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I'm a book lover. Not just reading, but the act of reading: the weight of a book in my hand, the turning of pages, the dog earing of corners, the checking to see how many pages are left in the midst of a juicy cliffhanger, the smell of a new or old book, placing a finished book on the shelf when I'm finished...

I resisted technology when it came to reading.. I loved my books.

Recently, Mr unfound got me a kindle for my birthday. He even went so far as to load EVERY book I own to it before he gave it to me, plus the entire works of every author of the books I had. yeh, he's a great guy .

Thing is, even though I've read a few books (it's hard for me to even call them books now ) on the kindle, it isn't the same... While the idea of having it for certain situations, like while traveling, having access to ebooks without a computer, and instant access to new releases is great, I still don't feel the same reading it.

Am I just out of touch with the 21st century? Am I just set in my ways? Is the physical process of reading a book just as much a part of what makes it enjoyable as the material to me?

I absolutely adore the thought mr unfound put into this. He doesn't share my love of reading for pleasure and doesn't understand the "act" of reading and all it entails. I do get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing I have ALL my books and will have ALL my books in one little compact place at my ready whenever I want, and he's tickled he could give that to me... but it's not the same, kwim? Like photographs on a disk, not the same as printed ones that you can hold.

Does this make sense?

Maybe I'll learn to love it and the new reading experience, but there's a part of me that already misses the feel of a good book in my hands. My shelves won't be emptied any time soon.. or ever .

It makes a lot of sense to me! I was EXACTLY the same as you. It took me a looong time to get 'used' to kindle. It was like there was no 'variety' for me. Even though I know that sounds absolutely CRAZY because I was reading different stories all the time - but they all 'looked' the same and they all 'felt' the same. I, too, missed having something different in my hands every time I started a new story. The feel of a new book in my hands. But the thing is, I'm a complete hoarder of books - I just *can't* throw a book I've read out or give it away and frankly I just really didn't have ANY MORE space for more books. They drive my husband *nuts* because he's not a reader and my house is *heaving* with my books. So I felt kindle was something I *had* to get used to if I could because it would be a compromise and solve all those problems.

What actually helped was me getting a 10inch tablet and putting the kindle aps on that instead of my original little grey one. I can change the screen from white to sepia or black etc., so I have variety again, or maybe it's just as simple as the fact that I've just got used to it. I don't know - but somehow, I've gone from using kindle under 'duress' really, to almost preferring it now - and I *NEVER* thought I would say that. ( But I'm still not going to be throwing any of my paper books I already have out... )

ETA, I also buy audio books now too - they are GREAT. Seems I may have finally moved into the modern age afterall....

[This message edited by sinsof thefather at 8:58 AM, August 29th (Thursday)]

It makes sense to me. I actually prefer to read "real" books, but the convenience of the Kindle can't be beat.

I used to travel for my job, so I could tuck it in my purse and download a new book while sitting at the airport. I can read it in bed with all of the lights out.

Once in a while, I still like to turn pages...

I'm an avid reader too. I resisted e-books for a long time. Wasn't sure it would be "the same" for me.

Honey, I got my kindle and haven't looked back. Best. Purchase. Ever. The thought of having to lug around a book, lose my bookmark, try to prop it up while I'm eating, etc. give me the shivers.

Nope, it took awhile to get me to kindle, but I'm converted 100%. Just my $.02, tho.

DS got me a kindle for Mother's Day a few years ago because 'I know how much you love to read, Mom'. His gift touched my heart and I thought it was perfect. And the thought meant so much to me.

I cannot, cannot, cannot as much as I try, get into reading on a kindle. I hate it. I even enjoy going to the library browsing for books.

I will say one time when I wish I had my kindle with me was when I was on a beach vacation. I only brought one book and I finished it half way through and had nothing else to read. THAT'S when a kindle comes in handy! You can just order another one.

But otherwise, no. I'll stick with my books.

I got a kindle a few years ago and fell in love. Then my husband got me an iPad and I fell in love with that, too.

But then...I found it really hard to maintain my focus when I was reading. I think because hey, wifi! I could go online. Or play on pinterest. Or check my effing work email. It was like an ADD playground.

So this summer I went back to paper books and I've read 7. I think I made it through about 7 books all last year. I was really starting to think I had caught The Dumb.

So now I travel with the ipad, but read paper books at home. We'll see if this works better!

At least I'm not alone! I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually, and I do like being able to read in bed at night without having a light on. I carry it around in my purse and can see that the convenience is going to be something I like. There's still some paper books I know I'll buy though. Just to "have" .

