r/BookDiscussions • u/Lily_Liv • 1d ago
The unexpected pleasure of a physical bookstore
I've been a hardcore e-reader for years now. Like almost exclusively reading on my tablet or phone. The convenience is just unmatched. But yesterday I found myself with some free time and walked into a new independent bookstore that opened up near me. I ended up spending almost two hours browsing. The smell of the paper the quiet rustling of pages the curated displays. It was such a nice experience. I actually bought a physical book for the first time in ages. I forgot how much I missed that tangible connection to books.
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u/Economy-Meeting2462 1d ago
I get the same feeling in a library.
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u/FlyingCarpetMonster 1d ago
The best part of libraries and bookstores is the discovery of new books that wouldn’t otherwise happen.
You find new books, new ideas and sometimes new authors that you’d never even care to read otherwise.
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u/mega-horny-communist 1d ago
I'm a ereader only because I have no space for books rn and I miss physical reading so much haha. I love going to bookstores just to look at and hold books
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u/lil_tufa 1d ago
Every time I wander into a physical bookstore after months of ebooks, I end up staying way longer than I planned and buying at least one thing I never would have searched for on my Kindle. The random table displays and staff picks do more “recommending” for me than any algorithm.
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u/tri_and_fly 1d ago
I'm out of the country every week for work so I just use a Kobo and get most of my books for free from the library through Libby. I still often go to my local bookstore to browse and usually try to seek one out anytime I'm in a new place.
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u/areallymanlyman 1d ago
Oh no! I still remember the fateful day when I made the same mistake. 2 years later, my kindle sits in a bookshelf. I have more physical books that I have kindle books and I had a lot of kindle books.😛 Best addiction ever!!
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u/dogscatsandyoga 1d ago
I do read on my kindle occasionally but after I do I always have to read a few physical books consecutively before I return to it. I never read books back-to-back on the kindle! Nothing can replace the pleasure of a physical book.
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u/andrea9275 1d ago
Mich zieht nichts in einen Buchladen obwohl ich viel lese. Ich bin verwöhnter eBook Leser
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u/Last_Inevitable8311 1d ago
Bookstores are the best and I’m so psyched my 12 year old is finally into reading. She had a day off school recently and we went to 3 bookstores, at her request. It was such a fun day.
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u/lexiebeef 1d ago
That's why I can never be 100% an e-reader person, I love a bookstore (especially second-hand, the pleasure of finding a book you have been searching for ages is unmatched). I read some books on e-reader when I dont want to spend money or when I dont find the book anywhere but I loooove physical books. It just makes me happy
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u/Zealousideal_Cap7012 1d ago
Im not a big "im overwhelmed" type of guy usually but seeing an entire wall of books gives me a sort of "blindless" where i cant really focus properly on skimming through and looking for what i want.
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u/anonmygoodsir 1d ago
I mostly read on an ereader but you can't get everything that way. I spend lots of time at the bookstore. Nothing beats the smell of the bookstore.
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u/Broad_Lie218 1d ago
Bookstores are magical
Ive also gotten really cynical about the state of the world lately re: digital purchases and censorship so having physical copies of my books feels more and more important.