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Tell us your thoughts on e-reading and win a Kobo Arc tablet, plus a signed copy of award-winning author Margaret Drabble's latest novel The Pure Gold Baby

(455 Posts)
KatGransnet (GNHQ) Wed 21-May-14 14:15:55

We've teamed up with Canongate and Kobo to offer three lucky gransnetters a Kobo Arc tablet, plus a signed copy of award-winning author Margaret Drabble's latest novel The Pure Gold Baby.

Both personal and political, The Pure Gold Baby is a remarkable portrait of a family, a friendship, and a neighbourhood. A novel of great beauty, wisdom and stealthy power by one of our country's foremost and acclaimed writers, it is published in paperback on 19 June.

The Kobo Arc offers the ultimate reading experience on a cutting-edge 7" HD touchscreen. Kobo's exclusive interface learns what you like, and effortlessly delivers more books, music, movies and web articles that you'll love. With the Kobo Arc, you can also download apps, enjoy 10 hours of battery life on a single charge and keep up with friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and Skype. To find out more about, click here.

How to enter

To get your hands on this incredible prize, simply post your thoughts on e-reading and/or ask Margaret Drabble a question on the thread below. Three winners will be picked at random to win. This competition closes on 20 June.

Free e-books for everyone...

For the duration of this competition, Canongate are also offering several of Margaret Drabble's classic titles - The Millstone, The Peppered Moth, The Radiant Way, A Natural Curiosity and The Gates of Ivory - as free e-books for Gransnet members.

To take advantage of this offer, e-mail [email protected] with the title of your preferred book to receive a free download code. You'll need to register with Kobo and enter your payment details before entering the code (you will have 100% off the purchase so no charge will be made on completion). Code works for all devices, but unfortunately they won't work on Kindles.

Find out more about Margaret Drabble and her books on the Canongate website.

Read the Gransnet terms and conditions for competitions.

Brendawymms Thu 22-May-14 08:37:18

I have had e readers for years starting with a Sony reader, followed by another, one of the first touch screen ones. Next there have been three Kindles as they improved now I am on my second IPAD mini. This gives me access to all the reading platforms in one place. The Sony Reader store is shutting, by the way, and all their books transferring to Kobo.
The one advantage to the dedicated readers are their paper lite screens which work in bright sun that the IPad mini doesn't.
As readers have improved so has their storage capacity so I now carry thousands of books around with me in one small tablet. Bliss.

sherish Thu 22-May-14 07:57:31

I have a Nook e-reader which I like. However, I do also love the smell and the feel of a new book. This must stem from childhood when I would get an Enid Blyton Famous Five book as a reward or at Christmas. I also loved A Christmas Carol which I got for a prize at school. It started an interest in Charles Dickens works. E-readers are good for travelling though, very portable.

tabbaz Thu 22-May-14 07:34:56

OH I have such mixed feelings on this. I find myself reluctantly agreeing to all the positive aspects. However, I was brought up to have a great deal of respect for books and I love the feel and smell of a book. Hopefully there will remain a healthy balance for all to enjoy as I would actually love to try a e-reader, which would be perfect for my travels.

gillybob Thu 22-May-14 06:54:18

I love my e-reader. I love the fact that I can take a virtual library away with me for the weekend and decide what I would like to read depending on my mood. I love the fact that going on holiday means I can pack a hundred virtual books into my suitcase and not be a single pound overweight at check in. I love the fact that I can hold it with one hand and flip the page with my thumb. I love the fact that I can make the printing as small or as large as I like depending on whether I am wearing my glasses or not.

BUT having said all that why is it that I have a study full of books? Real books? There is nothing like the thrill of a new hardback (or paperback) book. The beautiful cover that draws you to want to know more. The thrill of spotting the name of you favourite author, The feel of the smooth pages,the smell of the paper.

I love my e reader and I love real books too and I wouldn't be without either of them . smile

DebnCreme Thu 22-May-14 01:02:00

Love IT so started with a Sony then graduated to a Kindle; such bliss, the improved method of downloading. E-readers are excellent for travelling, saving space in the cases. Any guilt I may have felt towards the printing companies is soon assuaged when rhe print size is adjusted to suit my vision and my painful hands no longer need to turn pages.

chrisfh Thu 22-May-14 00:04:11

I would love a kobo e-reader as I travel frequently for work and it would enable me to take lots of different books with me, to suit all my moods, in a small space. I also love the fact that even when travelling at night, I can still read and that if I want to read in bed I can do so without keeping my husband awake.

Funkyferret Wed 21-May-14 22:14:22

I find that at home I prefer to read traditional books but like an EReader when travelling.

