This week’s question:
With the advent (and growing popularity) of eBooks, I’m seeing more and more articles about how much “better” they can be, because they have the option to be interactive … videos, music, glossaries … all sorts of little extra goodies to help “enhance” your reading experience, rather like listening to the Director’s commentary on a DVD of your favorite movie.
How do you feel about that possibility? Does it excite you in a cutting-edge kind of way? Or does it chill you to the bone because that’s not what reading is ABOUT?
My answer:
As for me, all the above new enhancements does not affect me. My EReaders are for just one purpose…reading. However, I do enjoy the “goodie” of having a dictionary at hand while reading. But for the videos, music, etc, etc, I usually don’t use them in the traditional way. so it will not be part of my “reading experience. On the other hand, if it helps those to find the pleasure of reading, then I’m all for it.
On that note, I have to share some good reading news. I was the type of mother who always read to my boys when they were young, took trips to the library and book stores. They were always allowed to pick out books to purchase. Once in high school and through college, they never read a book for pleasure. I kept asking where did I go wrong? Its not like they never saw me without a book. Last week my youngest son, Mark’s gf Jess, who is a reader, couldn’t wait to tell me the latest news. Mark graduated college in December and found a job in his field within a few months. Of course, we are so proud of him on that level. BUT, Jess told me that Mark was complaining that the train ride into the city, to and and from work was boring. So she handed him a book for the commute, that she thought he would enjoy. Lo and behold, he read the book, in a week and ENJOYED it!!! My hard work didn’t go to waste. Thank you Jess for getting him to read again!! I loved Jess the minute I met her, I love her even more now!!! Now I have to pack up a care package of books to send to him lol.