So in the last years i’ve usually mainly been reading books on my e-reader, and it’s true that it’s quite convenient (and potentially cheaper too), i won’t deny that.
But recently, as i was travelling, on a whim i decided to buy some physical books again, and man, there’s just something about holding an actual real book in your hand that is just irreplaceable.
It’s such a satisfying feeling just to hold and open one, and such a wonderful reading experience to turn real pages. Electronic devices just feel so cold and sterile where physical books feel warm and homey. Even the woody smell… I had almost forgotten how in love i am with paper books.
The only problem is that physical books have become more inaccesible as time has passed because of the price. Garbage like Paolo Coelho or Yuval Hariri is the only exception because every store seems to have hundreds of copies of these. Second hand book stores and libraries are saviours in this regard but they are becoming less and less common because our ruling class wish everyone was as illiterate as them.
But physical books truly are a better experience than ereaders.
Second hand bookstores and flea markets can be great places to find books for cheap, sometimes even quite rare old editions. I always browse them when i come by one, you never know what you might find.
The second hand bookstore back home was a treasure chest and extremely affordable. Then the guy’s nephew took over, prices went up, selection went down.
In Poland price is becoming huge problem, for some reason everything now had to be in the luxurious hardcover side printed editions and prices of even paperbacks are not much lower. Ebooks are literally 10% cheaper than physical books. Average pulp book cost the same as medium sized lux album had 15 years ago.