Giving in for good reason

So I finally caved and decided to ask for a Nook Color for Christmas.

My indecision came from the fact that, like website's effects on newspapers, I feared e-readers would kill books. And a Nook also won't do anything to help build the physical library I want in my future home.

But then I thought about it, and realized that e-readers won't kill books and most likely will help foster a stronger love of reading in the new generations that are so enamored with technology. I love reading because it allows for such imagination, freedom interpretation and strengthens writing skills and vocabulary. The e-reader won't kill any of these aspects of reading in my opinion.

And getting one also won't end my dreams of a den with shelves and shelves of books. I'll just be more selective about which ones I actually buy a physical copy of -- so instead of the shelves being full of books that will just sit there and collect dust, the shelves will hold classics and favorites that I will want to visit again and again.

This will also save me room if I ever move to a city and live in a smaller apartment. My parents will sell our house eventually and move to a smaller place where I won't have room to store even all the books I currently have. This way they'll be in one place and I can lose myself in them with just a few clicks of a button.

And who knows, maybe when I'm older the appeal of an e-reader will fade and I'll rely on my paperback friends once again.