Why Real Books Will Never Die
There’s a reason tablets, e-readers and the like will never take over real books
Liz Durnan
29 January 2015
Houzz Australia Contributor. Previously a freelance writer and editor at a variety of magazines and websites in London, New York and Sydney. Now I live in the Blue Mountains bush in a strawbale house that we built from scratch. I write about my passions – mainly books and sustainable housing – while writing a book and attempting a permaculture garden.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Previously a freelance writer and editor at a variety... More
Is it the touch of a book in your hand as you read; the slightly musty smell and ancient feel of older books; or the fresh papery smell of a new book? Or is it simply because they look so good on the shelves around your house? These photos show why real books – whether for reading or just display – will never go out of fashion.
Good looks
Books add life and vitality to a home. Imagine this photograph, and many of the following photographs, with a blank space where the books are – it just drains the character away.
Here, with virtually no other colour in this neutral room, save for the rug and the flowers, the colourful spines inject warmth and colour.
Books add life and vitality to a home. Imagine this photograph, and many of the following photographs, with a blank space where the books are – it just drains the character away.
Here, with virtually no other colour in this neutral room, save for the rug and the flowers, the colourful spines inject warmth and colour.
Compare without…
Look at this study area without books – nice if you like minimal, uncluttered spaces.
Look at this study area without books – nice if you like minimal, uncluttered spaces.
And with books…
But then look at this photo, which reveals the rest of the same study’s bookshelves brimming with beautiful books. There is so much more life and character in this photo.
But then look at this photo, which reveals the rest of the same study’s bookshelves brimming with beautiful books. There is so much more life and character in this photo.
Books as decor
Bookshelves can be added anywhere in the home, and lining hallways with them is a clever use of space. Investing in good bookshelves is well worth the trouble and cost, providing both space for your books, as well as enhancing your home with colour, character, art even.
Bookshelves can be added anywhere in the home, and lining hallways with them is a clever use of space. Investing in good bookshelves is well worth the trouble and cost, providing both space for your books, as well as enhancing your home with colour, character, art even.
Colour co-ordinate
You can’t really have that much fun colour co-ordinating your e-reader with the rest of your furniture – it just doesn’t work. Here the black bookshelves and black rug add drama to the otherwise white room.
You can’t really have that much fun colour co-ordinating your e-reader with the rest of your furniture – it just doesn’t work. Here the black bookshelves and black rug add drama to the otherwise white room.
No shelves
And you can’t have fun working out how to stack up the selection of books that you bought electronically.
And you can’t have fun working out how to stack up the selection of books that you bought electronically.
But you can have lots of fun making towers and whatever else you feel like, with your lovely real books.
From floor to ceiling
Real books can be piled sky high to the tops of your ceilings. Add a ladder for effect. Indulge in the meditative pastime of categorising your books by genre, colour or, if you’re so inclined, even alphabetically.
Real books can be piled sky high to the tops of your ceilings. Add a ladder for effect. Indulge in the meditative pastime of categorising your books by genre, colour or, if you’re so inclined, even alphabetically.
Take a screen break
I’ve had many friends try to convert me to electronic reading, but I spend so much time on my computer and phone already, my eyes hurt at the end of the day and I want a break from the screen. Reading a real novel in a room full of books and away from screens is a true break from all that.
I’ve had many friends try to convert me to electronic reading, but I spend so much time on my computer and phone already, my eyes hurt at the end of the day and I want a break from the screen. Reading a real novel in a room full of books and away from screens is a true break from all that.
Books in the bedroom
There’s something about books that make a room feel really cosy. Bookshelves in the bedroom are comforting and if you wake up in the middle of the night you can read yourself back to sleep.
There’s something about books that make a room feel really cosy. Bookshelves in the bedroom are comforting and if you wake up in the middle of the night you can read yourself back to sleep.
But try doing that with a lump of cold metal and a bright screen staring back at you – doesn’t it just keep you awake?
In the kids’ room
We all know that many of our kids could do with a little less screen time. Feed their passion for real books by finding novel ways to shelve their books.
We all know that many of our kids could do with a little less screen time. Feed their passion for real books by finding novel ways to shelve their books.
Home library
If we stopped collecting books, there would be no excuse to have a home library, which, if you’re lucky enough to have room for, can be one of the most beautiful rooms in the house.
If we stopped collecting books, there would be no excuse to have a home library, which, if you’re lucky enough to have room for, can be one of the most beautiful rooms in the house.
Long-lasting
Books can be shared among friends, passed on to family members and stay in families for generations – but only real books, not simply the rights to read them on a screen.
Books can be shared among friends, passed on to family members and stay in families for generations – but only real books, not simply the rights to read them on a screen.
Have you ever given any thought to who inherits your digital library – including books and music? With this technology still in its youth, the law hasn’t caught up with the issue of inheriting digital content, and it’s not currently possible to bequeath it. Your real books will outlive you, but your digital books won’t.
So whoever said the book is dead? Long live the book!
TELL US
Do you think digital books will takeover paper books? Or do you prefer real books? Let us know in the Comments section.
MORE
Read All About It: Novel Ways to Put Your Books on Display
How To Host a Book Club in Style
13 Ways to Make Space for All Your Books
Dream Spaces: Your Very Own Home Library
So whoever said the book is dead? Long live the book!
TELL US
Do you think digital books will takeover paper books? Or do you prefer real books? Let us know in the Comments section.
MORE
Read All About It: Novel Ways to Put Your Books on Display
How To Host a Book Club in Style
13 Ways to Make Space for All Your Books
Dream Spaces: Your Very Own Home Library
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Hi, yes I think books like what you describe are beautiful and have a place in any home due to their history and sometimes artistic value. They look great and bring back memories and serve as conversation items when guests visit too.
(But just imagine.....books that are not in print any longer could be in an electronic format...ready to be shared with generations or e-mailed around the globe in seconds....now the book is truly timeless and can be loved by millions)
Not the ones I've got - I googled them and couldn't find any mention of them anywhere - so they are the ones to really cherish.
I do not think that traditional books will ever be gone completely because they have sentimental value amongst the mature aged generations. However with young people who have never known an era where there were no tablets and e-readers a book may be nothing more than a decorative item (as it is shown in this article).
I personally do not care for books and prefer the e-reader and all its services that books cannot provide such as a dictionary and thesaurus, word pronunciation, night reading without a lamp to disturb your partner, anti glare screens, water resistance so you can read in the tub and a range of other features that continues to grow such as spelling and vocabulary challenges and games to increase your reading speed and comprehension. I guess I am more minimalist at heart.