I Get the Hype

                  

                                                                                               

                                                                 September 10, 2010

            I figured I better put my money were my mouth is and actually see what the e-reader phenomenon is all about.  Yesterday I downloaded the ibooks app to my iphone.  Guess what book comes with the download?   Winnnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne!  So I began scrolling through the pages and to add to the wonder I discovered the book comes with full illustrations (or decorations as they are called in the book) by Ernest H. Shepard.   My iphone suddenly seemed less like a technological device and more like a magic carpet.  Every bit of the book was there in its original form.  Not that I suspected it would be different, but I thought the small screen would mess with the formatting, or the printing would be uniform, Times New Roman.  I had an idea what e-reading would be like, after all I’ve been writing on computers forever.  Yet, seeing an actual book reproduced so perfectly filled me with hope!

            I even liked the way the app opens up to a virtual bookshelf.  Such a simple idea, but one an avid book collector (or as avid as one can be in a small New York apartment) can feel comfortable browsing through, a home away from home like the stacks in the library.  Don’t get me wrong as cool as the app is it is not a tactile experience.  Hence, the virtual aspect of the e-book, it’s like fingering through a novel, but not quite. 

            It seems the designers have thought of everything.  They have ways to highlight passages, and even choose your own color…pink for me.  You can leave yourself notes on the text and bookmark your spot.  It’s very user friendly I must say, even me a low-tech girl was able to figure it all out.  However, I still see myself taking notes on a piece of paper and scribbling down page numbers of memorable paragraphs.  For me it would be faster to reference later.  Admittedly, I am a bit old fashion.  Perhaps, I’ll eventually, embrace the e-reader completely. 

            What is wonderful about this is that I’m one step closer to having my own book available.  I also realize that I have choices to make as far as font and book jacket design.  It’s rather fantastic.  The text, the story is important, but then so is the cover.  After all we all judge books by their covers.  And though we can’t see what people are reading on the subway when they use e-readers, (and secretly judge their book taste) it’s still important to welcome the reader into the book.  Urge them onward with a gentle title page.  Subtly express what the story is about with a poem or phrase.  Let them linger on the names of the dedication and wonder at who they are or once were.  All of this before the reader ever gets to the first chapter.  I’ve lots of decisions to make.

            I’m off to go font-shopping…opinions are welcome.