Because of the subject I am majoring in in grad school, my textbooks are massive tomes. For a lot of them, I have to order direct from overseas. That's why most of my friends have purchased e-books for their studies.
But despite all the advantages of e-books, I still tend to buy good old-fashioned paper books to study. I can't seem to focus with an e-book. The biggest reason is that they tire out my eyes. My friends poke fun at me, saying I am from the analogue generation. But studying with e-books is hard to get used to, and I don't really plan to do so.
I tried using e-books once, to get with the times. But it didn't work out. I understand the need, since a lot of tests these days are taken in real time on a computer screen, but I still can't bring myself to use them.
tome - a large, heavy book
to get with the time - to understand and change to fit what is now happening and accepted in the culture
not bring yourself to do sth - to not be able to force yourself to do something that you think is unpleasant
get the hang of sth - to learn how to do something, esp.when it is not simple or obvious
- Reading in the dark can tire out your eyes. / Starting at a monitor for too long tires out my eyes.
- You shouldn't poke fun at your friends like that. / My wife pokes fun at me because I still enjoy video games. (make fun of)
- This new software is hard to get used to. / The food was hard to get used to when I first moved.
1: Do you make use of e-books a lot?
2: No, They're not for me.
1: Oh, really? They really are convenient.
2: I just can't get the hang of them.
1: I suppose you could feel that way.
2: I guess I'm behind the times. I still prefer good old-fashioned paper book.