I love paper books. The heft, the smell, the covers, etc. I have TONS of them. My office is lined with books, and I've gotten rid of many books over the years when weight considerations forced me to do so (military moves restrict you to certain weight limits). Just before we left Hawaii, I had a big purge. It hurt. I still regret some of the choices I made, and wish I'd kept the books. Others I look at now and wonder why I kept them in lieu of the ones I miss. Who knows?
I resisted ebooks for years. I don't want to read on a computer. Don't like it at all. I write and read my own work on a computer all day, so why would I want to sit and read a book? I don't.
But then came the ereaders. I resisted, mostly because there were still kinks to be worked out, and nothing really appealed to me.
Until the Kindle. Oh, I coveted that from day one. Why? Because of the wireless downloads from the bookstore. The fact I could send myself a sample chapter, and then download the entire book instantly if I liked what I read. Sure to be a bad thing for the wallet, but very good for my book obsession.
I finally got one in August, and I love it. Yeah, I knew there was a war coming, and that B&N was about to enter the market and that Sony was about to go wireless — but I was tired of waiting, so I took the plunge.
Am I sorry? Not at all! I love this darn thing. Just the other day, I downloaded a friend's book on the day of release! (Pamela Hearon's The Timestone Key, which if you like time travel and Arthurian legend stuff, you should not miss!) I love that I can carry several books with me and switch between them when I want a break from the one I'm reading. I used to read books straight through, but college kind of got me in the habit of reading many books at once. Sometimes I can't put a book down and I'll read straight through, but just as often I'll switch between books.
The Nook, B&N's offering, looks really cool. But Hubby has always told me not to buy the first model of anything, so I'm not sorry I bought Kindle instead. I'll wait and see how the Nook performs and what people think of it. And maybe I'll switch eventually, but for now, Kindle does exactly what I want. It delivers books instantly, it's highly readable, and it travels well.
What are your thoughts on ereaders? Do you have one? Planning to get one? Do you read ebooks on your computer?
Welcome to the Kindle club!! I got my Kindle 2 back in March. Hubby got it for me for my birthday so he wouldn’t have to spend the rest of his days buried in Harlequin Presents books. 😯
I love it. I love it so much. Instant gratification? Check! Hassle free? Check! A faster, more guilt-free way to spend the husband’s hard earned pay check? Check and Check.
No more browsing in bookstores while I try to keep the kids from destroying everything, no more shipping costs and two week waits.
It has truly changed my life!
Everyone should come to the dark side….
Maisey, so true about the HPs taking over the house! LOL, that’s exactly how I sold the concept to Hubby. He was tired of seeing me come home with bags of HPs every month and could see how quickly they would overwhelm us if I kept it up. 🙂
I really love this thing. And get all geeky when I can download something like T.E. Lawrence’s Seven Pillars of Wisdom for under $2. I mean really!
I don’t mind ebooks, I have a few. They don’t take up space in the house. The tough part is sitting at the computer and reading them. I love having an actual book and sitting on the couch or going outside when it’s nice out to read. Also I can take the book with me anywhere I go. I’m not planning on buying an ereader anytime soon, but I’m pretty sure eventually I will down the road because I’ll run out of room for books in my house.
Hi, Nicole! Yes, that’s why I wanted the reader. I did not want to sit at the computer, even with my laptop. It’s just not the same to me!
But the ereader experience is much more like having a book. Even my hubby loves to read on it, and he didn’t think he would. I downloaded a couple of free fantasy novels for him — he devoured them.
I love your hubby’s advice about not buying the first model. I tend to be a sucker for something new when it comes out. Luckily I can’t afford to do that very often. Anyway, I have the 1st model of the Sony e-reader and I love it. You do have to plug in with a USB chord to do downloads, so that’s a minus to the Kindle. The Sony’s have also come down in price. The best thing about ereaders, though, is widening the familiarity and benefits of e-books. WTG!
Hi, Shara! Yep, Hubby has always told me that, whether it’s a car, an ereader, a music player, whatever. Never get the first model. There are always kinks to be worked out, he says.
So I’ll see what Nook looks like and then I’ll probably covet it for the coolness of the touch screen, LOL!
