Paper or plastic?

Last week my Nook, my beautiful, hard-working Nook, stopped working. Just stopped. It quit on me. All I could think about was the hundreds of books that were right there and I was unable to read them. Suddenly, I panicked thinking that I would have to spend weeks waiting for the Geek Squad to finish repairing it, and what about my reading? I guessed that I would have to go back to my paperbacks... but I just wanted my Nook. And then it hit me: what has happened to me? I used to be the one who almost swore that she would never give in to the ebooks and readers' fad. Oh, how I loved (and still do) the good smell of a new book. That wonderful paper, cover, and binding smell that only a new book can give you. Oh, how I loved going to Borders (the only bookstore that used to be close to my house) and just breathe.

But now, now that I have tasted the sweet freedom of reading page after page with only one hand, now that I have obtained so many free books (most of them pretty good) and I'm able to read them without suffering through the unmerciful glare of the computer screen, now that I can have my books delivered in seconds instead of waiting impatiently at my mailbox, I realize that I am addicted. Without the Nook I felt almost lost. No bookstore near, not a library in sight, I was doomed.

But, alas, my guarantee had not expired, and they gave me a "new" one the same day I went to have it checked out. And once the nice lady gave me my package, I was able to breathe once again, not the nice smell of a new book, but the great relief of having my reading time restored.

So what has happened to me? Am I so dependent on technology that I just cannot grasp the idea of curling up with literally a good book anymore? Oh, if only my computer teacher could see me now! I mean, technology is NOT my friend. I still need someone to explain to me, step by step, how to do most things in my own blog. Most of the time I have no idea what I'm doing. And I'm considered tech-savvy in my home, so I come from a technologically challenged family. But I simply love my reader and the many books I have been able to download and read because of it.

I still enjoy a good paperback book every now and then. I have many still waiting to steal a little of my time. And I could never part with my old, beloved editions of so many books that I fell in love with while reading them and breathing their intoxicating, new-book aroma. Reading "old school", I fell in love with places, characters, scenes, situations, words and books in general. I got to experience many wonderful, new and strong sensations from a very early age, all because of the printed word in actual paper. And I think that is why at first I was so reluctant to give readers a try: not having that rugged paper feel takes away from the romance aspect of reading that reminds us of how and why we fell in love with reading in the first place. But trust me: it's all there, every word, every feeling, every sensation, only in a different format.