Real Books vs Kindles/Nooks

I have been an avid book reader since I was a child, thanks to the examples of my parents, who have also always been avid book readers.  There is just nothing better than curling up with a good book on an icky rainy or cold blustery wintery day and getting lost in the pages of a good story... but I also enjoy reading on a beautiful spring/summer day while I lay out and soak up the rays of sun and getting lost in a good book as my body gets brown and toasty.

My Mother-in-law and my Sister-in-law both were the first people I knew who became "Kindle" fans when the Kindle first came out a few years ago.  They both were instant fans and both have encouraged me to become a Kindle fan too.... but... my absolute love for REAL books kept me resisting from considering trying one out.  Then.... just recently several dear friends, who were also "REAL book lovers", took the leap to being Kindle users, and they too fell instantly in love with this reading device, and have joined the ranks of those trying to sway me to becoming one as well.  It wasn't until I recently began traveling more when my Grandbabies started to arrive, that I decided it might be worth checking out this newfangled way of reading, because carrying REAL books in my carry on bag made the weight of toting my bag through airports just too heavy and cumbersome... yet I HAVE to travel with a couple of good books... I just can't be without a book at hand for when I'm waiting for flights or for reading in flight.

Just as I had decided to consider purchasing a Kindle for myself, my husbands company sent out a flyer that they were going to start selling the Kindle, and were offering it's employees a special discount on the purchase of one before they began selling to the general public.  Well.... this was all it took for me to say "OK!!! I give!!!!" and "YES!!!! I want one"!

My new Kindle just arrived on my doorstep yesterday and I must begrudgingly admit... I too became instantly in love with this new device!  It's soooooo easy to use, and soooo lightweight and easy to hold while reading.  It doesn't matter if I'm in bright sunshine or a darkened room... the type is so easy to read... and... you can adjust the font so you can read the type without having to wear reading glasses!  I shoulda, coulda, woulda had one of these devices long ago!!  Shame on me for being sooo stubborn for sooo long! There is also a Barnes and Noble version called the Nook that I have heard wonderful things about too.  Either way... a Kindle or a Nook.... they are a wonderful way to enjoy books wherever you are.  To purchase and download a book to these devices takes truly a minute or so and you have instant gratification to start reading any book of your choice.  Books purchased can also be shared among other Kindle/Nook devices too.

I will ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS still love a REAL book with REAL paper pages... but for my traveling purposes I just love being able to read wherever I go without having to worry about lugging and struggling under the weight of my carry on bag holding REAL books.  There is just nothing like the smell and feel of a REAL book!

And of course I can't forget the joy of listening to audio books either.  I have enjoyed these for several years, because they come in handy when driving long distances... or when I want to do my sewing/handwork and read at the same time.  I love a good reader who uses different voices for the different characters of a book... it's like when I was young and my parents would read bedtime stories to me.

In conclusion... The most important thing is... the absolute JOY of reading or listening to a good book, whether read by oneself or read to by someone else.  I LOVE watching movies too... but there is just nothing better than creating your own images in your mind from a good written story!  And just because I now have this wonderful reading device does not mean I will never enjoy the pleasure of reading a good ole REAL paper book.