet memories of my mother reading to me and my siblings on the couch in our living room, for hours a day. I also have memories of gathering everyone in my parents room and listening to mom read aloud to us before we went to bed. I sure hope that books remain as they are because I don't want to gather my children around the computer to read to them.

Reading is much more than simply seeing words on a page and understanding them - reading is an experience. It builds relationships - whether that is between the author and reader, the characters and reader, or between people who read out loud or together - books have a very binding quality about them. 

I can see some good in electronic books, but we have enough on the computer as it is, and I prefer books I can see and hold. I love to glimpse through books and I want to have lots of books in my home and on my shelves. I LOVE bookstores and libraries and I really think I could practically live in a library. If a library was simply a computer how boring would that be? The joy of going to the library is that you have dozens of shelves with hundreds of books available for you to peruse and read. There is something satisfying about having a book in hand. :) I vote for books to remain as they are.