By Jenny Bullough, Manager of Digital Content for Harlequin and Carina Press, and confirmed ebook addict
Have ebooks changed the way you read? I don’t just mean reading in print vs. reading in ebook. I suspect a lot of folks, like me, read more digitally than we ever thought we would 
I’ve spent most of my adult life reading only in print; and even after I got my first eReader I read a mix of formats, sometimes print, sometimes ebooks, depending on where and how I bought or obtained the book. (Oddly, if I started a connected series in print, I felt compelled to finish it in print — still do, in fact.)
But now, after 3 years, I read almost exclusively digitally, and the mix is between my eReader and the apps on my tablet. And I think that shift has changed the way I read books.
Print reading is immersive. Aside from outside distractions, once I picked up that book, typically I read all the way through in; I didn’t leave that world created by the author until I put the book down and picked up another – usually because I finished it (or rarely, DNF or Did Not Finish).
But with my eReader, reading is no longer a singular activity. It’s like being presented with a menu and I get to decide each time I pick it up: What am I in the mood for right now? Do I want something thought-provoking? Something dramatic and thrilling? Something emotional? Or something familiar and relaxing that won’t demand too much of me intellectually? (Incidentally, I love this post on NPR’s blog about the different ways of reading and how there is room for both brainy texts and sappy stories.)
And as for my tablet – to be honest, I sometimes forget that I can read on it beyond blogs and twitter When I do remember (oh yeah, I can access my ereader on here through the app!) then I’m immersed again until I put it down or turn it off. But when I pick it up again, I feel compelled to check my tweetstream and facebook before I open my ebook. To stay with the menu analogy, it’s like I have to eat the bread before I even look at menu
I love what ebooks have brought to my reading – convenience and the ability to read whatever I’m in the mood for — but sometimes I do miss that feeling of developing a monogamous relationship with one book at a time, becoming totally immersed in the writing until it’s finished.
If you read ebooks, has it changed the way you read? Do you pick and choose like a menu? Or do you still see one book through from start to finish before starting another?
I don’t peek ahead! Yup, I am a peek-aheader. If I’m reading a mystery, I peek to see if I’ve figured it out (which is great when I’m right! not so much when I’m not). If a book isn’t working for me, I peek ahead to see if the ending is going to be satisfying and maybe worth sticking it out.
With ebooks and audiobooks, although I COULD skip ahead, I just don’t. It’s not nearly as easy to do in those formats, so I have to let the author reveal the mystery in the way he or she intended. And if a book isn’t working for me, then I skip ahead to the end to see what happened and then I go on to the next book . . .
And yes, I read more just standing around waiting for people than I ever did when my only choice was print.
Penn
I’ve always had 1-3 books on the go; my ereader hasn’t really changed that.
What I love about ebooks is the convenience and cheapness. Every Saturday, my family visits the library and bookstore. Some weeks this gives me plenty to read, some weeks I come up empty. Before if I ran out of new books, I would usually reread an old favourite. Now I will usually buy an ebook.
Because of the cheapness I am a lot more willing to try new authors–and have added quite a few to my Buy list. I also seem to be reading more novellas.
I love, love that with an e-reader you have so much choice available. At any 1 time I can have multiple books going on different devices. Tried and true old friends for those comfort reads, or new and exciting releases, as well as new to me authors.
Having a limitless supply of books keeps my inner reading best satisfied (most of the time). I love having the variety to choose from, although sometimes with so many the choice gets harder.
I read more new authors than I ever did before. It’s just so darn easy to hit the buy button and download while sitting in my livingroom at home.
If I read an interesting tag line or cover copy I’m likely to buy the book. Of course I tell my husband that it’s all for research…
I also prefer to keep a series all in one format. And I still prefer my paper books to the ereader, but I do like portability and small size–I read so fast that not having to haul 6 or 7 books on a 2 week vacation is really nice.
I don’t skip ahead on the Kindle either–too much of a pain if the ebook wasn’t formatted with a table of contents or it doesn’t recognize the swipe to move to the next chapter (Kindle Touch).
I do love having a Kindle – enough so that we’re going to a get second one so I have one of my own instead of just stealing my husband’s all the time – but I think I will always prefer the physicality and immersive properties of paper, frequent travels and ease of reading in bed notwithstanding. The other reason – at least for the moment – is that a lot of what I read isn’t any cheaper as a digital pub. Some things are, but some are the same or even more expensive, and the cost of converting (for example) my Elizabeth Peters (complete library) would be shockingly prohibitive. I understand why digital pubs aren’t as cheap as you might expect off the bat, but I still wince when Amazon is asking the same price (or occasionally more) for a digital copy as opposed to a physical book.
Seconding Julie – I’ve discovered dozens of new authors because of my e-reader. Plus I have access to stories that might not be readily available in print, either older short stories, non-anthology novellas, and some epub-only authors.
I will admit that I cannot read some stories on the e-reader, especially ones where the story is so complicated or twisty that I find myself flipping around a lot. And I will, even if I started reading on an ereader, purchase paper copies of books that I find beautifully lyrical. I tend to skim more on an ereader than paper, and with a few authors, I don’t want to miss a single word.
I haven’t changed my reading style. One book, start to finish. Usually in long blocks at a time, but sometimes short ones (like while waiting for the bus!)
I’m like Emma. One book, start to finish. Doesn’t matter if it’s paper or eBook.