I'd love to know whether Margaret Drabble thinks that E-Books have changed the publishing landscape.

happysouls Wed 21-May-14 22:13:00

I'd really like to try ebooks but unless I win a Kobo or Kindle I will have to wait as its not in the budget! I don't think I'd ever give up actual books as I love them but I can see there would be times where a Kobo/Kindle would be great!

nessa38ish Wed 21-May-14 21:54:06

I have always wanted to try an e reader,as an avid book reader,I read everyday.they seem easier to handle,as some hardbacks are really heavy.
also to take on holiday it would be handy.I would still read a book though,I dont think you can replace actually turning a page.

pennwood Wed 21-May-14 21:47:34

I borrow my daughter's ereader sometimes & find it very useful for holiday reading so hopefully I will get one eventually.

peterhall Wed 21-May-14 21:19:31

I'm another one who hasn't tried an E-Reader yet but who would like to give it a try. Having said that, I have to say I absolutely love browsing in bookshops...........and I do wonder if there will be such things as bookshops when my grandchildren get to my age.

Elleceebee Wed 21-May-14 20:38:57

I love being able to pick new library books without having to leave the house! This really is a bonus when the weather or health makes it difficult to get out. I also like the fact that the e-reader keeps all the 'books' tidy and there is no need to worry about them getting lost, damaged or making the place look untidy.

Grandmanorm Wed 21-May-14 20:35:26

I have always argued against them for myself, however arthritic hands are making an e-reader more appealing as I do love reading.

Annie29 Wed 21-May-14 20:26:33

I have recently started reading e books the only thing I don't like is not being able to see easily how many pages left until the end of a chapter.
Advantages are being able to take several books on holiday and not use up a lot of your luggagd allowance

prwilson Wed 21-May-14 20:20:45

I think on the whole ereaders are a good thing. Less paper, less trees cut down. Not need to take a stack of books on holiday. Easy to buy new books.
Hopefully cheaper new books. I don't think they've developed to the point where the experience is as nice as real books yet though.

Marmight Wed 21-May-14 20:20:20

I read a lot on Kindle. However I find it too, too easy to download stuff from Amazon. One touch and - boom there it is - money in the bank and book on the Kindle. It's great to take on my long travels, especially to Australia where books are so expensive and where I tend to read a lot. I have just read 5 books when away in France but I probably won't touch it until I am again on my travels. Nothing beats holding a proper book in your hands and feeling the texture of the paper and the smell - oooh yummy - it also helps to be able to flit back and forth to catch up or re-read which is not so easy on an e book.

mo3733 Wed 21-May-14 20:06:28

i love e reading because you can carry lots of books on holiday in one tiny tablet

durhamjen Wed 21-May-14 19:59:38

Ebook readers chained to the shelves, nutunit?
I had a Kindle, but my grandson has it now. Not because I did not want it, but he does not like reading books. However, he reads the Kindle and does not realise he is reading a book. Watership Down at the moment.

cistolic Wed 21-May-14 19:56:44

E readers are fab for travelling light and reading but it can never replace the feel of turning the pages and reading a book from cover to cover. I much prefer a real book in my hand or by the side of my bed.

Ikea1234 Wed 21-May-14 19:50:15

E reading is great for travel - 1000's of books at your fingertips and at no luggage allowance!

annodomini Wed 21-May-14 19:44:37

I wonder which of your books is your own favourite? I have a soft spot for the Millstone, partly because of my experience of having had a child in hospital for a lengthy period.

merlotgran Wed 21-May-14 19:41:02

I love my Kindle but my husband has discovered the joys of e-reading so I don't get much of a look in these days. His eyesight isn't brilliant following a stroke so he loves being able to alter the size of the font to suit.

So much better than lugging heavy large print books home from the library.

compy99 Wed 21-May-14 19:33:16

I held off getting an e-reader for ages, I am the old-school of liking the actual feel of a book in my hands, I am also a great believer in a book looking immaculate unread after I have finished reading it. However, even a dinosaur like me was eventually won over by the e-reader. The immediate purchase and accessibility has a very big plus for me I do still buy physical books but get more and more in electronic format.

my question is do you foresee a time when the old-fashioned physical book disappears forever?

Mishap Wed 21-May-14 18:58:40

I have just downloaded The Thorn Birds and Gone with the Wind to take on holiday. They were free. I will devour them all day in the sun (we hope!) and go to concerts in the S Davids Festival every night and life will be bliss!

annodomini Wed 21-May-14 18:47:03

Three years ago, I bought a Kindle and took a dozen books on holiday - in my handbag. What a boon that was! Another great advantage is being able to change the size of the font - some paperbacks are a real strain on my ageing eyes. And I haven't had to buy another bookcase to house the hundreds of books I've bought in those three years! Disadvantage - I can't give them away to charity shops or to my nearest and dearest.