As a four year anniversary gift in July, my husband bought me the new generation Kindle DX. Ever since the Kindle and all the other e-readers made their debut, I’ve been debating whether or not I even like the idea of an electronic book. I was simultaneously attracted by its appeal and repelled by its coldness. I talked often about getting one, but couldn’t get past the “thinking about it” phase. Finally, in what I deem to be the riskiest gift my husband has ever given me, the choice was taken out of my hands and a sleek, black machine was slipped into its place.

Many people claim to be avid, rabid readers, and I am no different; however, reading isn’t just a hobby or a passion for me – it’s also my job. Additionally, my life will most likely center on the written word long after I’m done teaching – whether it be through reading or writing. Books are simply my life. I would have to estimate my current collection of books to be nearing the thousand mark. My shelves are so full that I’ve had to turn all my books sideways and begun to stack up, and my wall space just can’t handle one more shelf. There is nothing I like more than going to the book store, and I’ve been known to spend more money on books than on clothes or food. A library, for me, is pretty much unheard of. I want to own a book – to bring it home and look through it, to write in it, to lend it out, to be able to go back to it at any time. Cicero said, “A room without books is like a body without a soul” – a sentiment that I’ve always subscribed to.

So, when I found myself suddenly holding my new Kindle in my hands, I had mixed emotions. A new gadget is always fun and cool, but I somehow felt like I was dishonoring the room filled with books that lay right down the hall. The Kindle itself is a simple devise. I was pleased to see that there was no software to install on the device or my computer, that there was one cord to connect and charge the device, and the directions were so simple that they came on a single page. There’s nothing I hate more than getting something new and having to wait forever while things charge, download, etc. The Kindle was plug in and go.

Parry was smart enough to know that I liked the larger screen better, so he got me the Kindle that has a 9.7” screen. It’s about the size of a hardback book, and while some might argue that the larger size makes the devise too cumbersome, I say it’s a definite plus. My Kindle is paper thin and very light; the big screen makes it feel more like a real book – honestly. Now, I know that people say that a lot: “It’s just like a book!” I’m here to tell you that it pretty much is. I never really got distracted by the fact that I wasn’t reading a “real” book. The screen has little to no glare, and it actually looks a lot like a real printed page. While there are a few “experimental” aspects to this version (MP3 player and an Internet browser), the Kindle really only does one thing, but it does it well – which is exactly what I want. I don’t need email and apps, etc. Just let me read!


Positives?

     - The Kindle is easy to hold while reading. It is really nice not to have to hold the pages down while lounging outside or on the     couch. I bought a nifty cover with mine that folds back into a stand. I love it! When I read in bed, I can balance the Kindle in front of me and my hands are free! I have also stood the Kindle up to read while I’m cooking or typing.

     - Buying books is (too) easy. There are two ways to buy books through Amazon: I can search Amazon through the Kindle or I can use my computer. When I buy a book on my computer, it sends the book to the Kindle without having to connect the devices. The books take only around twenty seconds to appear! For someone who could shop for a buy books all day, this is quite dangerous! There is free 3G on the Kindle, so I can pretty much connect from anywhere I want at no cost.
 
    - You can organize all your books on the homepage of the device. I can make as many shelves as I want, and assigning the books is simple. Being that the Kindle can hold 3,500 books, this is a good thing.    

    - Books written before the 1920’s are free. No copyright! Woohoo!

    - If I come across a word in any book that I don’t know, I can highlight it and instantly get a definition at the bottom of the screen! This is the coolest thing ever. (You can also highlight passages that you like and save them to a folder on the home screen).
 
    - This baby stays charged. I read two books in a row on my Kindle, and I didn’t have to plug it in once. As long as you aren’t turning pages, the Kindle uses very little energy, so the charge lasts for weeks at a time. Excellent.
 
    - The “reading experience” can be adjusted to meet the reader’s needs. Are you getting old and find that you can no longer see the tiny print in a book? Well, with the Kindle you can easily grow (or shrink) your text. You can also flip your screen sideways to expand the page out. There’s an experimental voice reader, as well. Although it sounds like an evil robot now, the reader gets pretty much all the words right. I imagine this would be a lifesaver for some readers.

Negatives?
  
    - Books really aren’t much cheaper. I do see some good deals with new books that are still in hardback form, but these aren’t like $.99 mp3’s here. You’re can still pay $10+ bucks for a book.
  
    -  Cost. If you want the bigger Kindle, it’s going to cost you. While you can buy some of their older or smaller models for a lot less, buying a Kindle/e-reader can seem risky. Technology is changing and updating quickly and a new version comes out every year. Do you spend the money on something that might be out of date in just a few months?
 
   - Short stories and collections can be a little hard to navigate. Unless you are reading an e-book specifically made for the Kindle that contains a navigable table of context, you have to page through or search to reach your poem/story/etc.
  
   - A lack of emotional attachment. Of course, there are things that an electronic book will never be able to recreate: the smell of pages, the creak of a new spine, the worn cover of a beloved favorite, the feel of a rough page between your fingers, the act of turning the pages…


I wish I had had this device in college. Having all my school books in one place would have been so nice. I also think that if you like to cook/bake and you have a lot of cookbooks, this would be perfect. You can easily prop it up while you cook! I imagine that it will make me more selective in my book buying – saving the trips to the book store for those “special” reads. There are books that I have to buy for my class or my book club that I can get fast and cheap(er) on the Kindle, and I look forward to never having to make an emergency trip to the book store (yes, I do often have to do this).

While I’m always going to buy “real” books, I now have the option of immediacy. The Kindle is also going to be great for travel! It’s a shame that I didn’t get it until after our trip to Europe! In ways, I still feel conflicted about the Kindle, but I am growing to love it more and more each day. Since I’ve gotten it, I’ve read both electronic and paper books, and switching between the two is simple and seamless. For the self-proclaimed book lover out there, I think you need to give the Kindle (or any e-reader) a try. Why limit your reading experience? How many times will you be able to participate in a literary revolution like this one! Adding a little technology to your reading experience is not as scary as we all think it will be.