I admit it: I’m a Luddite. I grew up on print, the crack of a new-book spine music to my ears, the crisp feel of pages under my fingers a delight to my senses. I love the look of books lined up on shelves, those titles I’ve read like familiar faces in a crowd. So, okay, I was a hard sell when it came to switching to an e-reader. What could a Kindle offer that could compete?
I edged my way in slowly, starting with giving my husband a Kindle as a gift several birthdays ago. I would watch to see how he took to it, and maybe sample the wares before I took the plunge. Sandy is a TV movie reviewer and spends a lot of time in screenings, so it was perfect for him, a handy device into which he could download an entire library with which to while away the time waiting for movies to begin. He absolutely loved it, and frequently touted its virtues.
Still, I wasn’t quite sold. I was a print gal. Switching to an e-reader would be a betrayal, no? Akin to switching my political party affiliation or religion. Plus, wouldn’t I miss the sensory delights only a print book could give me?
The answer was no, as it turns out. Sure, I still love the look/feel of an actual book, but after I gave in and bought myself a Kindle, I was hooked. The ease only an e-reader can offer won me over, in the end. I’m not just talking about ease of delivery (which couldn’t be simpler). I’m talking ease on my muscles at the end of a long, tiring day when I curl up in bed to read (balancing some of the heftier tomes while in a reclining position can be both a challenge and a bit of a workout). Ease on my eyes, because ever since I had Lasik surgery 10 years ago reading printed material has led to blurry vision, and the black-on-gray of the Kindle screen is easier on the eye, for whatever reason (plus you can adjust the print size). Ease on my wallet, since I have access to a free sample of almost any book I wish to read, which saves me tons of money in books that don’t deliver on the dust jacket promise. Also, I save when I go to check in my luggage before a flight, with all my reading material in one paperback-book-size device, tucked in my purse (those extra-weight fees are a real killer). And last but not least, ease on my bookshelves (We live in a smallish apartment and were slowly being wedged out of house & home) as well as on the planet, for all the paper we’re saving. As an added bonus, many books can be downloaded for free (such as titles by Dickens and other authors of classic literature), and many public libraries now offer downloadable books you can check out same as you would a regular print book.
No, I am not a paid spokesperson for Kindle. And while it may seem a bit self-serving that my little “commercial” coincides with the re-issue of my earlier titles as e-books, believe when I tell you I am just one happy Kindler (is that a word? – oh, well, it is now) sharing my experience for the benefit of other old-schoolers who might be tempted to mix it up. No need to choose—you can do either/or. That’s the beauty of it.
