I have a bundle of letters, tied in a pale pink satin ribbon, that my mother saved nearly 70 years ago. The letters were sent to her from, or about, my father when he was in the U.S. Army; when he was in training, in combat, missing in action, discharged, always longing to come home to his wife and young son (I was not born yet). I’ve read and re-read these letters, many written in my father’s hand. I treasure this remnant of the life he lead and the love he had for his family, to know what he (a quiet, reserved man) thought and felt during those important years in his life. Had eMail or Skype technology been available to my father during World War II, I would have no record today of the person he was at that time or what he experienced. As wonderful as the ease, speed and reach of using eMails is today, think of how much is lost in the infinite universe of the internet when we forego the archaic use of paper, pen and the postal service.

I mention this because of the explosive growth of eReaders and eBooks. Kindle. Nook. Kobo. Cute, simple names for the handy eReaders that have revolutionized everything about reading in the modern world. Friendly, cozy, endearing names for technical wonders that put a veritable world of literature and useful information at our fingertips. EBooks cost less than their printed and bound counterparts. They may contain immediate links to additional information or insights, which are not accessible from traditional books. EReaders can be tucked into a pocket or purse. They instantly make a virtual library available wherever you are. So many reasons to welcome modern technology into our reading lives. Yet the awareness of specific literature is more likely to evaporate into the “cloud” universe of e-technology once it has been viewed and returned to the world of bits and bytes storage. Literature that is solely in eBook format is more likely to be lost to future generations. E-literature is less likely to be serendipitously discovered while browsing titles on spines of book, standing like sentries in rows upon rows of bookshelves.

Call me an old-fashioned gal; I’m usually late to the high-tech dance. Although I recognize the many advantages of getting my lit fix via an eReader, I love the look, feel and smell of traditional books. I like the artistry that goes into the production of a hardcover book or a quality trade paperback: the choice of typeface, the grade of paper, the choice of cover graphics. I like a book that has a history when it comes to me, or begins a history after I’ve purchased and read it. I like my favorite books to remain as companions on my bookshelves, reminding me of the intimate journeys we shared.

An eReader is certainly going to be in my future. For Book●ed to cover the wide spectrum of what is being published and read, it is necessary for me to familiarize myself with all aspects, including eBooks, one of the fastest growing segments of the publishing industry. I will appreciate the ease of accessing a world of literature with the touch of a button. But traditional books, real books, will always be my first love.