The Digital Reader

The Age are reporting that this year’s panel of judges for the Man Booker literature award won’t have to cope with the vast stack of paper books as they did last year. The 2011 Prize will be the first where competitors are requested to submit a digital copy as well as the paper books.

Last year the judges received a copy of each of the 138 novels under consideration. I’m having trouble picturing 138 books, much less the packing material, shelf space they require, or the table that collapsed under their weight.

But this year the judges will be given Kindles. Now that’s a coup for Amazon, if true.

I find this deeply interesting, and I’m looking forward to reading what the judges say about the reading experience. Will the Kindle affect their opinion of a novel?

image via nofi