Hello friends - the question - book or e-reader - and some other thoughts about it by Sophie White today as I attempt to get myself back together after vacation. Don't forget that the Show Us Your Books: Anniversary Edition link up is Tuesday, October 13. Enjoy!
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In
a world where the modern reader seeks convenience, such devices as tablets have
slowly risen to replace paper books to introduce digital copies of the written
word. For many, this is a sign of the rise of modern books, and it has since
been forecast that paper books will soon be replaced completely.
Bibliophiles
may disagree. With the role books has had over the centuries, some book lovers may
think that they will never be completely erased, for culture is what they
represent. But with today’s highly visual audience, publishers have raised the
bar on books’ graphic appeal, introducing a niche of artistic designs and covers
that attract collectors, putting more focus on luxury books.
The art of the printed
word
The
key to getting modern readers interested these days seem to be through a highly
attractive book cover design. For bibliophiles, this is taken one step further
and would include the overall design of the book. Still, for those looking to
peek into high style and art, luxury books have found their place.
Whatever
the case, it cannot be denied that books still hold their own magic for
readers. There are also different types of books that don’t fit very well for
digital copy. This would include highly photo-centric books that are best
enjoyed in glossy volumes for full appreciation. These books are items of
luxury and are considered as objects of art themselves, to be proudly put on
display in the home.
A different sensory
experience
One
of the most important things a book can have is to capture and immortalize
different facets of life – whether through pictures or words – and this is
deftly achieved in books that hold both in equal importance.
Luxury
books can claim to give readers a different, dignified experience for the
senses. With beautiful, memorable photographs that can capture everything from
art to fashion and travel, luxury books are themselves a reflection of culture.
The
modern audience includes people who consume visual components every day – from
advertisements on the street to social media pictures as well as television
shows. With so much going on in daily life, books offer an escape and a sight
into other worlds.
Printed books in the
digital age
With
the on-the-go lifestyle many people lead these days, it can be really useful to
have a tablet from which to access different books anytime at any place. But
the appeal of physical books will never truly go away for the most dedicated
reader.
What
is even more undeniable is the appeal of volumes of books laid out across
shelves in one’s own home. It signifies a sense of comfort and relaxed coziness
that book lovers value when they read. This is why home libraries are
considered as valuable personal spaces of culture across the world.
Even
as e-books rise higher in popularity, books will only evolve to become even
more sought-after for creating personal collections in one’s own space. This is
why books may never truly go out of print even as the juggernaut of modernism
continues to roll.
Sophie White is a blogger
based in Australia with a wide array of interests that have to do with high
style and its appreciation. She is a bibliophile and true book lover, as well
as having a keen eye for the latest in fashion and good food. With her passion for sophistication and
quality, she partners with Assouline, an independent
publisher of lifestyle luxury books with boutiques around the world.
