Print vs. ebooks: What I've been reading and buying

I don't intend to rehash a tired debate; I only mean to look at what formats I've been reading books this year and what this means.

I got my Kindle last week of March and of the 20 books I've read since then, 7 have been Kindle ebooks. I think I'd be reading more of my Kindle books if not for that goal that I set for myself at the beginning of the year--that of cutting down my 2010 TBR to around half.

However, what's more telling, I think, is how many books I've actually bought from brick-and-mortar bookstores since I got my Kindle. Ok, granted I also have that other challenge not to buy more than 12 print or e-books this year until I halve the TBR, I notice that I hardly show any interest when I pass by a bookstore anymore. Shocking, I know.

Like other bibliophiles, I couldn't resist going inside a bookstore whenever I passed by one. And I couldn't resist buying at least one book whenever I entered one. Or if I didn't, I went through this long process convincing myself that I would not die if I didn't buy the book then and there.

But I don't do that anymore.

I no longer feel the pull of a bookstore whenever I go to the mall (And our malls here have several). Sometimes I still go in, but I merely browse disinterestedly through the shelves. Unless, that is, I go in to specifically find a certain book. But that rarely happens now.

Many reasons for this, I think. First, I blame the ease with which I can buy books online, be it an ebook or print book. It used to annoy me that bookstores didn't readily have a copy of a book I wanted. Now, if they don't have it, I can just go online and order from Book Depository, if I want it in print, or Amazon, if I can get the ebook.

Second, at this point in my readerly life, I know which books I want and I don't feel the need to browse through shelves anymore to find books that might interest me. Instead, I look now to my favorite online sites, like The Millions, Guardian Books, NPR books, preferred book blogs, and my friends' recommendations. I even pick up on some of Amazon's recommendations. And this is why I find browsing through shelves of books I'm not interested in tedious and impractical.

Also, considering space issues in my home, I've been favoring ebooks over the print version. I know there are a lot of purists out there who will wax poetic about the smell of the paper, the feel of the books in their hands, blah, blah. Heard it all and you're preaching to the choir. I love print books, but I don't see any contradiction in loving the digital formats, too.

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Personally, when I buy books, I really pay for the content. The prettiness is something extra that I'll be willing to shell out money for, provided it's justified. Which is why now, the only times that I deign to buy a print book are: 1) It's NYRB (I love how the spines look on my bookshelf); 2) It's illustrated (I find images don't translate well on my Kindle.); 3) It's ebook-proof (e.g., pop-ups, Foer's Tree of Codes, etc).; and 4) There is absolutely no ebook version and I absolutely still want the book.

Do I miss the hunt? (Meaning the pre-Amazon physical book hunt). Occasionally. Everything seems so easy now and the only thing that gets the blood singing is if you get your copy before everyone else or you got it on sale somewhere. But there's no real challenge anymore. That is, unless I decide to start collecting rare books or maybe one book in every language it was ever printed in.

That said, I'm enjoying the plenitude too much right now to seriously complain. I just scored Zoo City for $0.99 at Amazon's Big Deal. Situations like this are not things to complain about.

But be it bricks-and-mortar or online, be it print or ebook, I think what really influences my buying now is a lot of convenience and a little personal touch. Let the book be available, let it be affordable, and let someone tell me that it's there. The online bookstores do that with their recommendations. But the physical bookstores do that, too, by maintaining some sort of relationship and contact with their customers. For instance, I know I frequent one bookstore because the marketing people have made themselves accessible, are prompt in responding, and, basically, have been kind to me. And I have an abiding loyalty to this second hand bookstore in my alma mater because the proprietor always has a nice word and a recommendation for me whenever I pass by. Also, it doesn't hurt that I like the selections in both stores.

I don't know the future of publishing for certain and I don't have a business solution for offline bookstores. But as a voracious consumer of books, I can see firsthand how my buying habits are changing because of new technologies and new business models. I do feel conflicted about these changes, but as long reading is still reading, I will be ok. And so, I hope, will the bookstores.