I dropped by at the International Book Fair at the BMICH on Tuesday. So had another couple of thousand people. Which got me to thinking - in this day and age - are books still in fashion?
Why read a book? Rather - why go out and actually pay money for one? After all, we can find loads of books off Project Gutenberg and various other sources. Adobe Acrobat versions of many books are easily available for download off the net.
Most of us have got a TV and/or computer. This gives us many options - cable, VCD, DVD and the internet to name a few - as sources of entertainment. This could be why many people today are said to not read as often. But the strange thing is - many people still do. I’d venture that the stuff they read is off good ol’ paper.
Case in point - the few films that I’ve watched that are based on books I’ve read (or vice versa). Jurassic Park - the film - was groundbreaking stuff in terms of special effects etc etc, but IMHO not anywhere close to being as good as the story in the book. So many people I know would agree - with respect to the differences between the book and the film.
Then there are the books based on the film. Reading Terry Brooks’ novelisation of Star Wars Episode I:The Phantom Menace was a great relief (being something of a fan of the original episodes), not having enjoyed the film at all.
Perhaps it’s because of the way in which the written word can take us from place to place - from the sweeping tableau of the general scenery to right behind the eyes of the characters - their thoughts, their feelings, their inner demons.
I’d doubt there’s anything more personal about such an experience. The glimpses into the thoughts of other people - fictitious or otherwise - certainly broadens one’s perspective. Perhaps the greatest film directors (Coppola?) can push the most talented actors to achieve something close to this effect - but I don’t think it’s ever as effective as the written word.
Given the advances in transferring books online - why would anyone want to regress and read off paper pages when they can read online? You have search functions, annotation features (in most programs) and other fancy things that “hardcopy” books don’t have. Why would Ivap want to print the ebooks he downloaded, to read?
Maybe it’s because you can’t curl up somewhere with a warm mug of [preferred beverage] with your laptop. Or rather, even if you could, you’d rather not. While I’ve enjoyed reading Wodehouse on the PC (via Gutenberg), there’s nothing to compare with reading from a book. The actual feel of the pages, the freedom to sit comfortably without the radiation of a computer screen - I like that.
It seems that until Electronic Paper becomes good enough, good old books will still be in fashion.
September 14th, 2005 at 8:23 am
I tried to read books out of the computer screen…. thing did not work….. Then I print them and tried to read… (A4 size)…. (Terry Pratchett The Color Of Magic) still could not…. Never felt the the feeling…. so I’m waiting till I get the book..
for 24 years I’ve been reading books out of books… not book out of a flashy box… so its my stupid head says its not a book you read…. (cant help when you have a head)
And Dulan DO NOT CALL BOOKS OLD!!! They are always new… IT’S YOU GET OLD NOT BOOKS.
September 14th, 2005 at 9:57 pm
Ahh… questioning the presence of books! Nothing appeals to me more! I don’t like reading and I have good reasons! I hope I’m not too way off topic with this comment because I frankly didn’t read all that Dulan wrote… my bad, but it looks interesting enough for me to start… so it’s a good thing, after all!
Now… books… I don’t know if mainstream releases like Harry Potter had to do anything with it, but I see a lot of narrow-minded people reading all sorts of books, as a fashion. Why are they “narrow-minded”? Books are written by people… and when do we see these readers paying as much attention to people or even to themselves in any face-to-face situation? Do we see two people where one person is only talking and the other is just listening? Ok, maybe when a child is listening to an adult reading them story… and it is exactly that. The child does not have enough mental development for independant thought and therefore depends on someone (who can read… a sad surprise) to give them material and it seems that this process repeats even after the child grows old… but with roles changed.
Even popular philosophers who were way-off the real deal didn’t only get input from the outside… they did a little thing called “thinking”. The Buddha, a great philosopher, realised that there’s only a little that others can give you, no matter how great or intelligent they are. He went on his own direction, found his goal, and showed people why it is important to follow one’s own understanding over anyone else’s. Jesus and many religious leaders (at least the ones I know of) didn’t become who they are because they were good readers. Regardless of anyone’s correctness, they all did at least one thing right by thinking. There wouldn’t have been any religion-caused messes ever if their followers did the same thing.
I point my finger at you, reader!
