​An Ode to “Real” Books in a Digital Age

While I love eBooks (and admit that having a whole library of books on my iPad is a dream come true), there’s something special about holding a physical book in my hand. The soft, familiar touch of the pages under my fingertips conjures memories of childhood and a sense of comfort that can’t be duplicated with the cold, hard glass of any screen, no matter the size or resolution.

It’s just not the same experience to read while snuggling in bed, lounging by the pool, or sitting on a park bench without the requisite dog-eared paperback. I enjoy swapping books with friends, digging through used bookstore stacks, writing notes in the margins, and seeing a new book waiting on my bedside table. The old (and new) favorites that fill my bookcase help to make my house feel like a home.

​Of course, I know there are plenty of advantages to eBooks, which is why I own loads of them and enjoy reading one on my iPad most days, but I don’t want to ever lose the tangible joy that “real” books bring to this increasingly digital world. 

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