I’ve been an avid reader since I was a kid, and there’s nothing like having a great book in your hands, turning each page to finish a story or narration. I remember fighting with my late mother several times when I was around 6 or 7 years old; I wanted to buy 4-5 books on a single trip to the bookstore, and she wanted me to pick out the one I like the most, and be satisfied with that choice. My school library card was well-worn, and I would marvel at various plots and characters’ interactions. I have had my fair share of teen novels, biographies, encyclopedias, history books, mysteries, thrillers, etc.; the only thing I’d swear off from were Danielle Steel novels (because that was my sister’s territory) and those cheesy Pinoy romance novels with the even cheesier caricatures posing as covers.

As a writer, I guess the habit comes naturally. And I don’t care if I get my books brand-spankin’ new or on the cheap; for me, there are some things that should be done old school.

While I’m stubbornly holding on to the traditional way of reading books, the world has adapted to the new-school way. E-book readers are now in vogue, and Amazon’s Kindle 2 has had a hand in it.

It does have its advantages over printed books in terms of space allowances and convenience, plus it’s friendlier on the environment as well, since it doesn’t use paper (I find the term “e-paper” funny, by the way). I don’t know if (using Philippine currency) the price of an e-book on a Kindle is higher or lower compared to the price of books in retail stores, and we’ll find out soon enough.

I’d definitely want to read consumer feedback on the new Kindle. Maybe I’ll let go of the old-school way eventually.