Not everybody is taken with the idea of digital readers. At first glance the concept seems to be the antithesis of what reading (particularly for pleasure) is all about.
The feeling of holding a weighty book in your hands, touching the paper and smelling that distinct booky smell are all part of the experience of reading. Those feelings and emotions have for me, been part of the reading experience of losing myself in a good book.
When I picture myself relaxing under a tree with a book in hand or laying on the beach reading the picture just didn't seem right holding an eBook reader somehow. So I confess I was one of those people who hoo ha'd the idea of digital readers. A book snob if you will. The idea of reading Pride and Prejudice on 6" computer screen didn't hold any appeal for me at all. Too Orwellian or something.
Having seen a Kindle in US earlier this year my ideas began to turn around a bit. Still a reading purist, I was impressed with the screen quality and how the small LCD somehow had managed to emulate the look of a book page. It was also much clearer than many book pages these days (or is my eyesight deteriorating with age?)
I decided digital readers were OK - for business, for newspapers and PDF's - that sort of thing. I was still not convinced that this was a desirable way to read a book. Until I decided to purchase one.
I purchased a Kindle as soon as they became available outside of the USA. My rationale was that if I downloaded newspapers and magazines that it would save a lot of clutter around the house. I find it very hard to throw away magazines, even if I haven't looked at them for ages. A habit which gets under my husband's skin.
So the Kindle 2 came into my life, as a convenience. Not as a substitute for laying in the sun or sitting by the fire engrossed in a wonderful book.
It didn't take long before I found myself preferring to read in the evenings using the Kindle. I then discovered myself packing it to take away to the country for a week's break, rather than taking paperbacks.Then, to my horror and others, taking it my monthly book club to refer to as I had read the month's book choice on my Kindle 2.
There are good reasons for all the above, which I'll now explain.
I wear reading glasses as I'm long sighted. I only need them in electric light but I don't like wearing them as they make my eyes lazy. I found the Kindle 2 variable text feature to be extremely useful when reading at night. I simply made the text a little bigger and bingo, no more glasses.
Text to Speech function. I continued listening to a book I was reading at times when I couldn't do so otherwise. When driving for instance or out gardening or sewing. Very handy.
My Kindle reader eBook device came with a couple of free eBooks and if it hadn't it may have taken me a lot longer to use it for general book reading. I gave it a little test out and liked it, but as I have a house full of bookshelves I vowed to purchase no eBooks.
I had a cold and was laid up in bed having failed to borrow or purchase the book of the month for my book club. I decided to download it instead (just this once). I found it far easier to read in bed with the Kindle as I placed it on the stand which is built into tmy Kindle cover and stood it on the bedside table. When my arm or neck got tired I picked it up. It was much more versatile than a paperback! The light that clips on meant I didn't need to stay near the bedside light while reading as well.
I was actually shocked when I realised how much I had come to enjoy using the reading device. It was not what I had anticipated or intended when I purchased it. At first my fellow book club members stirred me up for taking it to the book club meeting the first time - BUT - I was fully prepared with notes on my pages! Take that you ludites!
I've gone from being a neigh sayer to being a true believer. Of course I still pick up books as I have 100's or probably 1,000's of them and won't be changing that. Many of my books are attached to memories I will cherish forever. I can still remember, not only reading Lord of the Rings for the first time as a teenager, but the actual feelings I felt and how I would wait for my mum to go to bed and in the peace and quiet in her big armchair I'd be lost in the world of the Hobbits and Galdalf.
As much as I love my Kindle now, I doubt it will every fill me with fond memories the way picking up a copy of Lord of the Rings or Wind in the Willows or any other book I've read and loved in my life will always do. But life evolves and sometimes it's hard to resist the winds of change even if at first you try to avoid them. Human nature perhaps.
As a constant reader, my eBook downloading has now become a way of life. I decided downloading would save me from having to cull a few paperbacks now and again to make room on the shelves. I also just discovered that I can borrow eBooks from my local library!
Digital Book readers may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy reading and have a busy life, travel a lot or are short of space or downsizing, I can recommend you at least take a look at them before you make up your mind.
Kindle 2 Reader, eBook Reader is now available in the UK and Europe. Kindle 2 reader is a new improved version of the already excellent Kindle Reader, which is a dedicated wireless reading device
Irene Walters is a mother, runner, watch collector and passionate reader. Irene belongs to a local book club which meets each month to discuss a book chosen by a member.
Kindle 2 is now available wirelessly in most countries of the world. If you would like to know more about the amazing Kindle 2 Reader eBook device mentioned in this article please follow the link to read reviews and see a demonstration.
Kindle reader eBook [http://www.reader-ebook.co.uk]
Or visit Kindle 2 Reader Demonstration to watch a video of Kindle 2.
