Taking Your e-Reader Old School

Do you have an e-reader yet? A Kindle, Nook, or some other device that lets you read electronic books? I got a Nook Color several months ago, after much wringing of hands and swearing I would never, ever, ever give up my real, paper-and-ink books. And the truth is, I kind of love it. I stick it in my purse and have a variety of reading material available anywhere I go. But I still love my bookshelves filled with my longtime friends, their bindings and cover art and typesetting all part of the reading experience. The Nook can’t replace that, any more than it can replace the new book smell.

I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive. I believe — in fact, I know — that traditional books and e-readers can coexist in perfect harmony. They do in my house. I reread my old books, and sometimes buy new ones, just as I did before. What I find I’m using my e-reader for is when I want something a)cheap, b)fast or c)extremely portable. I find indy authors or sales on Nook books that I ordinarily wouldn’t buy. I want to read something but don’t want to wait for the library hold list. I am going out of town and want to take a stack of books without actually physically taking a stack of books. I’m making peace with both worlds.

If you’re struggling with the whole idea of an e-reader, or you hate the sleek, techy look of them, or you want the experience of holding a book in your hands, or you want to maintain your literary cred, take a look at these out-of-print book covers for e-readers. They’re brilliant. They’re a perfect marriage of old and new. Vintage books covers for the book lovers among us who just can’t quite give up the traditional reading experience. The only downside? If you read on the subway every day, your fellow travelers might start wondering why you’re on month four of Catcher in the Rye.