I did look at Sony, but I wanted that instant gratification of the wireless download. Sony has a bigger screen than Kindle, which I could see enjoying.
You are so right about ereaders widening the appeal and familiarity of ebooks! I wouldn’t have thought I’d enjoy them so much, but I really do.
Hey there
I want one soooo badly. I’m going to take the plunge soon. I’ve read some ebooks on the computer but the Kindle seems more like a “book” to me – the way you hold it. I’m waiting for the price to drop a little more. I have so many hard copy books now but look forward to building an ebook library. I personally love the look of my library with it’s rows and rows of books. The new age is coming. A few years ago I thought – no way. Now, I can’t wait to get one in my hot little hands. Maybe I’ll get one for Christmas!
Hi, Gibb! I think you’re right in that Kindle seems more like a book. I love reading it in bed, with the bright clip on light. It’s easy to hold, not awkward at all. I just love it.
But I still have my paper books too!
I got my mom hooked and she’s tech impaired. Anyone can use them. And as a book nerd, who loves to hold and look at books, I feel the the Kindle is almost more comfortable to read with if you like laying in bed to read.
I’m starting to sound like a Kindle commercial.
LOL on the books Lynn. The things these poor men put up with…I always say ‘trust me, you want me reading these before bed. Trust me.’
I’ve been a Kindle commercial every since I got it! 🙂 I like reading it in bed too. I think of it as a supplement to my paper books.
Hi Lynn:
I’ve been looking at the Kindle for awhile now. I still like “holding” the paper book in bed, but I am buried in books here as well. I saw a lady reading her kindle at the beach while we were there. I was very curious about how it handled and stood up to the elements of sand and surf. My own paperback’s binding melted and got wet. What would all that do to the Kindle?
But I want one. I’m waiting to get a refurbished one on ebay or amazon. I got an alpha smart that way as well.
I think the Kindle will be easier to read than the computer.
I think they’re a great addition to your library, Christine! They aren’t a replacement, but they do help with having so many books on hand. And the portability. I love that! It is way easier to read than a computer, IMO.
I haven’t thought of an e-reader. I love the feel of a *real* book. But I have to say that reading all the +ve vibes about them it maybe that it will go on my birthday/xmas wish list soon! Take care. Caroline x
Sorry I’ve been AWOL!
Caroline, I think e-readers are a good supplement to your library, and not necessarily a substitute. I love mine, but I still love regular books too!
hey Lynn,
I am from Asia and a teenager. Spanish Magnate and Red-hot revenge was my first Mills and Boon experience and I loved it thoroughly. thanx for writing such beautiful stories that reach out to readers across boundaries. Keep writing and make sure all your novels are published in Asian countries.
Love you,
Ankita
Aw, thank you so much, Ankita! I’m so happy you enjoyed my story, and very honored I was your first Mills & Boon experience. 🙂
You have made my entire week with your lovely comments!
Best wishes,
Lynn
Hi Lynn,
Interesting subject! Am I the only ebook author who says she doesn’t like the ebook readers? 😳 My book is available for Kindle, but besides the fact I’m not very happy with Amazon for granting sharing rights WITHOUT consulting my publisher, I love that my ebooks are available on the two biggest book distributors.
What I don’t like about Sony or Kindle is their refresh rate. That flash between page turns is intolerable for me because I suffer from headaches, and I don’t need a new instigator in my life. I much prefer to read an ebook on my nice big computer screen in Microsoft Reader, Mobipocket, or even print it out. I found an ereader by an obscure company that makes translator devices. It didn’t use the e-ink technology but looked great on the screen. No page flash! Alas, the unit wouldn’t hold a charge, so I returned it.
So for now, I am an ebook author without an ebook reader.
Hi, Pamela! I must say that yours is one of the books on my Kindle! I read the teaser chapter and was hooked. I haven’t started the book yet because I had others to finish, but I can’t wait.
I don’t have a problem with the refresh rate, but I understand why you would. I get headaches too, but that isn’t one of the triggers — though I of course I avoid my triggers and can see why you would too.
Maybe the Nook will work for you? I can’t wait to go to B&N and see it when it hits the stores. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!