Getting a Kindle: Why I Finally Gave In [BTT]

Booking through ThursdayE-readers like the Kindle and iPad are sweeping the nation … do you have one? Do you like it? Do you find it changes your reading/buying habits? If you don’t have one, do you plan to?

After years of holding out hope that this e-reader business would just go away… I am getting a Kindle (this one, to be specific). It’s official – feel free to alert the press.

Seeing as how I am a devoted real-book lover, how on Earth did I come to such a conclusion? I’ll give you two words: Law Books. In case I’ve never mentioned it, I started studying Law part time last year. And whilst I do love spreading the books around me in a sort of research seance, travelling with them is a bitch. Altogether, they weigh – I kid you not – 20 kilos. Twenty kilograms. After putting them on the scale, my only thought was, “I really, really need a Kindle”.

But there are other things that I am looking forward to using my Kindle for. For starters, Netgalley is probably going to become my main new source of reading material. I have read and reviewed books from Netgalley before, but I have always found that reading them on the computer diminishes my enjoyment of the book. Which is odd, considering I have read fanfiction online for years without a problem. Oh, I suppose I could put fics on my Kindle as well… now that would just be odd.

But why the Kindle and not the iPad or another tablet computer? I present my list of well-thought-out reasons:

  • E-ink. Don’t get me wrong, I love beautiful, shiny, high-resolution screens as much as the next girl. But I spend all day reading and typing in front of a computer. My reading time is the only time my eyes catch a break. Also, I will want to take my Kindle on day trips… the type that involve reading during the, ya know, daytime.
  • Price. I am a reluctant e-book buyer. As such, I really have no desire to spend an excessive amount of money on my new e-book. The Kindle fits that requirement perfectly.
  • International usage. The new Kindle can be used anywhere in the world, which is brilliant. I cannot wait to be stuck on a train to Russia (or whatever) and saying “ooh, I think I’ll get the latest book in the X series”. 
  • Internet browser. When desperate, the Kindle can be used as a tablet computer. One never knows.
Also, the Kindle’s new lending library couldn’t be better timed. I am just waiting for Amazon UK to set it up!
For those of you who are thinking about getting a Kindle I hope this helped!