I used to be one of those people who said that she would never ever buy a Kindle. I loved paper books. I liked the feel of them and I liked the fact that you could drop them in the bath and they would still be okay. I felt like the kindle was such a waste. And buying books on it was needlessly expensive when there was a perfectly good library.
Now, about two years later, if somebody tries to give me a paperback to read, I tell them that I only read things on my Kindle.
Why I love my Kindle:
1) I love gadgets
2) there are constantly book deals on the Kindle. I haven't paid full price for Kindle book more than one or two times ever. Plenty of books are free and there are many that are only a dollar, or at the most three dollars. If you buy a used paperback on Amazon, the minimum you pay is four dollars.
3) I can actually borrow books from the local library on my Kindle, which not only suggests things for me to read, but allows me to borrow books without having to worry about rushing back to the library to return it on time.
4) works in any room brightness setting.
5) you can change font size. this is actually a big deal for me, because very small print books give me a headache.
6) my bookcase is no longer collapsing from the weight of my many paperbacks.
7) makes me feel really green.
8) I can use the Kindle to read other things, like word documents people send me.
9) You can read books with embarrassing titles.
The biggest downside of the Kindle is the fact that I have to charge it. But not very often. Also, there's the fact that I have to be careful about losing it, whereas books felt pretty dispensable. Except for library books, of course, which I guarded with my life.
Yeah, so if you love to read, buy a Kindle.
This message is not paid for by the Kindle. I have no affiliation to the Kindle or anything related. I just really like it a lot.
Dedicated to Gizabeth, who needs to get a Kindle, like, yesterday.
The biggest drawbacks to owning a Kindle are that: a lot of the books I read for releaxation are not available in any electronic form; if you go camping or are in an area with little internet coverage, your device doesn't work; and the last thing, most important, is this: You are leasing the book, not owning a copy, but leasing it. The copy can be pulled at any time, for whatever reason. If the device vendor and you have a dispute, they can cancel your account and delete everything in your device. I have several thousand books, and could not imagine suddenly losing them because of a squabble over a few dollars.
ReplyDeleteHaving said this, I am a budding writer, and will make the books available on the devices once I finish, but I will push hard to get them published on paper(not a vanity press, mind you).
One last reason I prefer paper: I love the smell of used books in the morning, afternoon or evening. My starter wife of 35 + years and I love going around to used bookstores on the weekends, spending the day amidst the stacks of books on subjects we are interested in.
Not that I've tried this, but why wouldn't you be able to use your Kindle in an area where there isn't internet access? Granted you wouldn't be able to purchase new books, but you should be able to use the ones you already have. You can't buy a paperback in the woods either.
DeleteAlso, if you are a budding writer, it's very easy to get things published as a paperback in pay for print.
Deleteyou do NOT need internet access to read your books, only to download them initially (via wi-fi). Once its downloaded, its on there. (I often turn mine to airport mode so that my library books don't "delete" when they expire...shhhh)
DeleteI didn't mention it originally, but part of my work involves working in areas where no electronic devices are allowed, including cell phones, but I can bring in books or magazines. I should have been more clear. And none of my employers allow downloading of e-books or listening to music via the internet. Some, like my current one, allow the use of a CD-player on site, but not elsewhere.
DeleteI have an iPad which I use for school and hospital stuff, as well as for reading (including the Kindle app) and I enjoy it so much. I also never thought I could adapt to reading eBooks, but now I love it. Yay gadgets!
ReplyDeleteOk, Ok I hear you you convinced me like last month. Let me get my house sold and my kids in school and off this crazy call with late brain frozens every other night and I'll look into an ereader. I've been saying that for a while now. There's always an excuse for change:). It's tough. Maybe I'll get an ereader for travel and still bring my paperback camping and still enjoy perusing old book stores and smelling the ancient paper with my ereader in my purse. There's room for everything here I think. Thanks for reminding me Fizzy - I did do some preliminary shopping a couple of weeks back I promise.
ReplyDeleteI used to wax poetic too about the smell of used books. Of course, now that's just strikes me as weird. I wouldn't like the smell of used clothing or used furniture or used cars. That smell is just… Dirt and dust.
DeleteI agree but nostalgic! The liver smells damp and musty but I still love the smell. I can't help being weird.
DeleteThe smell of used books make me sneeze. Too much dust!
DeleteRight there with you. I was so sure I would always prefer paper books, now I can't stand them. The only small gripe I have is that if I left my book somewhere, oh well, easily replaced. Not so with an electronic device. Still, I love my kindle and almost never read without it. Oh and the kindle app keeps my place if I want to read while eating lunch or whatever. Honestly can't say enough about it. People of the future will not understand how we ever lived without it.
ReplyDeleteIf you lose a book, it's gone until you buy a replacement. If you lose an e reader, if you buy a new one all of the books you had on your old one can be re uploaded courtesy of the cloud.
DeleteIt is also so much easier to read my kindle while I'm on the treadmill or nursing my baby. I don't have to hold it open, and there are no pages to turn.
ReplyDeleteI still read plenty of paper books too. Having a kindle doesn't exclude me from purchasing cookbooks or textbooks or other books that I prefer to be able to write in and flip back and forth easily.
Oh, and plus one on the embarrassing titles.
DeleteI want a blog about embarrassing titles.
ReplyDeleteI've got dozens of books on my shelves and dozens in my kindle (including The Devil Wears Scrubs and Suicide Med). The Kindle takes up much less room. I am also curious about the embarrassing titles.
ReplyDeleteI did buy the paperback version of Suicide Med (yet to read but high in queue) and it is so freaking big I could use it as a weapon or to build up my biceps but I might have to pay extra if I tried to pack it in my suitcase for a plane trip. Might be the perfect reason to get an ereader.
ReplyDeleteOn a side topic, I just finished reading Suicide Med… so who is Julio? Is there going to be a Suicide Med II: The Wrath of Mason that will explain the ending of this book?:)
ReplyDelete