I’m still not sure what to make of e-readers, either even though now I have one, and for me it will never replace the need for physical books, but it supplements and goes along with them. You do loose the physical feel of paper, the smell of an old or new book, and the sound of the rustle of pages… I know for me it won’t impact the desire to visit public libraries… Other factors impact that… from the changes in library card policies, parking meters, a decade of using academic libraries, topics I’m interested and the resources at hand, (I need a seminary with a good library nearby and I could get lost for days or weeks…)… I still go to public and university libraries near where I live, but it’s not to get books to read elsewhere, I look through books, I sit and reflect, perhaps read a bit there (but even then, It’s often been books I brought with me…) and to have a quite place to write, to work on a sermon, or a worship resource or… and try to be less distracted (but the distractions exist even there.
And this past week I finally picked up a library card again… even with all the restrictions on it because of where I live, it’s nice knowing I have one again…

For now I’m glad I am slowly finding myself getting back into the joy of reading, and slowly allowing more time to be embraced by it… but still feel I’m not engaging in it as much as I should….
Peace be with you,
Lyle II

I didn’t know you had a blog. I found it through the gathering us in blog.

I’ve not known what to make of e-readers. I get the benefits, but I so love the multi-sensory experience of reading an actual book. And libraries–getting an e-reader just seems like one less reason to visit them.

I feel like I’ve been through something similar with reading recently.
I found myself wanting to read, but found it less and less appealing. Then I realized what it was (or, at the time, what I suspected it might be). I was reading theory, technical, ideas books (for lack of better terms). I hadn’t read fiction (or narrative non-fiction) in a lot time. I’d had some run ins with disappointing fictional works and was a little burned. Plus I thought I should be spending my reading time reading more “important” books.
I halted my reading of the theory/technical stuff have let myself get reacquainted with and lost in the magic of a story well told. It’s been quite a lovely experience; reconnecting with an activity I’d forgotten I enjoy.
I’ve been disappointed in some, but in others I’ve found new favorites. I guess that’s just part of the experience.