Hi Everyone!
I am running late today, not aided by the fact that neither Kayla nor the dogs have come up with anything interesting to talk about the last couple of days (besides Darwin losing his collar outside, we don’t know how, but we did find it again!) So, the time has come to talk about my Kindle.
First of all, I love books! I have shelves and shelves of books at the house, and a few of my office shelves devoted to some personal books also. I had loaded books onto my phone before, but never did enjoy reading them that way.
I got my first Kindle two Christmases ago. I think Mark decided that I was incapable of not purchasing books (and that’s true – I still can’t go into a book store without buying something!) and was looking for a space-saving option. Of course, it didn’t hurt that I lobbied for it for months, too.
The first one’s screen broke about four months ago, so I purchased my second Kindle then. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy the Kindle! The best things in my life are my husband and my child, the best gifts my husband ever gave me were the dogs, but the best non-living gift he ever gave me was my Kindle.
The Kindle is small enough to fit in my purse (granted, I like really, really large purses, because then it is harder for them to camouflage themselves when I lose them somewhere in the house), and the one I currently have is holding 112 books on the device, with 10 magazine issues. The books include books on science, children’s literature (for me, not for Kayla), science fiction, books on Christian living, history and computers. Because I like to read such a wide range of books (and I usually am reading 2 or 3 or 4 at a time, depending on my mood), the Kindle gives me a welcome anonymity, so that if I want to read a book on the Franco-Prussian war or re-read Little Women, I can do so unapologetically and without needing to explain. I used to feel a little self-conscious walking into a restaurant at lunch with some of the books I like to read, but now I don’t.
Oh, and I have another 61 items in the archives, which include both magazine issue and books I have read and removed from the device, but which I can re-load any time I want.
Reading my Kindle feels very much like reading a book; the type is made of ink that is electronically arranged, and for those of us whose eyesight is, shall we say, in a state of flux, the type can be re-sized up to a very large font, which is nice.
Book shopping on the Kindle is fun, too, because I can do it any time of day or night. There’s nothing like sitting in bed at 10:00 p.m. at night and book-shopping in the privacy of your own home! In fact, book-shopping is a little too easy; I have to work to restrain myself a little bit.
The Kindle will also let me connect to the internet, although navigating the internet on the Kindle is a little cumbersome, so I only use it as a last resort.
Because I purchased the cover that goes with the Kindle (and the cover for the new Kindle includes a built-in reading light that runs off the Kindle battery itself – way cool!), it feels very much like a book when I read it. There is a button you click to turn the page, which feels much more book-like than scrolling on a screen like you do on the computer.
Do any of you use a Kindle, or another type of e-reader? How do you like it? Do any of you have a version that has color? How does that impact your reading? What kind of back glare do you get with your reader? (My Kindle has virtually none, but then it is not color, either.) I would love to hear from all of you on this subject, because I am curious.
Well, that’s enough for today. Have a great weekend! I hope all of you get a chance to read something good!
Nancy
Tales from the Mom-Side 
I have enjoyed reading your blog and look forward to reading more in the future. It seems as if you have quite an adventurous life. : ) I too love reading but have not purchased a Kindle. The feel of a real book still has me hooked on turning the real page. : )
Thanks! I am glad you enjoyed it. I understand about the feel of a real book, but the Kindle is the closest electronic thing I have ever found to a real book. I am not “Kindle exclusive;” I still read real books too! Hope to hear more from you and I am looking forward to reading more from your blog.
I live in South Africa, and I have only heard of one person who has a Kindle. On one of Oprah’s show she had one and immediately wanted one for myself. I am a book lover myself, even though at times I find it very difficult to read for my own pleasure in-between assignments, family and social responsibilities. At present, I am doing my reading when I take the train to and from university.
I, like you, find it difficult to walk into a bookstore without purchasing something. My son was not even born and he had a bookshelf dedicated to things he might enjoy reading when old enough to read.
Electronics are so expensive in South Africa, if they are available here then I might only be able to afford it in 10 years time. I will have to stick to the paperbacks for now.
I admire you for finding any time read for pleasure with your schedule! Is you son old enough to read now? Kayla discovered the joy of reading this year and I am just thrilled about it! She is devouring books at a fantastic rate. Paperbacks are just fine, but I hope you get the chance to get a Kindle one day.
Thanks! I admire you too, you have time to post on your blog every day inbetween your hectic schedule. My son, Joshua, is 2 years-6 months old now. He does not quite read but he has a lot of those ‘my first word’ books which are great for teaching him new words and for learning what the animal, object, shape and colour is. I do hope it will carry on till a much later age, like with Kayla. I can remember having a love for books from a very young age.
I am sure you will be able to encourage Joshua in his love of reading! It is, second to a relationship with God, the most important thing you can encourage.
Nancy
I agree with you on that one 110%.
Have a wonderful day, Nancy!
Thank you!