One of the features on our Facebook page is the #ArtViewQuestion – the
latest is: “Are paper books becoming extinct?” The replies we received
included some comments from notable authors and journalists.
devotees of both forms but I think many people use
ebooks for convenience and yet still love to hold and
read a paper book with a beautiful cover, and the ease
of flipping through and marking lines. I find a
physical book the most convenient of all - no battery,
no chance of breakdowns or forgetting you have it
(well they do sometimes disappear in my teetering
piles). The best sign for print is that almost all
children's book sales are still in paper and that market
is booming. Kids will embrace technology as they get
older, of course, but the love of books is ingrained
from the beginning.
Michael Robotham:
Felicity Pulman:
Plenty of room for both. I use an ereader for travelling
and insomnia but prefer to read physical books. I tend
to skim read ebooks but better comprehend what I
read on paper. That's why I edit on paper. EBook
sales around the world seem to be plateauing. Paper is
here to stay.
I don't think so, especially not amongst kids who are
more techno-savvy than anyone! It's lovely to curl up
with a book - but having said that, I love my
kindle too, especially when I'm travelling, but also to
find books that aren't available yet in Australia.
Sophie Masson:
Paper books are definitely not extinct, in fact they are
not only holding their own but going up again after a
brief period where e-books' rise looked unstoppable.
As Michael points out, that has now plateau-ed to a
point where it probably has reached its natural level...
Interestingly by the way young readers--those under
say 16--in my experience much prefer printed books
to e-books. Yes there's room for both types of
formats--and I think that now the first panic has
passed, most publishers realise this.
Susan Wyndham:
No, the paper book survives and is loved by most
readers. Ebooks seem to have plateaued at about 1520 per cent of sales, a bit higher in the US, much
lower in many countries. For a while it seemed they
wouldn't stop eating the print book market. There are
Caroline Lawrence:
I will read (or listen to a book in any format). I
actually think it's nice that we're not destroying quite
as many trees to make books these days!
Paola Totaro:
My book mad 14 year old won't touch a kindle: paper
is the only medium for her in books - and that
generation lead the way on multi platform media use.
Books are here to stay I'm sure of it.
Readers are welcome to add comments on
this #ArtViewQuestion and others at:
http://t.co/UdAcCSzG5B
Follow our page for news, updates and
special features.