I like paper.
The smell and feel of books.
You know those used bookstores filled with yellowed pages and an inventory of random where you have to treasure hunt for something great? And there’s that weird smell to it? Not like a thrift store…but kinda?
I get giddy inside.
In college, I was the girl sitting on the floor of the library at 1 a.m. surrounded by a stack of books…while my classmates read articles online and used that new thing called Google.
So the fact that I now own a Kindle Touch
I would have never, in a million years thought that I would ever own a digital reader. Ever. I’m not that girl. No, siree. Give me a book. Forevah.
Okay, until a few months ago. I’m fickle. What can I say?
Either way, I thought I’d tell you why I ended up crossing over into the land of digital books…and why I’m really glad I did.
-Instant Gratification. I live in the suburbs with a Target, a Walmart, and a Home Depot. I’m for want of nothing from a consumer standpoint…except that there are NO BOOKSTORES in my town (or an Anthropologie, but I’ll let that slide). In fact, if I want a real life book store with cozy chairs and couches, I have to drive 30 miles. My usual go-to for books has been ordering them off of Amazon…but you see, that means I have to wait a few days for the book to get there. And sometimes, when the kids are all napping and my chores are done (or ignored) I really just want to read NOW. Bratty? yes. But it’s my life right now. It can be unpredictable…and some days I have a couple of quiet hours that I didn’t expect or plan for. Hours when a book I’ve been hearing about would be perfect. Like, this second.
-Ordering new books is no longer on my “to-do” list. You see, my brain is mashed potatoes. I’ll think “oh, I really want to read Emily’s book
-You can read outside. My kids love riding bikes and whatnot outside. We live in a cul-de-sac so I often find myself wishing I had a book to read \while they go round and round in circles. Even if I don’t have a book to read right at that moment, two clicks and ten seconds later, I have whatever book I want at my fingertips (it’s actually a little scary how easy/fast it is to order Kindle books…it comes preloaded with your Amazon account info…which is tied to your payment options so you don’t have to enter in anything besides a quick password). The Pearl-E screen makes it so that I can read in bright sunlight (just like, you know, a regular book). We have an iPad with the Kindle app on it…but you get more than two rays of light on that screen and you can’t see a thing (which is why it just doesn’t work as a reader for me). If you’ve ever tried to work outside on a laptop, you know what I mean.
-I’m not distracted. I have the Kindle Touch
-Free lending library with Prime. We’ve had Amazon Prime membership for a few years now and it’s been well worth the yearly price. So when I was waffling about whether or not to buy a Kindle, the fact that I can borrow select titles for FREE (one per month) made it a lot more appealing. (This is how I’ve read the second book
-Free lending through local library. Did you know that with your regular library membership, you can download/borrow digital books directly to your Kindle for free…from HOME (or anywhere for that matter)???!!! I realize you can borrow real books with your library membership for free too, but library trips are not in our repertoire right now. By the time I load everyone up, park in the parking structure, rig up the double stroller and navigate my three littles through the quiet aisles of the library, while threatening their very lives if they don’t pipe down…well, let’s just say whatever book I was hoping to check out is no longer worth the “free-ness”. Lazy? Maybe. But it’s a season of my life right now. One that doesn’t include the library. Judge all you want.
-Lightweight. My Kindle only weighs a few ounces and is about the size of a small paperback. I can toss it in my purse and hoist it around with little issue. On the other hand, I just bought the print version of Heaven
-Less clutter. This one is a double edged sword. There is still a very real part of me that cringes when I buy a “fake” book. It’s still weird to spend money on something that you can’t hold in your hand (well, besides the Kindle itself, but you know what I mean). BUT, it’s also really nice to not have one more thing to clutter up your house. One more book to add to the shelf. One more thing to haul the next time you move. And let’s face it: one less thing to dust. Besides, there really are only a handful of extra good books that I would actually even want in print anyway. And those, I’ll buy the old fashioned way. The rest that I don’t really need to have on the shelf…well, I can download those and enjoy them without mussing up my house. Besides, Kindle books are always at least a few dollars cheaper, so that’s good, right?
