2013 the year of the tablet
SUMMER is almost over which means the leaves will start turning brown and it's almost time to snuggle up next to the fire with a good read.
The question remains though, will the region's bookworms reach for the much-loved, dust-covered tomes or will they download the latest episode of 50 Shades of Grey to their e-Book reader?
Meandering though the Warwick library, Belgian-born Felicitas Bergman said while she flirted with the idea of buying a Kindle she could never give up her books.
"I rather like having a book in front of me. I love the way they smell, the look and feel of the paper and it's quite exciting to turn the pages and see what happens next," Ms Bergman said.
As an avid fan of crime stories, she said a book needed to be witty with good language to hold her attention.
"I mostly go to the library to read books for entertainment, but if I find a really good one I'll buy it," she said.
"We have to give a little money back to the authors and help out the book shops as well."
Despite the nostalgia inspired by old-fashioned books the march of the tablet continues unabated with about 3 million devices sold last year. Warwick Harvey Norman franchisee Bec Swindell says this year will be the year of the tablet.
"We're seeing more and more people buying them, including middle-aged and elderly people," she said.
Mrs Swindell said the convenience and cost made the tablet appealing.
"For people who travel around it's easier for them to use an e-Book reader. It's more economical than carrying around a lot of books," she said.
"They used to be used just to access the internet but now they can be used as a GPS, an e-Book and to take photos."
