I, also, love the feel of a book. I love to pick it up, feel the rough texture of its pages and admire an artist's rendering on its cover. There is just something about the weight of a thick paperback that makes me giddy with anticipation.
My house is practically its own library. See?
But...I also love gadgets. I prefer digital cameras to film. My iPod to CDs. A laptop to paper and pen...well, sometimes.
So I'm torn on how I feel about Amazon's newest creation: Kindle.
Clearly, I like to own the books I read. But how fantastic would it be to carry around 200 books in one little machine that is the size of a small paperback??? Traveling with me is always a pain because I like to have a least 2 to 3 books per leg of my two-way flight. That is a lot of weight to carry around.
What's a girl to do? I love my books, but I Loooove the idea of this amazing gadget! And really the more I think about it, the more I am Pro-Kindle. Plus I can still buy my crafty & decorating books...those wouldn't do too well on a black and white screen...and then buy all my novels for Kindle! Because, seriously, I'm running out of room to put the darn things!
Well, I think I've convinced myself... if I had an extra $400 laying around, I'd buy one right this second. Of course, if I had $400 just laying around I'd probably have many more places to store my current books...you don't even want to see my garage...there are about 4 boxes full of books out there, too! This is a sickness!
What do you think? Yea or Nay on Kindle??
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And speaking of new gadgets...I have another post up at Mad About Martha...
12 comments:
Once upon a time, the measure of a person's wealth was based, to a degree, on how many books that person owned. I think Kindle is a nice gadget, but give me the heft of a good book in my hand and you give me joy! I don't believe curling up on a couch, with or without a fire going, in the depth of a winter night would be quite the same with a Kindle as with a book with real pages that rustle as you turn them. Not to say I wouldn't own one, but $400 buys a lot of books!
Love,
Aunt Adele
I've heard good things about Kindle but I've also heard it's really just a good starting point for that kind of gadget. If I were you I'd wait to see what comes out next... Take yourself to Barnes and Noble for now. :)
You're going to be one of those old ladies who can't move around their house because of all the junk stacked up in every corner... like those shopaholic packrats I saw on dateline. There are people that can help you.
C
And what electronic device could begin to compete with the intoxicating smell of a real book? And how down the drain would that $400 be if somehow all those little words
disappeared into Crashland?
Books are life-long friends. Machines? Not so much.
One more thought, after looking at your pictures on Mad About Martha . . .
Don't you think a domestic goddess would rather spend her money on shiny cookie pans and stainless steel utensils rather than a Kindle?
Nay on Kindle. Nothing replaces the feeling when curling up with a good book. :)
Even though I am not a big reader I am less of a gadget person. I say stick with the books. You can pass them down to many generations and they will love them even more knowing they come from the heart of you.
Dad
I feel so uneducated compared to you! I have 50 grown-up books in my house max. I'd love to read more if I had the time. I guess I've just never made it a priority. I used to love to read when I was in middle school. I was obsessed with The Babysitter's Club! High school required reading just sucked the joy of reading right out of me! I admire you!
Have you thought about selling the ones you've already read?
Here's a few more ideas to help with the book storage problem:
1. They're good for leveling tables, and replacing missing couch feet.
2. A paperback soaked with bacon greese will get your charcoal burning every time.
3. 3 or 4 inches of books should stop a .22 slug (for target practice).
4. T.P. except for the glossy pages.
I'm sure Martha has more ideas.
None of these things would work well with a Kindle though.
Ah, Stan is a man who can get straight to the heart of a problem! Good suggestions all!
Love,
Aunt Adele
I can see the appeal of Kindle, but I will always prefer real books. Reading just wouldn't be the same for me without a real book!
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