Day 22: Part Two: Books, Kindles, or Zombies?

So, where was I? Oh, right -

Love books - what about ebooks and zombies?

On the ebook front - I adored my Amazon Kindle. Instead of one or two books... I could carry so many. I got a lot of the free classics right away. I finally had a way to flip between the different books I was reading.  As for actually reading on a Kindle, once you're reading, you forget you're not holding a book.

Another thing I quickly loved about the Kindle - I've had some weird issue with my hands for the last 10 years or so (not arthritis) and holding some of the bigger books became unbearable at times. Even trying to hold open paperbacks was a struggle some days. Holding the Kindle - even the larger 2nd Generation - never bothered my hands.

The readability on a Kindle is amazing. Not only does the Eink display look like a page out of a book, you can change the font size from smaller to larger - whichever way works for you. And although no one would ever/should ever purchase a Kindle for the Text To Speech, it offers hours of entertainment, in and of itself. Try it some time - the word "baby" is probably the funniest word to hear on a Kindle.

Clearly, I'm an ebook fan. I was reading ebooks before the term "ebook" was named. I am not a fan of reading off a computer screen - I'm guessing it's the lighting (but I can spend hours on Pintrest.com and DYAC on my computer...).

So - it's clear - I'm a book fan. I'm an ebook fan.
Did buying a Kindle curb my "real" book purchasing? Sure. Of course it did. Now instead of $80 book purchases every few months, I spent that much about every six months. 2 things changed - 1. I now take my Kindle with me (or Kindle app on phone) and double check prices. 2. When I do go into a real bookstore - I spend money in the store and on my Kindle at the same time - which often is double the amount I used to spend on books.

Today - I still own my original Kindle, but I also have a Kindle Fire. The Fire is compact, touch screen, sleek, and downright beautiful. But, I can't put it into a baggie and sit in the hot tub with it and I can't see it well in direct sunlight. That's where my older Kindle comes into play - along with real books.

I also cannot believe airlines make you turn off your eReader in take off and landing - but because they do, I still carry a book or two when traveling (looks like that might be changing!).

So there it is - Real books vs. Kindles - Questions?


Why did you not discuss Nook or Sony's eReaders?
Right - I'm not going to discuss Nook at this point because my choice remains Kindle. As for Sony's eReaders - I played with them a lot through the years and, although they have great features missing in Kindles (one great feature - Removable Memory Cards - SD or otherwise), I felt they were bulkier, heavier, and slower to "turn" the pages. (FINE: Nook - touch is not as responsive, the Nooks in the store crashed every time I tried to do anything - overall performance was lacking in comparison - there.)

What on earth do Zombies have to do with this conversation?
I thought you'd never ask -
When the Zombie Apocalypse occurs - electricity will vanish - trumping all eReaders.
Books need no batteries.

I win either way.

Day 22: Part One - Books, Kindles, or Zombies?

I've weighed in on the debate between real books vs. ebooks with friends and family for several years now. I remember the excitement I felt as a child digging through the stacks in the public library.

As a teenager and an adult, I had always carried a book in my bag (okay, at least one book, sometimes two). If I didn't have it in my bag, it was only because I tossed it out into the car at the last minute. A few years ago, I remember my friend seeing a book sticking out of my bag and she asked, "So, what? Are you  planning to be bored?"

Even though most of the people in my life are readers, I've never quite been able to fully explain my need to have a book with me at all times. I mean, you never know when you might have a couple minutes to read. Out to dinner - your friend goes to the bathroom and you're just sitting there - Standing in line at the grocery store, bank, post office, etc. - Going to the restroom yourself...

Anyway -

I vividly remember the first time I saw my daughter's friend's Sony Ebook Reader.  I wanted one. I wanted it so bad I could hardly see straight. I love reading, but I read what my mood fits, so I'm often in the middle of two or more books at one time (see previous posts for current list!). I went right out to Borders (bye bye Borders, so sad) and fondled the ebook reader. I didn't get one right away - in fact, the first Amazon Kindle came out and I still didn't get one. The biggest thing that kept me from it immediately - cost. That first Sony reader was over $300. I can't remember the first price on the Kindle, but I remember it being pretty high as well.

So, did I break down and get an ebook reader?

You bet your butt I did.

I first picked up the second generation Amazon Kindle. Honestly, I picked Amazon because I've been buying from them for so long and often that I used to get Christmas presents from them in the 90s. I remember the mailman (ahem - "postal carrier") asking me once how I liked Amazon since he was delivering it so often to my apartment. This was before the shipping rates were jacked up - but I only went to Barnes & Noble to pick up books I needed (or wanted) immediately (rarely went to Borders as their shelves were not as well organized and I struggled to find anything).

I digress - to be continued...


Stay tuned tomorrow for Part Two - Books, Kindles, or Zombies?

Day 21: World of Words

The blank page haunts me.

Again.

Not for lack of words - they roll around in my head all the time. But as stated from the beginning of this blog (okay, by "Day One" post) and my friend, Liz, pointed out - I avoid writing. So here I am - avoiding.

Again.

Have you ever loved doing something so much that your biggest fear is failing? Have you ever loved doing something so much that your biggest fear is succeeding? I'm pretty sure I suffer from both of these. But in the end, what does it matter? I swim around in my own words, struggling to write. Struggling not to write. 

I've tried a plethora of tools to aid in my writing - pencils, pens, typewriters, computers, laptops, books about writing, books about not writing, digital voice recorders, tape recorders... 

I thought maybe if I got a degree - or two (yes, thinking three might be the trick...). Maybe if I had a room to shut myself into (which I promptly gave the kids) - maybe if I went out in public...

Maybe if I stop using ... and - I could come up with something good. Maybe if I stop using the word "maybe" in every sentence...

Words rolling and riding with no etc and no dashes to hinder the flow. Building sentences, thoughts, and ideas into a story. A moment. 

That moment. Where you're hooked into the life and love of some character created out of someone's imagination constructed of real emotions with dream-like qualities. That instant when visions of another world fill your soul. The moment where you visit a land built purely in imagination.

If only someone can find the words.

I'll keep looking for them and get back to you.