When Oprah did a show back in the fall of 2008 featuring the Kindle, an electronic reading device, I was curious enough to go on-line and check the price. Now, I’m here to tell you that I do not do everything that Oprah Winfrey tells me to do. In fact, I try to resist following the crowd. Not being a sheep seemed easy when I saw the price for one of those darned things. Have you priced one? A Kindle is not inexpensive! And, Oprah gave one away to every stinkin’ audience member!
I was skeptical that it would be enjoyable to read a book on the Kindle. I had tried reading a book on my computer once, and didn’t like the experience at all. Reading at a computer makes me have to sit straight up to read … and that will never do! I like to curl up on the sofa or the bed to read. I love to read so much that when I was a kid my parents would find me after bedtime under the “tent” I had made of my covers. I had a flashlight so I could try to devour another few pages before sleep claimed my senses (or what little bit of sense I had).
Over the next year, I thought of every single reason why I did not want a Kindle. After all, I am a purist … I am a bibliophile … for me, nothing can match the visceral thrill of holding a book in my hand and turning pages. I wouldn’t be able to read that electronic print, anyway. It would be hard on my eyes! Probably, it was difficult to figure out how to work a Kindle, and I’d rather spend my time reading. And, I collect books, for Heaven’s sake! I decorate my house with them (which means a lot of dusting, but they are beautiful to see). I couldn’t do that with one itty bitty little Kindle. Nahhhhh … you were never going to see me falling for that expensive, new-fangled, electronic stuff. I “pooh-poohed” the whole idea.
Then, I held one in my hot little hands. Did you hear me say, “Baaah?” I was ready to join the flock.
A librarian, who is at least five years older than I am, showed me hers. She was addicted to it, and had collected hundreds of books on it. My friend showed me that you could adjust the print size on the pages … and I could read it without my glasses! I could add notes and bookmarks electronically (without defacing the book). I could find the definition of words immediately, just by moving the cursor in front of a word! AND, I could switch over to Wikipedia if I wanted to look up something and find (mis)information about it.
Best of all, she told me that Amazon keeps my books on file. If I should lose my Kindle (Heaven forbid), or if some creep steals it from me (God help them), all of my books are retrievable. I could even share the books with another Kindle that is on my account or move the books to another device if the technology advances.
OK, my interest was sparked. All my objections flew out the window. I told myself, “If that little old lady can master a Kindle, then I surely can!” I reasoned that a Kindle would be perfect to carry when I travel. And, I wouldn’t have to keep my glasses superglued to my nose anymore! And, it would stop all those freeloaders who ask to borrow a book and never return it! I began an active campaign of lobbying for one as a Christmas gift.
My Sweet Spousal Unit gave me my Christmas gift early! He even bought a cute little cover for it! I tell you whut, I didn’t have that in my hands for five minutes before I had downloaded a book. After reading Jessica the Rock Chick’s review of The Lost Symbol (by Dan Brown), I needed to read it.
So, that’s where I have been the last few days: curled up on the couch lost in a book that is a real “page turner.” Only, you don’t “turn” pages, you “click” them … and I have to do that often. I have the print set at such a large size that there are only three words to the page (sorry, that was a blatant exaggeration).
Will the Kindle stop me from buying books? No, probably not. I still love the feel of a book in my hand. But, I am hooked on reading books on the Kindle. I’m “aflame.” I’m burning to buy more books! Why, I can collect hundreds of books and never have to dust them!
So give me some suggestions for books I can download, if you have some preferences. I’d love to hear your opinion before I buy.
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I doubt a Kindle lies in my future since I still refuse to own a cell phone or a laptop computer. I have, however, managed to adapt to indoor plumbing so I guess I should never say “never.”
Bwahaha! Indoor plumbing doesn’t count. You need to have something to read in the bathroom, anyway!
We have a few people in the lab with kindles, and if I wasn’t such a library hound, I would probably want one also. I did download the kindle for the iphone, but it’s not the same. So are you subscribing to magazines also?
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Nope, no magazines, though that might not be a bad idea. So far, I don’t see images on this thang! My one disappointment with it.
So excited to hear you love your Kindle! The things that have been holding me back (because I do do everything Oprah recommends
) are 1) the up-front cost and 2) the cost of buying books because I love my library (my sister, the RockChick, hates libraries because people like to leave boogers in books. It is hard to argue this point).
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I have only paid for two books. But, I’ve downloaded about 20 free ones! I’ll still go back to the library … and I know about Jessica and the booger bookmarks. I do like the Kindle, though.
I love this article! I have made almost every excuse you did for not buying one of these. But the time has come – the big selling point for me was the e-ink, paper like feel. It’s just too cool!
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Before you buy, check out what Jessica The Rock Chick says about her Sony Reader . It might be even better!
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