It's Friday which means I'm joining up with Book Blogger Hop hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer, Book Beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, and the Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice.
This Week's Question:
How will reading be in 100 years time? Will there be printed books? How about ereaders? What might they look like?
My Answer:
I have a hard time believing that books will go away completely. They may become more like artwork versus just a functional item but there are sensory advantages with books that can't be replicated. As for ereaders I think they'll continue to go the way they're going now - thinner, lighter, better memory, better battery life. I'm hoping in 100 years they'll have figured out a better way work with illustrated books!
I'd gotten distracted from reading Agatha Christie by a few library books but it feels great to be back to Poirot and Hastings with this 3rd book in the Poirot series - Poirot Investigates. This is a short story collection that contains 14 of Poirot's most interesting cases. From what I can tell this was originally published all together instead of short stories published separately in magazines or newspapers and then put together.
The Beginning from "The Adventure of "The Western Star"":
"I was standing at the window of Poirot's rooms looking idly on the street below.
"That's queer," I ejaculated suddenly beneath my breath."
The 56 from page 56 of my paperback from the story "The Adventure of the Cheap Flat":
"To me, the waiting appeared endless. I was terrified of going to sleep. Just when it seemed to me that I had been there about eight hours - and had, as I found out afterwards, in reality been exactly one hour and twenty minutes - a faint scratching sound came to my ears."
So would you keep reading? If you're an Agatha beginner this kind of short story collection is a great way to get to know the characters without getting Poirot-ed out.
Love the cover of the Christie book. I agree that I don't think physical books will ever disappear completely...and for so many good reasons. I've had an ereader for several years, but I still prefer physical books.
ReplyDeleteMy Friday post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2014/09/first-chapter-first-paragraph-76-and.html
I don't mind fiction in ebook form but frequently prefer a print copy for nonfiction or any book that has a lot of pictures. I absolutely cannot stand ebook versions of cookbooks! Drives me crazy!
DeleteCool linear lines on the cover art and I love the author's use of the hyphen!
ReplyDeleteI do love these very stylized covers I've been seeing on Agatha's covers lately.
DeleteI agree that books/ereaders won't be going anywhere. I also believe that reading an actual paperback is its own experience that can not be reached. I can only hope that the next generation doesn't have a question mark above their head upon seeing the newest release in hardcover.
ReplyDeleteI don't disagree. To be honest as long as people are still reading I don't care how they're reading!
DeleteYour question is very thought provoking. I think physical books and ereaders will be around, just don't know what ereaders will look like. I wonder if audio books will become a bigger part of the reading experience.
ReplyDeletesherry @ My Friday Memes
I didn't really think about audio books but I can see how they would become involved more. I know even in the last 10 years they've become more accessible.
DeleteI haven't read any Agatha Christie, but perhaps this would be a great way to get a taste of her style. Thanks for sharing! And thanks for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeleteThis would be a great start. I really enjoy her short stories!
DeleteI agree that print books will probably be more works of art. I think that most reading will be in an electronic format. I hope that people will still be able to experience reading a print book at some point.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! I hate to think of all prints going away! You couldn't exactly have an autographed ebook!
DeleteI'd definitely keep reading! I love the Poirot series, but haven't read any of the short stories. I should do something about that! Thanks for sharing a sample of them.
ReplyDeleteI love the short stories! Agatha does a fabulous job of balancing just enough personality and mystery without making it too much.
DeleteNow that you mention it, it would be beneficial if they placed a higher focus on providing us with good quality illustrated books. Especially since I am on the go quite a bit, my kids love reading :)
ReplyDeleteI do love great illustrated books. I think it adds a whole new element of enjoyment for both me and the kids!
DeleteI've watched the Poirot series on PBS but it's been a long time since I've read an Agatha Christie book. Those short stories sound like fun.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment.
Sandy @Texas Twang
Agatha did a really great job on her short stories. I highly recommend this collection.
DeleteI love Agatha Christie's books! The mysteries are always good, so definitely keep reading. And I don't think printed books will vanish, too many people still read them, and they're definitely easier on my eyes so I will always prefer them over ebooks.
ReplyDeleteI've actually found that at times I provide ebooks for my eyes because I can change the font size! When I was reading on an iPad that did kill my eyes though!
DeleteOh, intriguing. I wonder where this scratching noise is coming from.
ReplyDeleteThat's from one of my favorite stories! Highly recommend this series.!
DeleteMy comment seems to have disappeared. I hope the printed book is still around. I'd hate to think people wouldn't experience the pleasure of reading them. My favorite kind of books:)
ReplyDeleteI've not read any of Agatha's books in some time. You're always assured of quality writing and a darn good mystery
Here is my 56 - http://fuonlyknew.com/2014/09/26/the-friday-56-38-the-cinderella-theorem/
I've noticed Blogger's been having problems. It's quite annoying. I hope print doesn't go away either. Not all books work in ebook form! This is a great Agatha story collection.
DeleteLove your book answer....I don't want print to go away, but I agree e-readers will be the big thing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts
Love Agatha Christie...thanks for sharing that beginning.
Happy Hopping!!
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Blog Hop Answer
There are a lot of benefits to both mediums so I do hope they stay. The main thing is that people keep reading! This is one of my favorite Poirot collections.
DeleteIn a 100 years . . . I like your answer better than any answer I can come up with. :-)
ReplyDeleteI would keep reading. I love Agatha Christie.
I think when it boils down to it as long as people are still reading that's all that's important! This is a fun short story collection.
DeleteI think when it boils down to it as long as people are still reading that's all that's important! This is a fun short story collection.
DeleteI don't really read short stories very much, but a collection of Christie books would be fun.
ReplyDeleteChristie is really the master of the short story. She does a great job of balance.
DeleteI really need to read a Christie mystery....
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
Her short stories are a great place to start. This is a great collection!
DeleteIn 100 years.. that's a good one. We'll probably have some kind of implants or something where you can download a book right into your brain- although I hope we're still reading books, physical ones as well as ebooks or whatever.
ReplyDeleteI like the cover of that Christie book- very vintage travel poster- ish, and the idea of a short story collection is interesting. I actually didn't know Christie wrote short stories, that would seem like a good way to sample her stuff a bit.
Her short stories are really good. She gives just enough character development and plot so you feel like you have a full story but not so much that it seems crammed.
DeleteThe downloading books into my brain idea sounds kind of scary! Though I agree as long we're reading that's enough.