Only a bibliophile can understand what it feels like to hold a book in one’s hand, flipping pages — that comfort is like a sweet lullaby being sung to you. There is something about this feeling; a sentimental value, which could forsake the convenience offered by e-book devices.

When e-books started gaining popularity, there was much uncertainty about the future of printed books. Soon e-reading devices such as Kindle went out of fashion and were replaced by smartphones and tablets. But now there seems to be a noticeable down trend of e-books, indicating that printed books are here to stay.

Statistics reveal that some 12 million e-readers were sold last year, a steep drop from the nearly 20 million sold in 2011, according to Forrester Research (an American independent technology and market research company, that provides advice on existing and potential impact of technology). The number of people who read books primarily on e-readers fell to 32pc in the first quarter of 2015, from 50pc in 2012, a Nielsen survey showed.

Recent research and trends indicate e-books are decreasing in popularity — looks like print books are here to stay

“Books were always there,” stated Aysha Raja, the proprietor of the independent bookshop, The Last Word. “Older people who have grown up with books could never dwell in the fantasies of the digital revolution. Once addiction for books sets in, one can never give up on the habit.”

What is so amazing about books is that the joy of reading is not dependant on anything. While not immune to the developments initiated by digital technology, which have provoked extreme changes in the fields of music and film, reading a book does not need any device; just human eyes.

“It is sheer joy to have an ever present reminder that you own a book, not because it shows in your reading list, or thumbnails on the screen, but because it is very much lying on your shelf, and anyone can get excited by it,” Aysha said.

Working for almost nine years championing the habit of reading books, Aysha has recently shifted the shop’s premises to accommodate the increasing number of books, and to host literary discussions and events.

“Sales have risen over the time; it has more to do with the literary activities happening around — literary festivals, book launches and very much our own Pakistani writers, e.g. Mohammad Hanif and Mohsin Hamid, who have somewhat made reading sexier here,”  she said.

On the other hand, the convenience that these e-devices provide — of having a book or magazine delivered to you instantly, without going to a bookstore, is a definite saver of both time and money. So it is all about consumer preferences.

“The e-reader is easy to handle; there is less space required to carry the e-reader as compared to a book which varies in weight,” Amna Habib, a graphic designer shared. “After long hours of working on a computer in the office, my eyes used to get strained while reading on the screen. Reading a book is nothing short of an emotional experience for me.”

For Amna, there isn’t much difference in reading on paper or Kindle, which has a ‘soft’ white background. Other e-reading devices, however, have issues of screen brightness, and distractions that kill the pleasure of reading.

“On a tablet or smartphone there are constant temptations and distractions such as email notifications, messages, and status updates, that hinder me from losing myself in a book,” Sarah said. “It is pretty irritating when you are reading a book by one of your favourite authors, like Rachel Joyce and you want to relish each and every word, but it cannot happen because a notification disturbs you. You can skim through, but cannot indulge deep into it.”

Alina used to be an avid e-reader too. But as mother to a four-year-old son, now she feels the importance of books. Now she juggles between devices and paper: “I do not want to encourage him with an early exposure to the world of screens. Besides health issues, internet devices foster distraction; he is more interested in playing games, moving around the fun stuff, barely concentrating on reading.”

So it seems that while e-books are here to stay, print books aren’t going out of fashion anytime soon.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, April 17th, 2016