-Sharing copies. Some books can be shared from one Kindle user to the other…which is awesome. Yet, somehow none of the books I’ve purchased have lending capabilities (shocker). I do think that this will change with time though. The more that this whole digital thing takes off, the easier I think it will be. I could be wrong I suppose, but humor me.
-Good Deals. Oftentimes, the Kindle version of a book will be offered at a deeply discounted rate. For example, one of my favorites, There Is No Me Without You
Why did I share all of this? Because honestly, if you had told me last year that I’d be buying a Kindle
What do you think of Digital Readers? Do you have one? Have you been considering one? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Disclaimer: I realize this whole post sounded like a giant commercial, but this was not a sponsored post, nor was I asked by anyone to write it. I just genuinely thought it might be good food for thought for those of you on the e-reader fence. I did, however, use affiliate links…because you know, if I actually convince you to buy a Kindle, I might as well make the $0.07 from Amazon. Watch out, I’m gonna be rich.
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I too love technology. If you sign up for Amazon Moms (free) you also get Amazon Prime for free. I love free fast shipping!
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Jodi´s last blog post ..Awesome Deal for Clutter-Free Classroom Readers
Yes! For all the reasons you mentioned. I’m also a book lover and shocked by my love for my Nook. Lots of people have tried telling me I SHOULD have (or want) an iPad. NO WAY! I love that I read distraction free. I love that my Nook has the “white paper” screen. I love that I always have it in my purse or bag and anytime I find myself waiting in a line, or at ballet, or wherever I can pull it out and read ANY of my TONS of books that live magically inside my Nook. Since I got it many years ago my quantity of reading has gone crazy!!
michelle s.´s last blog post ..Linked 52: Quiet
I want one desperately! I spend so much time waiting for kids here or there, or watching them outside, and this would be so perfect! I got one for my daughter for her 12th birthday, and I told her to tell daddy I totally want one for my 37th!
Rebecca Lovell´s last blog post ..Yippee!
We have been on the fence in our house for a little while. The reasons for one is that I never re-read a book. I mean I don’t forget the story enough to reread. Second is the library lending convinece. The reason not to is just really that I don’t want to spend money to spend money. Meaning buy a device to buy books.
Gwendolyn T´s last blog post ..Recycled garden
I am an avid reader and never thought I would want an e-reader. However, I travel pretty regularly (once a month or so) and it is so handy. I read quickly, so it’s great to have one device and have several books with you. You never know when there might be a delay when during air travel! Also handy to just throw in my bag during errands. etc. Also, cuts down on clutter!
so funny, I LOVE the smell of books, too!!! really love it!I just got a Kindle for Christmas and you’re right, it’s so convenient:) I’ve not yet tried the free lending library, thanks for the info on that!! So, I’m still going between paper books and the reader, they both have their perks…happy reading!
Melodee´s last blog post ..Funny
There are five people in our house and three Kindles :) My husband (the best gift giver on earth!) upgraded my regular Kindle to a Fire for my birthday in November. L-O-V-E it! So fun! So then my husband took over my old Kindle and he loves it. My dad also decided to upgrade to a Fire recently so we “bought” his old Kindle from him and are going to give it to our oldest boy for his 10th birthday this summer. We are a family that LOVES to read so Kindles make a lot of sense for us!
Kelly´s last blog post ..Faux-InstaFriday: Round 5
I have always been a real book lover. But I did decide when I was still nursing my son that I would love to have a kindle while I was nursing. It just didn’t work very well to try to turn pages while he was eating. So it is top on my list if I have any more babies.
