Which do you prefer - paper or plastic? And, no, I'm not referring to Harris Teeter shopping bags. Books -- magazines -- newspapers!
Reading in my generation was limited to three basic forms of print media: newspaper, book, and magazine. I can remember my parents making wagers as to whether or not the paperboy would miss or hit the target - our front porch - each morning. It was a good day when the paper didn't land in our front bushes. Dad truly enjoyed reading the morning paper with his cup of coffee.
I wasn't as interested in book reading as my Mom would have liked me to be. Mom has her Master's Degree in Education, and reading was pretty high on her list of priorities. She would drag take all three of us to the library, and insisted we find three 'acceptable' books to check out each week. For those of you who are too young to know what a library is... :) For those of us who have been around the bookshelf a time or two -- the Dewy Decimal System was NOT my BFF. I do, however, have fond memories of these two books:
Judy Blume was the rage with all the girls when I was in 4th and 5th grade. As much as my Mom wanted me to keep my nose in a book at all times -- these two books were not approved for my reading pleasure. I had to SNEAK READ both!
Reading was extremely important in my generation. Many attribute their accomplishments to their love of reading in their early years, as much knowledge can be gained through reading. As I've grown older (and wiser!) I've realized the luxury of reading as well. Finding adequate time to read is difficult, but I still try to make it a priority.
Reading is now offered in many different formats. Choosing whether or not to spend the extra money on a hardcover verses paperback book is no longer at the forefront of selecting a book. Now your primary choice is which digital device (plastic) to read your book on. Reading can be as compact and accessible as your handheld smartphone.
I feel the flexibility offered through digital reading resources increases our reading volume. Yes, digital devices such as the Kindle Fire (pictured above) are also internet accessible. With internet accessibility offered on a reading device one might argue the ability to view material rather than read. I feel the convenience of having access to both also encourages and allows research and reading on demand.
How have the older generations received all of these changes? Well, speaking from both experience and observation, I'd have to say they've been welcomed gradually. WELCOMED. My 71 year old father loves his Kindle, and my 83 year old mother-in-law loves her iPad. They've adapted to the change. My 45 year old husband... won't touch his Kindle, and makes it a point of visiting the used bookstore on a regular basis!
