In issue 2 of the Mancunion, my co-editor set out her views of the Kindle comparing those who bought one to turning to the “dark side.”
Though I will admit there may be a conflict between the book and the Kindle, I don’t believe the two groups are exclusive and we can partake in book buying as well as Kindle downloading. The best similarity to this would be music. Sure the vast majority of us mainly listen to music on Spotify or download tracks through iTunes but when we really enjoy the music we shall endeavour to go out and buy a physical copy.
It is also important to consider the debate from the side of the authors and I believe the Kindle is a force for good. The new non-material format of books has brought the cost of publishing down leading to more self-published authors, which can only be a good thing. More and more upcoming writers can now easily release their works to the world. You may argue that these writers are hardly going to make a decent living like this but I respond by asking what author writes to make money as opposed to writing out of passion?
I finish by reiterating a point you rapidly went over: the room saving compatibility of the Kindle. In front of me I have the complete works of Dostoevsky, and Edgar Allen Poe as well as Homer’s “Odyssey,” which I can fit in my pocket, which I still find this amazing. So go out and buy a Kindle before reaping the benefits of the miraculous device.