I got a Kindle Fire exactly a month ago. I love it. I enjoy the games on it. I recently downloaded The Bible and a couple of reading plans for that. But need to be where there is wireless for that part. But my husband has a phone with tethering. So with that I am able to be online while in the car while tethered to his phone. Works pretty cool. Otherwise I now take it to the Chiropractor’s office to read my book instead of the book. Like I said I have had it for a month and am now on my 5th Kindle book. Right now I am reading “A Time to Love” by Barbara Cameron and so far I love it. I also enjoy playing games on it too.
I have the Kindle Ipad app which is pretty useful. I have such mixed feelings about reading on it 100% and think that we’ll probably continue to read paper books too. Mostly because I want to model reading for my kids, which is hard to do an electronic reader/ipad. I love being a part of Lendle, though!
NJ @ A Pocket Full Of Dinosaurs´s last blog post ..Saturday’s Story Behind The Picture
I have a simple Kindle for reading books and playing games. I, too love the feel and smell of a book, so I didn’t think I would like the ereader. But I do, I can read when I pick up the rugrats from school, when I am waiting at an appointment, anytime. And I don’t have to remember to take a book with me.
I just got a Kindle Fire last week and I LOVE it, but not really for reading. The screen is too glossy and there are too many distractions on it to just read. But I love them both and I am glad I have them. Thanks, technology!
Verna Lantz´s last blog post ..Family Sunday
This is great information! I too am a book lover. I have tons of them. I love the smell, the feel, and nothing is better than a new book. I do plan on purchasing a Kindle Fire with my birthday money, but not to use as an e-reader. I want it to use for surfing the internet, playing games, and keeping my four year old occupied in the car, etc. I have been on the fence for awhile about getting a regular Kindle or Nook. This may have just pushed me over the edge :)
I have been super hesitant to buy a ereader, because like most I love the feel of a book and having a collection I can always go back to. I’m slowly coming around to the idea of ereader, even just for travelling. We travel at least 3 times a year, and one of these could really come in handy. -Kate
Thank you for this post! I have wanted one for long time, but couldn’t justify the expense. After checking out your link to Amazon, I found that I could just download a Kindle app for my ipod touch (I never knew that existed!). Can’t wait to try it! My 10 year old, however, is now begging for his own. I previously share the ipod with him and left it home while I was working. I will now be carrying it everywhere with me.
I’m one of those people that love books and never thought I would want anything like a Kindle. But lately they have really peaked my interest. One of the biggest things I’ve noticed is how much cheaper books are through Kindle. Thanks for this post, gives me something to think about.
I’ve had my kindle (keyboard) for 14 months and counting. I travel a ton so it is a lifesaver there. I had to get my husband one because we were fighting over it. He got a new one with no keyboard (and after a screen incident, he’s on kindle #2). I love that one of my family members complained they “couldn’t read it in the dark” because it aims for that like-book quality of display. I told them, “THAT IS THE POINT!!!!!!” I love that I can read it in direct sunlinght. However, I do have to pack additional magazines for flights for takeoff and landing since electronics can’t be turned on!
I also love BOOKS. For Christmas this year we got my son a Kindle and my husband a Kindle Fire. I must admit I have had a little Christmas list regret.
I just got a Kindle Touch this Christmas and I love it way more than I thought I would! I am also a person that loves the smell of books and the feeling of holding one in my hand, so I was super resistant to any kind of e-reader. But I have to say it feels good to not be adding clutter to my bookshelves and to have multiple books on hand to read depending on what mood I am in. I also have a couple of word games on there. I have about 40 books on it and have only spent money on one (One Bite At a Time). I love that I can put PDF documents on there as well for books that I already had on my computer. I like that Kindle has an app, but it doesn’t compare to the actual reader itself (I used the one on my iPhone before getting the Kindle). It’s weird that I’m seriously in love with it! Your post was like you were in my head! :-)
I felt exactly the same way. I didn’t want one, but my husband ended up ‘forcing’ it on me by giving it to me as a birthday present. Now with an 8 week old in the house it’s awesome to be able to hold her while she sleeps, drink my coffee AND be able to ‘turn’ pages :)
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