The debate rages on about which is best, eBooks or paperbacks. Which is dying out. Which is going to dominate the marketplace ultimately. Some say that tangible books offer better understanding while eBooks, with the countless distractions from the electronic devices they are found on, are too distracting to be productive. Do a Google search as I did, you'll find opinions after opinions. For and against.

I prefer eBooks. Gone are the days when I have to go to the bookstore to find that in their already limited selection on the shelves, there was nothing I wanted to miss a few meals to read. Gone are the days when I had to go on scavenger hunts from one bookstore or pharmacy to the next on a frantic search for a book. It cost me time, energy and money. Sweat and a few tears when I had already read book one and couldn't find book two anywhere.

This bias, I am not ashamed to say, will be reflected below.

In one corner, we have the original paperback

Pros

• There is no smell for some like that of a new book, no feel like the papers between your fingers.

Now I was never a big fan of having to turn pages, so this didn't speak to me on any level, and sniffing paper isn't a thing for me.

• Intimately rustic.

Sorry, still can't relate. The 'intimacy' for me comes from the content, not what the content is presented on.

•  Fewer distractions when reading so no incoming notifications from Facebook, Twitter, Emails.

Sure, it comes with less possible distractions but if you want to have your quiet time, all you have to do is shut your Wi-Fi off or your notifications. I do it all the time.

Cons

•  Lovers of eBooks (points to self) find them to be cumbersome and hard to carry around.

Yep and yep. Paperbacks do tend to take up more space than I have in my handbag.

In the other corner, we have the eBooks

•  Lovers of the paper call it 'cold.'

I get this. To get an eBook doesn't require human interaction. All you need is an internet connection and a credit card. Browse, buy, and never see another person. And? The money you spend on transportation can be used to buy more books. Think of it as economizing.

•  Need a new book? No need to get dressed.

Do I need to say more on this?

•  No need to hide and buy that book that may embarrass you.

One article mentioned Fifty Shades of Grey as an example along with any other 'trashy,' not so sophisticated pieces of guilty literary pleasures one may want to indulge in from time to time.

•  When you loan books you can't lose them.

I have lost many books to that friend who never remembers to return it (you know yourself). Added to their shoddy memory is my own, which means that book is lost forever since I can't remember who I loaned it to in the first place.

•  Not everyone appreciates the sanctity of hard copies.

How many times have you lent a book to someone and when they returned it, the book looked like a prisoner of war? Bookmarkers were made for a reason. The bending of page corners drives me crazy! With eBooks, these heathens have access to built-in bookmarks, and when you close your app and open it, it often opens where you left off.

•  Cheaper with more available features like cloud syncing.

Cheap? I'm there. Snazzy features, you got me there too. Why spend $12.99 on a paperback you can get for $4.99 as an e-copy? For a 'rustic' experience? Hard pass.

•  The size and weight make for easier transportation.

You can't take your bookshelf on vacation. And what if you're no longer in the mood to read the ONE you brought? *insert horror movie music theme here* I can't even expound any further, it's such a horrifying outcome to contemplate.

•  Clickable tables of content and bookmarkers anyone? Need to highlight? Make annotations?

More snazzy features that can make your life so much easier. No need for a separate notebook and no need for a highlighter.

•  Built-in dictionaries for looking up definitions in a jiffy.

Again, convenience, convenience, convenience. Wouldn't you prefer this to having to carry a pocket dictionary?

•  Fonts can be adjusted based on your visual needs.

Not only is it good for your pocket, but it's also good for you health wise.

•  Ever jumped from one book to the next then back again and you can't quite remember the main plot, characters or locations or maybe you want a refresher just to make sure you haven't forgotten anything?

Amazon provides the solution with X-Ray. It gives you a comprehensive list of all the major and minor characters, locations, etc. Try that with a paperback.

•  Most importantly – eBooks save trees.

Good for your pocket, your health, and the environment. A triple threat.

Bias aside, there are some cons:

•  Paperbacks don't need charging to read or the internet to buy them.

With all the excellent features and ease when it comes to purchasing eBooks if the battery is dead on your tablet or e-reader or the Wifi is out you're pretty much stranded on a deserted island.

Solution: Stock up. My Kindle is loaded. Invest in one of those portable chargers so you can easily recharge. If you're a book junkie, you'll find a way to minimize the risk of this con happening.

•  Less human interactions since everything is available at your fingertips at home.

While the convenience and hassle-free options of eBooks fit perfectly into our fast pace world and our growing need for instant gratification, we have to ensure that we don't become shut-ins *insert my guilt here*. Crack a window and peep out...after the next chapter.

•  More distractions from reading. 

Remember to set aside time to read and simply relax. Notifications can be shut off during this period to limit distractions as you simply absorb and allow yourself to be transported to another time and place.

We all need to escape reality once in awhile for the sake of our sanity. So which medium do you prefer to aid you? eBooks or Paperbacks? Why do you prefer one to the other? Leave your comments in the section below and let us know.

And remember:

The world needs stories to remind us all to dream.