As anyone who has regularly visited in bookstores can sympathize with, there is always the matter of the ‘bookstore lottery’ when browsing.

The sheer selection and ready availability is also staggering. It means that not only do I never need to worry about getting rid of a book for lack of shelf space, but that I can enjoy them when and where I wish. At least books that are dedicated to the printed word and not digital photo albums. The first and most obvious is that of portability: it is clear that even without access to a cloud service, I can probably fit more books onto my ereader or smartphone than I will read in my lifetime. That said, I have embraced and love the ereaders of today for all the advantages they offer, even if I forego some of the minor perks that printed books still enjoy. The point is to be clear that not only did I not grow up reading on my phone, tablet, or what-have-you, but have long been enamored with the printed word in its classic format, mostly unchanged since the Gutenberg press. I always tried to keep the ones I thought I would reread, whether entirely or just some ‘favorite scenes’, but as time passed, even those hardcore favorites faced eviction, since room had to be made for new arrivals. This happened every six months or so on average, and it was agony. When I began forming piles on the side, it was time to start the painful process of ridding myself of them to give away to the library or other. Over time, my shelves grew over-populated with my indulgence, filling one row from end to end, then a second row of books directly in front, and finally a third with a part of the books sticking out, hovering over limbo. Even my jacket was chosen according to its ability to fit a good-sized paperback in its pockets. I didn’t have an eating disorder, just a reading one. I spent most of my lunch money feeding my reading habit, much to the despair of my single-mother, who could not understand why I perpetually looked like I was only one step above anorexic. I have been a voracious reader since I was a child, and grew up on a diet of normal printed books.

Kobo aura one screen size