Another "can't beat the smell of paper book" article

m-reader · 01-07-2010, 01:14 PM

"Books have a smell, a feel and a meaning no bit of plastic can match." She says.

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/soc...0107-lwpw.html

I just don't get it - what's the big deal? It's not like anyone is going to ban paper books. Seriously people, relax

Sydney's Mom · 01-07-2010, 01:26 PM

No one is going to force her to read ebooks. On the other hand, I have been buying ebook versions of hbooks sitting in my unread pile. They do look nice on the bookshelf, but I am running out of room. No more hbooks.

LDBoblo · 01-07-2010, 01:32 PM

Poetic and emotional, but bloody stupid.

...and I dislike ebooks typically.

omk3 · 01-07-2010, 01:42 PM

Sentimental nostalgia. Fair enough, each to his own.
But really,

Quote:

the older ones growing creased, discoloured, flecked, as though developing age spots and lines to match my own.

how can that be a good thing?
I can understand attachment to objects, up to a point, but really, are all the drawbacks of paper books suddenly their strong points?
Oh well... It's not as if I don't hear another "smell of books" argument every day. I'm getting tired of bothering to answer.

susan_cassidy · 01-07-2010, 01:52 PM

The 'smell' of old books is mold and chemical deterioration (not to mention the spots). What's good about that?

DawnFalcon · 01-07-2010, 01:55 PM

Sooner or later you'll need to buy another one from them, see... ebooks don't get wear and tear either.

That's why it's "good"

JSWolf · 01-07-2010, 01:57 PM

Has anyone does a study to find out just how bad for you the smell of books will harm you? Might as well, seems everything else is bad for you.

daffy4u · 01-07-2010, 02:12 PM

Let's sell those little fresheners they have at the car wash. Instead of a little pine tree ours will be shaped like a pbook with an "Eau de Old pBook" fragrance. They can insert it in the cover or hang it from the reader. We'll make a fortune I tell ya!

Steven Lyle Jordan · 01-07-2010, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Has anyone does a study to find out just how bad for you the smell of books will harm you? Might as well, seems everything else is bad for you.

Well, think about it: Besides inhaling rotting paper, and all those paper-eating microbes, you're "sniffing glue." That can't be good.

Sydney's Mom · 01-07-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Has anyone does a study to find out just how bad for you the smell of books will harm you? Might as well, seems everything else is bad for you.

I come from a family of non-readers. When I would pick up a paperback and flip through it, inhaling deeply, my mother said "That isn't good for you, you know."

cybrdmn · 01-07-2010, 02:48 PM

anyone ever get a book from the library that a smoker just returned? mmmm... the smell of books. ....barf

Greg Anos · 01-07-2010, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Has anyone does a study to find out just how bad for you the smell of books will harm you? Might as well, seems everything else is bad for you.

All I can say is that I had to get rid of (and replace) 2 reference books because every time I used them for more that a few minutes, I got bronchitis. There were obviously some bad microbes in those books....

As to worn old friends, I'd like to think I gave them the gift of digital immortality...

guyanonymous · 01-07-2010, 03:13 PM

For me it's the CONTENT not the package that's important.

Latinandgreek · 01-07-2010, 03:16 PM

I've gotten rashes - bad rashes, on my face - from old books on several occasions. (I have very sensitive skin, I get rashes from ANYTHING (perfume, deodorant, scented soap, creme, makeup, certain foods, cats...) so that's no surprise, but still.

I always did like the smell of a new book, but nothing beats how comfortable one-handed reading with my reader is.

omk3 · 01-07-2010, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guyanonymous

For me it's the CONTENT not the package that's important.

And so it should be. It really makes me wonder, all these writers that are so outspoken against ebooks, do they only feel validated when they see their work printed on a paper book? Don't their words have any value of their own? You'd think they would find their words more valuable than the package of their words.

01-07-2010, 01:14 PM	#1
m-reader Guru Posts: 785 Karma: 100000 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Sony PRS-300. PRS-650, PRS-900, iPad2, Iconia A500, Irex Iliad (sold)	Another "can't beat the smell of paper book" article "Books have a smell, a feel and a meaning no bit of plastic can match." She says. http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/soc...0107-lwpw.html I just don't get it - what's the big deal? It's not like anyone is going to ban paper books. Seriously people, relax

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01-07-2010, 01:26 PM	#2
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,896 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	No one is going to force her to read ebooks. On the other hand, I have been buying ebook versions of hbooks sitting in my unread pile. They do look nice on the bookshelf, but I am running out of room. No more hbooks.

01-07-2010, 01:32 PM	#3
LDBoblo Wizard Posts: 1,385 Karma: 16056 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Asia Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Sony PRS-505	Poetic and emotional, but bloody stupid. ...and I dislike ebooks typically.

01-07-2010, 01:52 PM	#5
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	The 'smell' of old books is mold and chemical deterioration (not to mention the spots). What's good about that?

01-07-2010, 01:55 PM	#6
DawnFalcon Banned Posts: 2,094 Karma: 2682 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: N/A	Sooner or later you'll need to buy another one from them, see... ebooks don't get wear and tear either. That's why it's "good"

01-07-2010, 01:57 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,495 Karma: 136564766 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Has anyone does a study to find out just how bad for you the smell of books will harm you? Might as well, seems everything else is bad for you.

01-07-2010, 02:12 PM	#8
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	Let's sell those little fresheners they have at the car wash. Instead of a little pine tree ours will be shaped like a pbook with an "Eau de Old pBook" fragrance. They can insert it in the cover or hang it from the reader. We'll make a fortune I tell ya!

01-07-2010, 02:48 PM	#11
cybrdmn Member Posts: 24 Karma: 380 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: nookcolor	anyone ever get a book from the library that a smoker just returned? mmmm... the smell of books. ....barf

01-07-2010, 03:13 PM	#13
guyanonymous Guru Posts: 692 Karma: 27532 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Ebookwise 1150 / 1200	For me it's the CONTENT not the package that's important.

01-07-2010, 03:16 PM	#14
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	I've gotten rashes - bad rashes, on my face - from old books on several occasions. (I have very sensitive skin, I get rashes from ANYTHING (perfume, deodorant, scented soap, creme, makeup, certain foods, cats...) so that's no surprise, but still. I always did like the smell of a new book, but nothing beats how comfortable one-handed reading with my reader is.

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