In the present scenario of technology invading every nook and cranny of the modern life, it is only natural that electronic books have made their presence felt in a big way.
But unlike most of the other technological innovations, reading literature over an electronic screen seems to spoil rather than enhance the experience.
True, it comes with a plethora of benefits - it is easily copied, transferred, and with a good software, can come with swift lexical assistance. It is definitely more cost-effective, and in a sense, more eco-friendly.
But somehow, reading an e-book is not the same as reading a paperback. Its like the difference between talking and Instant Messaging - sure it has its benefits, but it just not the same!
Turning the pages of a fast-paced Arthur Clarke seems so much more gratifying than clicking away at a mouse button. Probably because I am not at my comfortable best while at a computer screen, or because looking at a Cathode Ray Tube screen intently for about an hour makes me weary of the whole thing.
When I read a book, contrary to general perfectionist advice, I like to mark stuff in pencil, and dog-ear the pages I would like to return to. And I sorely miss it while reading text of a computer monitor.
Reading a book is not just looking at black alphabets and deciphering them in your mind. Its an experience more sensual than that. The feel matters as much as the sight. The book should be the correct size, the font should be just right, and most importantly, I should be able to feel with my fingers.