As a passionate book lover, this week’s prompt tugged at my heartstrings a little more than usual.
What would you rather do, sit with a pile of books and dive in or be more digital and perhaps "lighter" with e-books? Talk to us from your POV.
To answer that simply? Both. But let me give you context.
I wasn’t joking when I opened this article with “as a passionate book lover.” When it comes to books, the how hardly matters. I’ll read with a flashlight under my blanket or under a harsh phone screen light. Whether I’m flipping through papery pages or tapping through EPUB files, if it’s a book, I’m happy. But still, I have my methods. And my reasons.
Let’s start with the nostalgic love of hard-copy books.
There’s just something deeply satisfying about holding a real book in your hands. The rustle of flipping pages, the scent of books, watching the pages left to read decrease while the ones you've read increase, it always feels like you're not just reading, you’re journeying.
And let’s not forget the health benefits: no screen time, no blue light, no sudden Instagram notification pulling you out. But let’s be honest, hard-copy books are heavy. Literally.
For instance, say I’m getting my hair braided at the salon. As juicy as salon gossip can get, I’d rather be buried deep in a fantasy world. But then it’s time to wash my hair, and water’s flying everywhere. Carrying a 500-page novel into that chaos can get risky. And that's why reading with my phone at the salon is less risky.
Reading on my phone has saved me countless times, while waiting at the doctor’s, on long road trips, or during boring social outings I wish I could leave. It’s also the perfect travel buddy. Especially during road trips where the internet disappears and I can’t doom-scroll the socials. I can’t sleep through an 8-hour journey either. So what do I do? I dive into a 2000-page novel stored right there on my phone. It's portable pleasure.
And then, there’s the fun twist that movies bring into it.
I’m one of those people who, the moment I realize a show or movie is adapted from a book, I must find the book. I’m talking about Percy Jackson, Wheel of Time, After, and even Bridgerton. Movies never tell the whole story. Don’t even get me started on Percy Jackson the series, when they paused at episode 6, season 1, I could not sleep. I needed closure. So I downloaded the complete novel series, about 6,000 pages and read my way to peace of mind.
Same thing happened with The Wheel of Time. Season 3 just dropped, and the next ones won’t be out till 2027. Please, who has that kind of patience? Definitely not me. So I went hunting and downloaded the 15-book collection, a 60,000-page book (no big deal, right?).
I'm still on book 1, but I already noticed the TV version strays a bit. That's another thing book lovers understand deeply, the betrayal of a story being rewritten. Sometimes it works. Most times? It stings.
Now let’s talk money. Physical books? Expensive. And I mean, expensive.
I once dreamed of starting my physical library with the Twilight series. Checked online and found out each book costs ₦25,000. That’s ₦75,000 altogether for the 3 books in the Twilight series. I quietly closed the tab, sipped water and minded my business.
Another time, I really wanted the physical version of some books I'd read on my phone, from Nigerian authors like Bolu Babalola, Adesuwa O’man, and Damilare Kuku. But each book was ₦10,000 or more. Again, I paused and chose to cut my coat according to my account balance.
Don’t get me wrong, I still dream of my own Beauty and the Beast-style home library. A room filled with books signed by authors, limited editions, and shelves that smell like wisdom. That dream is alive and thriving. But for now? EPUB will do just fine.
Still, I can’t do everything on my phone. There are certain book genres, like finance, self-development, inspiration, and how-to books, that I must read in print. Line by line, slowly. That way, I promote memory retention.
In fact, even back in school, I’d print out all the PDFs our lecturers sent. Reading a hard copy just helps me retain information better. And thankfully, those types of books are often more affordable.
It all boils down to this: I don’t pick between hard-copy and digital. I pick whichever allows me to keep reading.
Whether I’m swept away by a fantasy novel on my phone during a commute or curled up with a paperback self-help book and a cup of Hollandia yoghurt on my bed, reading is my therapy. My escape. My joy.
And as a writer myself, I know that what I read influences what I create. Books help me teach, entertain, reflect, and sometimes just stay sane. So whether it’s digital or physical, I’m here for it.
Because in the end, a good book is a good book, no matter the format.