S.J Watson’s debut novel is spellbinding. Every day Christine wakes to a life of lost memories. She doesn’t know where she is, how she got there, nor the man lying next to her. Tiny snatches of memory surface throughout the day, only to disappear when she sleeps. The fight to regain her memory is aided by Dr. Nash, and a secret journal in which she writes each days memories. Their secret rendezvous led Christine to discover there is much more to the story than her husband is telling. This novel will keep you up at night.
In a recent Pew Research Study 78% of readers preferred real, paper books over e-reading devices. I’m not surprised, I do, too.
Before receiving my Kindle people told me, “You’re gonna love your it and you’ll read more.”
Photo Courtesy of pslibrary.com
It’s convenient unless the battery runs down in the middle of a chapter, which happens more often than I care.
Thousands of free books can be downloaded on an eReader, but all those freebies can overwhelm you, leaving you with a library of books you may never read. In addition, paying for a book on the bestsellers list can become pricey.
Amazon has addressed the cost, somewhat, by offering Kindle Unlimited. For $9.99 a month you can download and read as many books as you like, that’s $120 a year! Why pay when I can check out a hard copy at my local library?
But, aside from the convenience of having books available in an instant, and the light weight, I prefer old fashion hardback books. And, I’m not alone.
According to the article, Paper Books, alive and well, published, March 13,2015, in the Chicago Tribune, a significant percentage of readers prefer the paper copy. (You can read the full article here).
“A Pew Research study found that 78 percent of those from ages 18 to 24 have read a print book in the past year — compared with 21 percent who have read an e-book.” Chicago Tribune
I don’t read more books. In fact, before receiving my Kindle I read one to two books a week, sometimes more. Now, it’s maybe one a month. It’s hard to argue against the convenience of an eReader, but the same reasons I prefer “real books” over eReaders are also supported by the Pew Research study.
1- The feel and smell. There’s something about holding a book, turning the pages, and the smell of words in print that an eReader cannot copy. Sound silly?
“… College students polled in Slovakia, “1 out of 10 talked about the smell of books. There really is a physical, tactile, kinesthetic component to reading.” Chicago Tribune
2- I like to collect books I can see, touch and pick up on a rainy day. I have a rather large collection on my Kindle, but they do not beckon me as those on my bookshelf.
“… likes the satisfaction of finishing a book, placing it on a shelf alongside others and letting it quietly remind her of its contents.” Chicago Tribune
3- I’m a note taker and a visual, tactile person. For instructional or self-help books, I like to underline, highlight and scribble in the margins. You can take notes and highlight on a Kindle, but it’s not the same.
Courtesy of Amazon
What about you, which do you prefer and why? Vote in the Cow Pasture poll and let me know.
A treasured pastime, I’ve been reading since early childhood. My mother belonged to the Book of the Month Club, and each month I couldn’t wait to see what selections she’d ordered.
By the time I was a teenager, my sisters and I were devouring books like candy. Instead of plopping in front of the television after school I raced to my room, grabbed my book, and planted myself belly first on the bed. Anxious to find what happened next, I turned to the page I’d dog-eared that morning before hopping on the school bus. I stayed lost among the characters of another world until mom forced me back to reality for dinner or some other household task.
Growing up in a house full of books, the love of words came early and easy. To me, reading was as natural as eating and sleeping. As soon as I finished one book, I picked up another. This small town Southern girl fell in love more than once with characters on a page. Two years ago, I decided to take a more serious approach to writing. Before long, I’d let studying consume all my time and allowed the pleasure of reading to take a back seat.
I’d forgotten how it felt to get lost in a good book. The descriptions so vivid it seemed as if you were standing on the street in the midst of the story. The scenes and dialog creating such tension you found yourself gripping the book cringing, gasping, sometimes crying, or laughing out loud. You couldn’t wait to turn the next page. Then it dawned on me. This is why writers read.
The many magazines and books I’ve read on the craft of writing have given me a wealth of information. They were instructional, explanatory, more like telling” me “How to write.” On the other hand, picking up a classic, best-selling novel, or even a well-written short story, “Shows me how to write.”
So, I challenge you. Pick up a book for pleasure. Lose yourself in the story. Use the knowledge you’ve gained from the resources on writing, and take the story apart. How did the author do it? Look at the descriptions, study the dialog, characters, and the plot. After that one, pick up another one. Readingwill make you a better writer.
“I love books. I love that moment when you open one and sink into it. You can escape from the world, into a story that’s way more interesting than yours will ever be.” Elizabeth Scott
I’m reading Sister of Silence by Daleen Berry. What are you reading for pleasure? Leave me a comment.
S.J Watson’s debut novel is spellbinding. Every day Christine wakes to a life of lost memories. She doesn’t know where she is, how she got there, nor the man lying next to her. Tiny snatches of memory surface throughout the day, only to disappear when she sleeps. The fight to regain her memory is aided by Dr. Nash, and a secret journal in which she writes each days memories. Their secret rendezvous led Christine to discover there is much more to the story than her husband is telling. This novel will keep you up at night.
A treasured pastime, I’ve been reading since early childhood. My mother belonged to the 
COW PASTURE CHRONICLES 