I’m sure most of you are aware that there is a day, national or merely desiring to be national, of almost everything. Pancake day. Hot dog day. Sister day. On and on. In fact I just peeked at the September days and was surprised and a little overwhelmed by the fact that there are five or six things declared national days just for September 1. I’m almost afraid to look at September 15 to see if it’s National Birthday Day since I personally know five or six other people who share my birthday.
September 1 has been declared National Forgiveness Day, Nathional No Rhyme (or Reason) Day, National Chicken Boy Day, National Hotel Employee Day. There are more, but you’ll have to hunt those up yourself. I’m not moving on to September 2. I’ll just zoom straight to Spetember 18 which turns out to be National Read an EBook Day. Wait. Maybe I should mention that September 6 was National Read a Book Day. I have to admit to being all for that National Day. National Read an Ebook Day is nice too. I’m all for reading every day in whatever way works best for you.
I still like picking up a paper book. I know many of you do too. But I also like listening to audio books. That has really increased my reading opportunities. I also read ebooks. I used to read them on my iPad. Then I got a Kindle. I said I wouldn’t like reading on my phone, but never say never. Now I read on my phone. That’s because it’s usually in my pocket. That’s how I listen to those audio books too. Through my phone.
A few years ago, my husband had a medical emergency and had to go to an emergency room and ended up many hours later in the hospital. He was mostly sedated in the ER and didn’t need any attention from me. I had no book with me. I had my phone but no internet signal in the ER and no books loaded on my phone. After that, I downloaded Kindle on my phone. I did not want to be without reading material again. There are only so many times you can read the warning posts about this or that on an ER’s walls.
But who came up with National Read an EBook Day? Who came up with ebooks?
You might be surprised to know that a man named Rob Brown came up with the idea of ebooks back in 1930 after he watched his first talkie – a movie with sound. He looked to the future and saw books that would be like movie words in front of our eyes. He went no farther with his idea than writing about it. Then in 1949, a Spanish teacher, Angela Ruiz Robles invented the first automated book reader. He hoped to lighten the book load of his students. His inovative book reader never went into production and his prototype ended up at the National Museum of Science and Technology in A Coruña. Another twenty-two years went by before the internet came along and Project Gutenberg was founded and focused on creating electronic copies of texts and publications.
Of course, most of you know the rest of the story. Internet boomed. Internet bookstores became common. Books were printed in paper books as always, but also digitally too. A reader could go online, find a book, and download it immediately to be reading in minutes. Libraries jumped onboard with special apps for readers to borrow ebooks and audio books. Writers published their books, sometimes only in an e-version. People started carrying phones or ereaders loaded with hundreds of books. That is especially handy when someone is traveling. Where once a suitcase might be loaded down with books, now a person could carry all the books they wanted in their pocket or purse.
The image up top is a few of my downloaded books. It is so easy to download a book and keep its promise lingering in the nether world waiting for the perfect moment or time to read the story. You might also note that a couple of the books there are about showboats. I often read ebooks when I’m researching for a story. Those were so I could get a feel of how it would be to ride down the river on a showboat while writing my book, In the Shadow of the River.
Even when I know I’ll never get all the books I want to read read and that it is doubtful I’ll get all the books I own read, I’m still ready to buy more for my physical shelves and more for my electronic shelves. For sure, my electronic shelves are much neater than my physical ones.
I love books in all sizes, all shapes and all versions. In the photo some of the books that still have the new tag have been read – probably on my phone and for some reason that wasn’t recognized on my old iPad. I have most of the books I’ve written since ebooks were a thing downloaded as well. I used the ebook versions when I was doing the narration on those of my books I have narrated for audio. Turning a page on a Kindle is quieter. You need quieter when you are recording an audio book.
I didn’t do the audio for Angel Sister, but here is the dedication for that book and the first page on my ebook reader. My mother and my aunts who shared their stories of growing up during the Great Depression could have never dreamed that one day the story they inspired would be downloaded through the air for people to read.
So, I’m glad to celebrate Read an EBook Day that was first started ten years ago in 2014.
How do you like to read? Ebooks? Print copies? On your phone? Listening to audio?
There’s no wrong way to read a book.
Comments 14
EBooks and print copies are the ones I like to read the most. The EBooks I read on Kindle PC on my computer.
