Phil Aud

4 Comments

1. Lynn Nowak says:

   September 13, 2012 at 2:35 pm

   Hi, Phil.
   I absolutely feel this tension. But what I have found is that for the books I really want to absorb and mark up (i.e. spiritual formation books) I prefer to have in paper format but the fiction type books that I read for pure pleasure (no growing necessary) I love reading on my Kindle. I’m not sure if that’s where your tension lies but that seems to be where I’m at.

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   • Phil Aud says:

     September 13, 2012 at 2:51 pm

     Hi Lynn!

     Yeah, I feel mostly the same way. I love idea of doing word searches on the Kindle and have often found it helpful. However, I think that you lose the visual memory on the Kindle. Have you ever noticed that if you return to a page it may not have the same layout as the first time you read it? For the most part, all fonts are the same as well. You’re losing something visually. They address some of that in the video (you should really watch it – it’s stunning). But, I do like having everything at my fingertips and find that the Kindle is great for novels. Reading one right on there and enjoying it. I think, as the video gets to near the end, that the two can exist side-by-side.

     The video may make you miss Toronto 🙂

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2. Lynn Nowak says:

   September 14, 2012 at 7:38 pm

   Did I ever tell you I used to work for Oxford University Press? We had a gentleman on staff who actually hand bound books for those retiring where people could write special messages. They were beautiful. And, sturdy!

   I’m afraid the book industry started changing way before eReaders came around. With the introduction of the big box store, I’m afraid many wonderful community bookstores closed because they could not compete with the pricing of Chapters/Indigo. And, many publishers suffered from having to give these big stores deep discounts and easy going returns policies. I found it interesting the booksellers who were featured in this film were not even in existence when I worked at OUP. I am happy and sad to see them – happy because there are still community bookstores out there and surviving but sad those booksellers who were staples in Toronto for years and year were not featured here only because they no longer exist.

   Which Kindle do you have? I have a fire and have not found the change in the text from one use from the next. However, there is indeed nothing like having a book in your hands… or for that matter, being surrounded by books… I actually also still like buying my CDs as I enjoy having them around… I love their covers… and the idea of opening a CD and putting it in my CD player… Much like a record. But, I am indeed old fashioned in so many ways…

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   • Phil Aud says:

     September 14, 2012 at 8:26 pm

     You used to work at OUP? I had no idea. Great insight regarding the big box store, especially as it relates to those stores that used to be downtown TO that aren’t around anymore. I really related with what they were saying about the loss of personal touch and recommendation with the big box and Amazon stores. My favourite bookstore is Ontario Christian Books in Streetsville. Lance would always recommend great books to me. Not only that, he would set up meetings for me with other customers who knowledgable on particular subjects. One time he had me meet with a guy named Victor Shepherd to help me prepare for a sermon. I told a few friends of mine and they were shocked that I was meeting with THEE Victor Shepherd. You don’t get that on Amazon.

     Regarding the text, it mainly happens when you go back and select a certain chapter. For example, if you are reading through Genesis it’s quite possible that chapter 22 will be midway through the page. But, if you go to your table of contents and select chapter 22 it will always be at the top. This obviously changes the layout of the page. I’ve heard a ton of people complain about it. I have the 2nd generation kindle and enjoy reading from it more than the kindle app on my iPad. But, there is nothing like a real book. I have given up buying CD’s I’m sad to say. That is a whole other topic.

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