I have a preference to listen to the classics or genres I am unfamiliar with. I always listen to a sample of the recordings, as voice can make or break a reading. I once toyed with the idea of writing a sci fi, something I was very familiar with on screen but had never read. To this end, I listened to  Frank Herbert's Dune, which was well performed by a cast of readers, as well as a sci fi collection of H. G. Wells' work, which impressed me with the breadth of scientific knowledge available in the late 1880s that took decades to filter down to general knowledge. After reading and watching movies in the sci fi genre, I decided to shelve the idea of writing one, as at the time, it appeared that the pandemic was an unconscious precipitator of an upwelling of interest in this genre, when every other writer and their dog were either writing or expressing an interest in the genre. Since then, the world has moved on and latched on to romance and in particular, romantasy.

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On the classics end, as a fan of Alexander Dumas, I listened to The Three Musketeers and one of my all time favourites, The Count of Monte Christo, both well read. Dracula was actually the first Audible book I downloaded, also very well done. But my biggest surprise and delight was To Kill a Mocking Bird. No, I never read it at any time in my youth and am glad I didn't, as being made to read it as part of a school reading list might have detracted from what is arguably one of the best books I've ever read/listened to, in large part to the awesome job Sissy Spacek did of lending her voice which perfectly suited the character of Jean Louise Finch. Highly recommend. 

The dreaded eBook. I was surprised to learn that after a prediction that eBooks would revolutionize the publishing industry, eBook sales topped out around 15% in 2015 and went into decline shortly after to under 10%. While the pandemic has created a resurgence in the popularity of eBooks, most notably in Asian markets but less so in Europe and North America,  this form of print still has a long way to go to topple the aged old love affair that we have with holding a bound book in our hands. 

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As an avid traveller, I find eBooks a heck of a lot lighter and that they leave more real-estate in a suitcase for important things ... like shoes. I prefer to purchase my research material, including books on writing, as eBooks, as it cuts cost as well as frees up shelve space. I also tend to buy my non-fiction as eBooks. Advantages for me include being able to highlight sections and share with all and sundry, though not too sure if the recipient is as appreciative. I also like that you can look up a word with the click of a button. The big disadvantage for me? With an eBook, you have NO idea where you are in the book. I mean, they do provide the length of reading time left, but that is a cerebral marker as opposed to the visual marker from holding a real book in your hand. 

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All in all, I have a healthy appreciation of the digital format and expect that it will grow over time. We humans are creatures of habit and need a bomb to go off to make a shift. While the pandemic may have been one such bomb, I suspect it may not have been seismic enough.

Based on the above, I've found that while my digital and audio libraries have continued to grow, a recent move forced me to take a hard look at my collection of physical books and make some heartfelt decisions. I suspect my generation still carries the influence of the Victorian and post–World War II eras, when growing prosperity expanded the middle class and a well-stocked home library became a symbol of education, culture, and personal achievement.

 

Following the increasingly popular philosophy that less can be more, I parted with books that had made little lasting impression on me. What remained were the volumes I truly valued—classics and favourites I am proud to own, revisit, and lend. These include treasured collections by authors such as M. M. Kaye, Daphne du Maurier, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, along with more contemporary writers like Kate Morton and Carlos Ruiz Zafón.

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I still find myself returning to print copies of books that capture my imagination. For example, after reading digitally, I chose to purchase hard copies of Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens and Homo Deus, as well as Barack Obama’s Dreams from My Father—books to return to and share.