Has Kindle Killed the Book Cover? – Betsy Morais – Entertainment – The Atlantic.

E-readers have forced a lot of uncomfortable change on the publishing industry. I remember when the concept was first announced, I declared that those things would never be allowed in my house. Until there was one in my house and it gave me the opportunity to read anywhere and everywhere. And I was reading more because I could buy a book anytime. And that now everyone could read more. Holy shit, I thought, everyone should have one of these.

Watching the art form change is indeed somewhat painful, whether you’re referring to the writing or a book’s adornments. (For the record, I felt the same about album covers, but still enjoy them electronically). If I could skip ahead ten years to see what sort of fantastic device the e-reader will be, I bet I’d report back that the writing and the trimmings are and will ever remain art. The interviewees are correct — we’ll all wade into this experience together which is likely to make what comes out the other side a truly novel product. (groan)