New 'Fahrenheit 451' Format Proves E-Books Are on Fire

on November 30, 2011 at 5:03 PM

nook Everyone has books they read back in grade school that left a lasting effect on them. In my case, Fahrenheit 451 was one of those. For years author Ray Bradbury was against the eTimes, refusing to allow his prized book to be released in e-book format. And why should he have to? Just cause the times are changin'? The author once told The Paris Review:

"Those aren't books. You can't hold a computer in your hand like you can a book. A computer does not smell ... A book has got to smell. You have to hold it in your hands and pray to it ... And it stays with you forever. But the computer doesn't do that for you. I'm sorry."

Welp. Yesterday, Bradbury caved. The e-edition of Bradbury's book became available yesterday on Kindle and Nook for just $9.99.

If this isn't a sign that we officially live in an e-world, I don't know what is.

For a long time, I shared Bradbury's mentality: E-books aren't as good as real books and there's nothing anyone could say to change my mind. I love the feeling of closing the cover once I've finished a book, and I adore being able to loan my last great read to a good friend. You can't do that with your iPad, Nook, Kindle, or whatever your e-poison may be.

I tried to stick to my guns, but after getting an iPad for my birthday last year, I discovered that regular books just aren't as convenient. Now, there's no more going out to the store to pick up the latest best-seller or carrying around extra bulky things in my work bag. As a girl who loves organization, I couldn't be happier that everything's on one device -- including Fahrenheit 451.

I'm not saying that in light of the hot and happenin' technological age, we should toss our all-time favorite classics or ::shudder:: stop buying books altogether. However, a classic author like Bradbury surrendering arguably one of his greatest works to the e-world is a sign that, yes, things are different these days, and in today's economy, becoming virtual is an essential change.

My guess? A few short years from now, the decision will be whether or not to publish new books in print instead.

Do you use an e-reader? If so, do you like it better than reading from an actual book?

Image via Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com/Flickr

About the author Emily Abbate

is a blogger and Editorial Assistant here at The Stir.

Filed Under: ereaders, electronics, in the news

Comments (6)

RhondaVeggie

on Nov 30, 2011 at 7:06 PM

That makes me very sad. I thought he was actually going to stick up for real books but I guess the almighty dollar got to him. Regardless, I will continue to read real books. I loathe ebooks, they're such a pain to read and a literal pain to use. Clicking that little button every seven seconds to refresh the page drives me batty.

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Lynette

on Nov 30, 2011 at 9:25 PM

love my Kindle(I have the e-ink version). I prefer to read on it than paper bks.

MommyOfOne2710

on Nov 30, 2011 at 11:17 PM

I can not stand those things. I would never buy one.

Facebook comment from Brooke Williams

on Dec 1, 2011 at 3:56 PM

I wouldn't give up books ever...REAL ones. The feel, smell and just the comfort it brings to hold.

LokisMama

on Dec 5, 2011 at 11:23 AM

I have an ereader, but I still prefer my hard copies. There's nothing like the feel of cracking open a new book, the smell of the pages, and of course, the beautiful sight of bookshelves full to bursting with books.

Marjchaos

on Dec 6, 2011 at 8:51 PM

Farenheigt 451 was long before e-readers and the point was the destruction of thought, of ideas, and the inability to share them. I love books. I'm a huge bibliophile. I love the feel of books, the look of books and the smell of books. Bookstores and libraries are almost an erotic experience. Convince you I love paper books? Well, I do. But I love reading more, and I reread a lot. I do not have the space in my house for a fraction of the books that I would like to read, and keep on hand for rereading. I got an e-reader because in this modern world, a reader like myself does need a huge English country estate to have an enormous library full of books. I haven't been able to get rid of my paper books yet. They are too dear to me. However, they are all in boxes in the garage keeping them safe from my toddlers. E-readers are not the downfall of reading, they are not the sign that ideas will be destroyed, in fact, they could be the opposite.