September 14th, 2005 at 11:37 pm
nothing..ABSOLUTELY NO ELECTRONIC MEDIUM whatsoever compares to the feel of books….being both a book addict and a cyber addict I can definitely say that even though I may turn to the net for news,communication and entertainment ..there is no way on earth that I will read a 700 page book online…
September 16th, 2005 at 12:13 pm
Despa, Savi:
I totally agree that the experience of books as we know them - paper pages, full of writing, held together - is one that just cannot be replicated - yet.
Yet, with advances in information technology, the manner in which we obtain info will change if not drastically, then gradually over time. Whether this is a good thing is moot. I’m certainly going to hold on to whatever books I’ve got.
Gayan:
Whoa, that’s pretty deep. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with the aspect of one-way knowledge transfer from books. I’d say that the whole thinking process is something everyone needs to develop. My point is that reading from books causes us to pause and seriously review the thinking of the author and his/her message. We get to actually experience the feelings and emotions mentioned in the book.
However, I agree that most people just take things from the books and other sources without actually thinking about it first; I should know - I used to be like that myself. I’ve managed to mitigate that effect quite significantly as of late, as part of “growing up”. Maybe that’s what more people need to do.
September 19th, 2005 at 11:56 am
ABSOLUTELY! Books are definitely in fashion…they always will be…
Reading e-texts are fine…sometimes it is rather convenient…for me that is…but nothing compares to the feel of the REAL book, curling up on a deliciously comfy sofa and letting the words take over you!…
Hmmmm…. [dreamy sigh!]
September 19th, 2005 at 7:58 pm
Why would Ivap want to print the ebooks he downloaded, to read?
Because if you are like me, you underline and highlight passages, scribble comments on the sides, fold pages for future reference, etc. Oh, and it’s not as heavy as a laptop.
I haven’t found an ebook readers that’s usefull at this sort of thing. Though I am thinking of getting a tablet-pc where I’m told that it’s easier to do this sort of thing.
September 19th, 2005 at 8:23 pm
Gayan,
I’m nowhere as good as those you mentioned. I also want my thinking challenged or debunked thus I like reading what others have written as well. Though I’ve found times when all it does is reinforce my own observations and conclusions.
Ever wondered about the history of thoughts/deas that lead to the invention of the WWW?
September 19th, 2005 at 9:48 pm
Gayan….
Hay… why do you bother to write to us when you don’t read other’s thoughts….
WE have to read what you have written down…. and by the way unlike YOU we read what you have writhen…. good or bad that is I don’t know….. But what ever comes as letters I’ll try my best to make a meaning out of it…
I’ll see that you haven’t even bothered to read….
One have to come out of him self … true…but not trying to understand what others are trying to say out of what ever language…
September 21st, 2005 at 3:09 pm
IVAP:
That’s my point exactly. You print them because there’s an effect to be found in the printed word.
As for annottations - I don’t usually do that with most books, but certainly when it comes to study material it’s something that happens almost all the time.
Frankly, I’d rather have a hardcover (ok ok - paperback) book to read from, rather than a tablet pc.
September 23rd, 2005 at 8:08 pm
effect? yes, but I prefer to see it as utility.
I’ll reserve my judgement on the table-pc until I’ve tried a few. Unfortunately our market is usually two years behind the US when it comes to picking up new tech. Therefore I’m stuck with a small range of over-priced tablets for now.
September 24th, 2005 at 11:18 pm
Nice blog you got here Nisadasa. Is it WordPress-driven? My blogspot template seems pretty juvenile compared to some of the cool designs of other Kottu blogs, oh well. By the way, can you recommend a good online bookstore from SL that ships local titles overseas, something like http://www.indiaclub.com. There is money to be made in it.
September 27th, 2005 at 12:20 pm
Mephisto:
Cool name. As you’ll see in the prologue, mine is Dulan.
Nisadas is just a name selected for my blog, which is indeed Proudly Powered by WordPress.
As for online SL bookstores, not really sure. You could try Sarasavi, Vijitha Yapa or even the Perera-Hussein Publishing House.
October 2nd, 2005 at 9:16 am
Thanks for the links Dulan
October 2nd, 2005 at 9:47 pm
No worries, Mephisto - just hope they’re what you’re looking for.