Great classics on the 23rd April

This time they are my 1st and 2nd year ESO students the ones who write about those great English classics and stories everybody knows about: Romeo and Juliet, Oliver Twist, The Hobbit, Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, The Jungle Books...

Ebooks vs. Printed Books

Livraria Lello, a must-see in Porto, is considered one of the most beautiful bookshops of the world. There is no doubt everybody is impressed by its heavily decorated wooden walls and stained glass ceilings. Its beautiful spiral staircase is said to have been the inspiration for the Harry Potter moving staircases at Hogwarts School. In fact, J. K. Rowling probably visited this enchanting place quite often when living in the city. 

In today´s digital age, where e-books use is certainly on the rise, paper books are at risk of disappearing, and bookshops and libraries with them. Project Gutenberg started the first digital library in 1971, but it is nowadays when more and more readers opt for this medium. They claim plenty of advantages: when travelling the weight is lighter; if you own a lot of books, they take up much space; they are cheaper; your eyes are not so strained because you can change the size and darkness of the letters...

I think the point is not to give up reading, no matter if it is on an electronic screen or printed text. Personally, I still prefer having a small collection of my favourite books in paper neatly displayed on my bookshelf to having an entire library I will not have time to read in an electronic device. Besides, I will not get rid of my library cards yet. I strongly believe it is a wonderful experience when you browse through a bookstore in a quiet atmosphere, when you touch and hold a good book in your hands, get that comforting smell of paper and enjoy seeing a nice cover. I admit the convenience of ebooks, but I fear the sentimental value of reading may be lost.