The E-Book is dead, long live the E-Book – thanks to bookshelves
Back in the late noughties, e-books and Amazon’s Kindle were hoping to revolutionise reading. Pretty much in the same way the internet changed the way we shop. It was anticipated that bookshelves would be obsolete, and that households would get their literary fix from devices like the Kindle, or an iPad.
In 2017, we were proved wrong. Readers preferred their dead tree tomes to chip-based manuscripts. Books, for a start, didn’t need charging. A splash of coffee only makes the pages soggy (on a digital device… time for a new one, at worst). Books can be replaced at little expense too – ironically from online purveyors of literature – in book form as well as binary. Last year, more books than ever were published.
Instead of Kobos and Kindles, bookshelves are the new rock ‘n’ roll. Whether your collection covers Thomas Paine (The Rights of Man) or Tom Tyrrell (the late great legendary Today FM and Piccadilly Radio commentator), they have become part of our personality. What is driving this craze? The Shelfie.
Shelfies are… selfies of bookshelves. A celebration of our intellectual prowess as well as the literary company we keep. On social media sites – particularly Instagram and Pinterest – selfies of our bookcases attract a number of followers. Whether highbrow or unusual, they have become more than inspiration for interior design tips.
According to Minitel, sales of literary works of a dead tree nature are forecast to rise by 6% in the UK. As for e-books, a 1% drop in market share. With a digital device, you don’t get the same sense of ownership as you do with a hardback book.
If you’re an ardent bibliophile, bookshelves of any description can be made by Steven Cleary Carpentry. Whether you yearn for traditional or futuristic styles, we shall accommodate your needs accordingly. Why not call us on 046 9028374 (landline) or 086 2448792 (mobile)? We’ll be delighted to help you.
Steven Cleary Carpentry, 31 August 2017.
