25. Why We Should Keep Buying Physical Books
On physical books versus ebooks, five upcoming releases that genuinely sound amazing, please give me author of the week recommendations, and a series that I adore: Beartown
The smell of a bookstore. Walking into the silence of a library. Cracking open a brand new book. Books to me are a beginning, a peaceful start of something new.
In the last few months, I have been loving physical books. I went through a phase in college where ebooks were the best, especially since I was traveling so frequently. As I put down more roots in life and my corner of the internet, I have been deeply appreciating a good, physical book.
The turning of pages. The texture of the paper between my fingers. It makes me feel more in the moment, in the present.
I do have a Kindle, and I do like it, especially when I can get books for cheap. However, it does make me feel icky to support Amazon so much. Honestly, I’d rather not rely on it so much, but that’s a whole other discussion. Physical books are important in many different facets. We can support our local bookstores, local authors, indie authors, and our libraries.
The cheap books on the Kindle? I am working on switching to the library and a wonderful app called Libby, a digital library. I also enjoy being able to support local businesses and authors.
You can also get books second hand, which I love. It feels like the book is living multiple lives, you can get snippets of someone else, connect to a stranger through the hours you spent reading and loving the same book.
There are also scientific benefits of reading a physical book versus an ebook. This article from Paper&Packaging states the following 7 reasons:
You absorb more of the information
Children become better readers by reading physical books
Less eye strain
Better sleep
Less distractions
A home library is linked to higher academic achievement
Physical books amplify the joy of reading.
Physical books amplify the joy of reading.
I don’t really know a better way of ending this discussion other than that last point.
Congratulations to all of these authors on their book releases!! And to anyone else who is releasing a book. Maybe one day I can do a second post that dives in to as many people as I can.
Mind Games by Nora Roberts: May 21, 2024 (Romantic Suspense)
Heavenbreaker by Sara Wolf: May 21, 2024 (Fantasy, Sci Fi)
Savor It by Tarah Dewitt: May 21, 2024 (Romance)
How to Become a Dark Lord and Die Drying by Django Wexler: May 21, 2024 (Fantasy)
Note: what a name
I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue (Fiction, Romance): May 21, 2024
Note: I genuinely want to read all of these. They sound so good!
Books I’ve compiled from mainly the NYT Bestsellers List, but also the B&N Top 100 and Amazon Bestsellers in no particular order. I’ve decided to simply add the books I haven’t before, since I’ve caught up to the new additions. If you’re curious, last week’s post can be found here.
The 24th Hour by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Mystery)
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune (Romance)
Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland (Fantasy)
Long Island by Colm Tóibín (Historical Fiction)
Summers At The Saint by Mary Kay Andrews (Romance, Mystery)
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (Sci Fi, Romance, Fiction)
Mistakes We Never Made by Hannah Brown (Romance)
Not to be rude, but quite frankly I don’t feel like doing an author of the week. Sorry not sorry! I have been pretty busy this past week. So, instead of doing an author of the week, let me know who your favorite author is and/or who you would like to learn more about!
Just a reminder to submit any books you think others will love on the R&R page or to my email: thesundayreads@gmail.com!
The Beartown Series by Fredrik Backman
I have probably recommended this before, but I have been thinking a lot about this trilogy recently. Backman is one of my favorite authors, and in this trilogy he weaves together small towns, friendship, family, secrets, trauma, and so much more. It’s hard to even explain what this series is about. It changes throughout the trilogy, emphasizes how one person’s actions has repercussions, shows the trials and tribulations of a marriage, growing up into adulthood, being different. I genuinely cannot recommend this series enough.
That’s all for today. Much love
Izzy
I completely agree on the physical books. It’s how I learned and how my kids learned too. There’s something almost magical about the smell and feel about books. I always think about “You’ve Got Mail” and how Meg Ryan’s characters love and appreciate books so much. I’ll always opt for a book if it’s one of my favorite authors. I love building a “library” that I can hopefully pass along to my kids one day.
People get passionate on this topic, but I don't see it as a competition. I enjoy the tactile feel and romance of a physical book. But I also enjoy the ease and portability of an ebook (such as the ability to read on my phone if I find myself with a spare moment). I also enjoy audio books, and the ability to consume them when I am walking or biking. I used them each at different times for different reasons.