BristolUK

Every time there's a change or upgrade of a website or computer system people often don't like it. Some think those that don't like it are just afraid of change while those not liking it will argue that some functionality is missing, it's not user friendly, it's change for the sake of change etc. Some may like it because change is a good thing.

So how come we don't change books?

I mean, there are e-books but that's a different way to read, it's not changing the book or its appearance itself.

So how about a book upgrade. What should be done to "improve" books because change is good.

A cover that changes colour according to what day of the week it is? Something to highlight a dramatic or emotional passage...perhaps a mild electric shock or the page is impregnated with onion juice to bring a tear to your eye.

There must be a million things we could do to "improve" the experience of reading a book.

Oakvillian

That happened centuries ago, though. Books stopped being hand-copied on vellum, and were printed on paper and bound in leather. Then saddle-binding in cloth-covered boards became the "new" way to consume a book. In the 20th century paperbacks were the hot new thing, some of which (Gasp!) had colour illustrations on the cover. During the 40s and well into the 50s the margins shrank and the typesetting became more condensed in an effort to save paper. Around the same time perfect-bound technology allowed even cheaper production methods (although often to the detriment of the consumer if the glue wasn't deep enough in the spine and pages would fall out).

Book technology is still changing. Print-on-demand and self- (vanity-) publishing are now economically viable, as are inline colour illustrations in mass-market books. Perhaps you haven't noticed the changes as they tend to happen rather more slowly in the print world, but they definitely take place.

Teaandtoday5

BristolUK

Curse you for destroying my case.

But as you say, the changes are not that noticeable...not to mention not that recent. So changes are not keeping pace with all these marvellous upgrades elsewhere

Surely we can come up with something instead of sticking with the legacy paperback version.

3D? Star Wars type text going off in the distance? Pop-up...or has that one been done?

BristolUK

Advertising down the side and in between paragraphs?

Hawkmoon77

Ban Dan Brown from ever writing another novel? Would certainly save space in charity shop bookshelves....

scilly

I did the same back in the '90s, found the same as you ................ but then I discovered I needed cataract operations

I still find large print books more comfortable at times, although a large print hard back can be heavy to hold!