Pros and Cons of Electronic Ebook Readers

I love to read. The truth is, I usually read every night before I sleep. I find it a good way to wind down for the day and to destress as I’m so interested in my book that I don’t lay in bed thinking about work or the ever-growing to do list that I have. Reading allows me to relax and unwind, to learn, and to be entertained. I may be in the minority, as I prefer reading over watching television!

When many of the popular ebook readers were first released, there was a boom in buying them. You could now carry around hundreds, if not thousands, of books in a tiny little Ebook Reader. It changed things for the book worms, much like the first iPod did for the music enthusiasts. The truth is, for many of us, the time we get to read most is when we’re on holiday. Bookish Brits are avid readers on their holidays reveals Opodo but what are the pros and cons of electronic ebook readers? Well, I have a few ideas:

1. Small, but Mighty
Ebook readers tend to be smaller than an iPad – or you can even use your iPad to read on if you like. I prefer black/white ebook readers as they are more like an actual book for me and their low light settings ensure I don’t disturb my sleep patterns from staying up late reading. They can hold hundreds or thousands of books, ensuring it’s easy to take your entire library on holiday with you. Much easier to pack than a few books.

2. The Original Cost
When you buy an ebook reader, you will probably spend at least £60 and that’s just for the machine, then you have to purchase books. I’ve found ebook reader books are a bit cheaper than paperbacks, but not actually that much cheaper considering you are not getting a physical book. If you have a Kindle you can join Amazon Prime and enjoy thousands of books for free, which helps keep the costs down.
3. You Can’t Enjoy a Digital Detox
It’s becoming a lot more popular to go on holiday and take a break from your phone and laptops. We are basically attached to them 24/7 so when we are on holiday it can be so nice to ditch the electronics and really soak up our holiday experience. If you use a normal tablet to read on, you will probably find Facebook notifications popping up and annoying you, unless you switch it to Airplane mode. There’s something comforting about laying in a hammock with an actual paper book.

I personally use an ebook reader because I live in a country where it’s hard to find ample English books. But whenever I can, I do buy paper books so I can really enjoy them, share them around with friends and family and put them on my book shelf. If you’re not sure about ebook readers, you may be surprised to know around 23% of Brits regularly use them, almost a quarter of book worms are using the digital versions.

If you want some inspiration for your summer holiday reads, check out this great list by www.opodo.co.uk/ – Happy reading!

1. Small Great Things, Jodi Picoult

2. I See You, Clare Mackintosh

3. Conclave, Robert Harris  

4. The Essex Serpent, Sarah Parry

5. This Must Be The Place, Maggie O’Farrell

6. The Gypsy Moth, Julia Fierro

7. The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, Arundhati Roy

8. Hunger, Roxanne Gay

9. H (a)ppy, Nicola Barker

10. Sour Heart, Jenny Zhang.