I get asked quite frequently why I haven’t bought a Kindle yet. The biggest reason is the cost, can I really justify buying myself a $350+ electronic gadget. I wasn’t lucky enough to be on Oprah the day she gave them out for free. But there’s another reason, that may be holding others back as well, I’m not sure I’m ready to part with books yet. 

I love books. I’m an “old school” reader. When I want to read, I get a book from a book store, from Amazon.com, from the library, but I get a BOOK.

The Kindle is a hand-held electronic device. Oh it’s supposed to display the pages in such a way that it’s like reading a book. And it sure would beat lugging a suitcase full of books on vacation (which, let’s face, I completely do). But where is the smell of an old book? The feel of cracking the binding? The smudgy words of a much-beloved book? Isn’t that part of what reading is all about?

Plus, while I worry about dropping my books in the bathtub (been there, done that!), I don’t have to be worried about DYING if I drop my book into the tub. Not so with the Kindle?

I’m not trashing those of you who do your reading via listening (for a great audio book review Web site, go to AudioBooksinReview). I have occasionally picked up an audio book for learning during a commute or trip. I’ve just never sat down in my house and listened to an audio book.

I think audio books can be a GREAT way to get kids interested in reading. I have recorded myself reading kids books and given that as a gift to young family members that are too young to read or who struggle with reading. Sometimes getting them caught up in a story is enough to get them curious enough to read a series. The “The Chronicles of Narnia” are fantastic for this!

I’m going to stick with books while I can. What do you think? Are printed books going the way of the dinosaur? Will they soon, like cursive writing, phase out of style?