Author
I’m okay with reading ebooks on my Kindle or phone, but I don’t like to read them on my PC, Lee. Maybe because I stare at that screen too much trying to write a story.
Happy belated birthday…hope it was a happy one and you have many more.
Your a great writer..we are blessed to have you to make our reading moments so rich and rewarding.
I read only large print hard bound books..I go to the library and find many of your treasures.
I might go to ebooks eventually.
I just finished River to Redemption and loved it. Louis was quite the person. Your messages are great and I’m so glad I latched onto you and all you have to offer.
God bless you always.
Author
I’m just as glad that you decided to read my books, Toni. Thank you for reading them, and I’m also glad you enjoyed reading about Louis in Tiver to Redemption. I love how I gave him the phrase to pray believing. It really showed the character the real Louis must have had.
Thanks for your birthday wishes and your kind words.
I like to read regular old books. Books that I can hold and turn the pages and put in a bookmarker when something calls me away. However, you’ve inspired me to consider reading online. I’ve spent several hours in emergency rooms with my husband and an ebook would come in handy there.
Author
Oh definitely, load a few books on your phone so that you will always have something to read if you find yourself having to spend hours waiting in an ER, Lee. My experience in the ER certainly convinced me to keep a book handy just in case.
I’m fond of audiobooks. I can listen while I drive, clean house, or cook. If I absolutely fall in love with the characters, I purchase the paper version and use it as decoration. It’s like having a souvenir from an awesome vacation.
Author
That’s neat that you still buy the print book after listening to the audio version, Debra. My agent likes to have both and she listens and reads, sometimes at the same time. I don’t think I’d like doing that and I’m not sure I could switch back and forth. In fact, I’ve listened to some ongoing series and I might miss the reader sharing the story with me if I decided to read a print copy. Not sure about that, but maybe. Audio books have increased the number of books I get to read. However, I can’t listen to certain audio book narrators when I’m trying to write because the sound of the characters in the audio book get too strong in my head and influence how I hear my own characters.
I still prefer reading real paper books. I read every night before bed and at lunch time. But I never leave home without my Kindle. It’s as much an item in my purse as my wallet. I read everywhere…sitting in the long pickup line at school, downtime at work, or on my porch when the lighting isn’t strong enough for print books. (The porch light draws in too many mosquitoes.) And Ebooks really come in handy when the power goes out. I always have 2 or 3 books going on at the same time…a couple of print books in different genres for home reading and an Ebook for other times. I’ve never had success with audio books. I’m like Janette; my brain just doesn’t focus on audio like it does on reading. But I do have an app on my phone with a few classics and The Bible loaded for those rare times my Kindle isn’t available or the battery dies.
Author
It’s good to keep those electronics charged up for use in the case of a power outage, Lavon. I used to only read one book front to back at a time, but as I’ve gotten older and have more ways to read, I usually have several books going. Lately I’ve been deep into audio books because I like being able to read while I’m busy doing other things. A good narrator can make a big difference in how I can enjoy a story in audio. And if you are doing audio books and want to know what happens next, you have to find more chores to do to let you keep listening. 🙂
I don’t carry my Kindle with me, but I do have my phone with the Kindle app on it. So a book is always available.
I much prefer the feel and smell (yes, smell) of an actual printed book. However, there are times when I’m not able to have a light on for reading, so I also read ebooks. Some of the books that I have on my TBR shelf I can also get the ebook through the Libby app. In those cases I read from the printed book during the day and from the ebook at night.
I don’t do audio books. For some reason my brain just doesn’t follow along properly.
Author
There is a definite tactile pleasure in holding that printed book and sensory one with the scent of it, Janette. At the same time, it’s good to keep one’s options open to find all ways to give yourself the most reading opportunity in our busy world.
I read e books in my kindle. Get a majority on Hoopla from my library. Thought I would always only read paper books until I got wet macular generation and M so grateful to be able to enlarge the font. I love to read and read every day and always before I fall asleep and no noise or light to bother my husband!
Author
There are many good things about having an ereader, Jeanne. Making the print larger is one of them. My sister has vision problems and she reads on her iPad for the same reason as you do. Plus, I’ve heard others mention that they can read in bed without disturbing their spouse with lights. I’ve enjoyed the ease of reading on my Kindle without much light in the room.