Loving Books, or Loving Reading?

Ann Kirschner writes movingly on the experience of reading Dickens on four different platforms today. In her estimation, the paper-based book, audiobook, and iPhone electronic reader are all compelling platforms, with the Kindle a transitional also-ran.

When I am honest about my own reading habits, I would say that I am 75% laptop and 25% paper these days. All of the journalism and professional reading that I see comes to me through my laptop. I still love libraries, and the physical pleasure of paper books is an essential part of the reading experience for me. I haven't found the iPhone to be compelling for anything but emergency reading when I'm on the road and have nothing else to look at.