Page Turner or Scroller?
Image courtesy: RDNE Stock project
Are you emotionally attached to fictional characters? Do you often daydream about the world that is just within reach, but never quite in your grasp. Reading is like the fresh breath of air, a spark of life and hope, but it’s also a pile of realisations - reminding us that the world does not necessarily have to end with a happy ending.
I’m sure many of you are aware of the word “Kindle”. For those who have heard this word in passing but do not know the meaning, I will explain it in very simple words. It’s a “time machine”, which when opened might offer you classic literature of the past or the romantic fantasy world of Sarah J. Mass, the author of the bestselling ACOTAR series. Digitalised platforms for reading are judged by many, typically those who have never actually experienced what digital reading truly offers. They question whether “Kindle is truly an 'authentic' way of reading?”
It comes as no surprise that people who are “traditional readers,” meaning those who swear by paperbacks over any other medium, usually do not consider Kindle and other such platforms as not being real reading. But, I beg to differ. With the changing world, we need to learn how to be creatures of adaptation. For a bibliophile, it starts with putting down a book and picking up a tool that will allow you to carry an entire library in your pocket.
This blog isn’t about deciding who gets to be the winner between pages and a screen. Instead, it will present you with facts - so you can decide for yourself.
With its ability to have thousands of books only a click away, it’s a great space saver and a true companion for those with a tendency to read while traveling. It not only offers authentic books but also great features like comfortable reading modes, changeable font, and backlight, and the option to scroll or swipe. It remembers exactly where you left off - page, line, and even word.
Now, some of you might wonder why a special tablet needs to be bought for this specific task. But let me ask you this, when reading on your phone, how many notifications pop up, distracting you from your reading session? No reader loves that since it is equivalent to someone constantly trying to talk to you while you’re trying to read, therefore, the Kindle helps you concentrate. Since all the inwardly features are covered, the most important factor when reading a book is how we tend to pick up a book based on its cover page. Reading with this platform allows you to look beyond that, where the fear of being judged for reading a book is significantly lessened.
In the end, whether you prefer scrolling on a screen or turning pages, it doesn’t matter since there is no hard and fast rule to be biased towards one side, you’re still living in someone else’s world. Kindle or other digitalised platforms don’t replace books, they only expand our reading choices and the enjoyment of it.
From the Editor's desk
Pari Jain