By now we are seeing the advent of the e-book phenomena, which is sweeping our reading culture by storm. Hopefully, this will not be the death knell of the new or used bookstore, although there are signs that big changes may dramatically affect my way-of-living.

We recognize the value of the e-book convenience, and would never wish to halt the progress of modern technology, but there is an upside to reading a real-life tangible book, with its true feel and texture that an e-book can't replace. And you can bring it to the beach or cottage, and not worry about it getting damaged.

It also doesn't cost you $699 entry fee (like an IPad) to start reading them. There's no greater joy than browsing in a real new or used bookshop to find surprising gems, treasured antiques and unexpected pleasures that await you in our hallowed halls.

You can't yet lend an e-book to a friend.

You can't re-sell an e-book (unfortunately for us) to bookshops. (and if you know how, let us know! We'd like to try to find a niche for that! LOL)

You can easily read a real book on a bright day in the summer.

Real books have rare copies that make good investments for collecting.

You can't look pretentiously sophisticated to your friends and company by displaying a collection of e-books on your Ikea-built particle-board laminate-covered bookshelf.

So don't go to the dark side! Come down to Casablanca Bookshop and smell the fine aroma of aged pulp and wooden shelves, amid the dusty, slightly mildewy ancient tomes of delapitated leatherbound collectables. You can't possibly duplicate that with a metallic, plastic-like, humming Ipad.

© 2000 Casablanca Books