Anyone who argues that people who own a Kindle will stop buying paper books altogether has clearly never met me.

The ease and convenience of a Kindle is truly amazing. I love the fact that almost any book I can dream of is available to me within minutes, without having to trek out to a bookshop, or wait for it to be delivered. I wish I had one while I was studying English, as it would have saved the inevitable mad dash from the library to the campus bookshop searching for a set text 20 minutes before a seminar.

However, I won’t stop buying books. In fact I can’t stop buying books. I went to the post office this morning and accidentally went into two charity shops on my way back to the car and bought three books – and a video cassette, because I’m seriously old school. A few weeks ago I went to lunch with a friend and somehow bought two books.

The convenience of an e-book will never beat the experience of actual books, especially second-hand books. I like the way they look and the way they feel in my hands. I like when one page is particularly dog-eared, or when there are notes scrawled in margins. A Kindle can never replace a bookshelf. My dream house will always include a fully stocked library, complete with a sliding ladder so I can whizz round the room like Belle. (Of Beauty and the Beast fame, of course.)

So, books, I love you and I always will. But I’m cheating on you with my Kindle. I hope we can work this out as some kind of open relationship. If that’s cool.