Has anyone noticed how it’s getting easier and easier to get a book on your phone? Or iPad or whatever you use? Has everyone forgotten about the good old fashioned paperback book?!

Being a huge literature fan and having my own mini library in my room, I like to say that I know quite a bit about book geeks. I mean, I kind of am one.That being said, I’ve always been a little bit weary of the growing interest in digital books. I think a lot of book fans will agree that there is a certain satisfaction you get when you walk into a bookstore and leave with new books (and sometimes a significantly lighter wallet). However, the question is, do you get the same satisfaction when all you have to do is click a button?

I recently decided to test this theory by buying a Barnes & Noble Nook. Even with the simplest, cheapest edition out there, I can see why they are so appealing! They are extremely easy to hold, especially because they are generally lighter than a normal sized paperback. They also have the screens that look like real paper and you can adjust the print size to however large you want. There are several books you can get for great prices and there are many that you can get for free! If you’re not sure about whether or not you want to buy a specific book, you can download a sample of it to test it out for free as well! The coolest feature for someone on a smaller budget it the ability to “borrow” books from the library, and download them right on your Nook! Again, all at the touch of a button.

So are all of these features slowly shrinking the need for bookstores? I use to think so, but now not so much. Just because someone enjoys using their digital device to read, doesn’t mean that the paperback book is going out of style. There are always going to be books that people will want to have sitting on their shelves. The ones that are just too good to go searching for on your Nook. There will always be people who prefer to walk into an actual bookstore and browse for anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours! It’s definitely a perk to not have to leave your house (or even your couch!), but it’s also great to know that you have options.

Which do you prefer?