Rebreather, I don't even know how mine connects to the internet . Mr unfound had everything set up for me already and hasn't shown me how to order books or go anywhere other than the stocked library.... that might be a good thing .

I no longer read on anything BUT my kindle...I'm a librarian.

The basic Kindle connects to the internet very clumsily. I find it's handy only for rudimentary email checking, but it IS handy if you come across a term or something you are reading about and want to look it up in Wikipedia...

I love the Kindle. It took a little getting used to, but now I prefer it. My favorite thing is that it sits up on the elliptical machine so easily and being able to read while exercising is a huge bonus for me.

[This message edited by kernel at 6:03 PM, September 10th (Tuesday)]

I hated my kindle at first as well, but the fact that I can carry around my entire library and have any of my books "on hand" in seconds changed my mind. You also can't beat the free books that Amazon provides. I currently have over 2500 books on my kindle and I didn't pay for any of them!!!

I still go to the library for the new releases of my favorite authors and I still buy real books just not as often.

Mack

I love, love, LOVE my Kindle.

Like the previous poster mentioned, I love having thousands of books in my purse. I also love the Kindle ebook deals and other freebies that I grab on a daily basis.

I love physical books, but quite frankly after years of collecting them (I read 3 books per week on average), I have no more room to store them! I still collect a precious few authors and series, but have donated/sold others to make room in my house again.

I am a retired librarian.

I resisted an ereader for only a short while after my future daughter-in-law showed me her Kobo ereader last summer.

I bought the Kobo Touch as a Christmas gift to myself.

I absolutely love it!!!!!

Hundreds of books.

Then, a month ago I went on Kijijii and bought a brand new Kobo Mini for an amazingly low price. The young lady wasn't a reader, and didn't know how to even start it.....So I have two for everyday use.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE MY EREADER!

I have had a kindle for about 4 years now. I got if for my birthday, and it is an old one, works on 3g tech, and looks like the printed page. I absolutley love it. It went on the fritz a few months ago, and I thought oh no it's dying, it would only let me read it while it was plugged in, and I couldn't take it with me anywhwere, I was going to ask for a new Fire for my birthday this year, but the issue seems resolved, and I am back to using it.

I still occasionally read a real book, and the change is refreshing. The problem I find I have with it, I can never remember the names of the books I have read because I only see the title once or twice, instead of it sitting on my nightstand for the week or two it takes me to read it. LOL.

I think I would like a fire, for the option of reading it without additional light, I like to read at bedtime, and the lamp bothers H, so I wear a headlamp on the red setting so it doesn't bother him, and it doesn't bother my eyes. But I do look really sexy lying in bed in my jammies with my kindle, and my camo headlamp. LOL>

I can never remember the names of the books

Yep, so when someone tries to strike up a convo with; "What are you reading?" - what do you think their expression might be when I reply; "I dunno."

haha - it has happened a time or two!

I got a paperwhite to read w/out light...I think it's cheaper than the fire...

Oh, they do have covers for them, so you can get near the 'book-feel'.

I got g_r this cover for her kindle (not the fire in the pic, the one with the keyboard that uses ink):

I have one similar for my fire. It gives it a nice bookish feel in addition to protecting it.

eta:

Over vacation she had been letting the kids listen to it read books aloud to fall asleep too.. but one of them broke her kindle. We went out and got a spare the next day because it was like if she had stood in front of a library watching it burn with a horrified expression. She needed her library or there would be many sad vacation days. Since it ties books to an account she had it unpacked and restocked with her library by the time we left Cook Out and their free wifi (COOK OUT IS FUCKING AWESOME BTW), which was convenient.

[This message edited by StillGoing at 9:24 PM, September 11th (Wednesday)]

My son broke his kindle fire, and I contacted them, they had me ship it back, and sent me a brand new one to replace it.

I have a leather cover for my kindle as well.

Using the Cloud technology is great too, we share books through the house, just like we would real ones. It's really nice because we can all read the same book at the same time.

Had to laugh as some of us resisted for so many of the same reasons!

I've had mine for about 4 years. Hardly ever buy a book anymore and when I do...I normally do not read it??

I travel a lot as well...so much easier.

I waited about 6 months until I decided to donate most of my books to the library. 783 to be exact. I still kept my favorite authors, but can not imagine going anywhere today without my kindle. Literally. It is always in my purse.

[This message edited by AnnieOakley at 10:03 PM, September 12th (Thursday)]

Love my Kindle because I discovered how to increase the font so I can read while on the treadmill or the elliptical. Always loved reading while exercising, but over the years my eyes have withered...the Kindle gave me back the ability to read while running!

I still buy hardcovers too...there are some books I just know I want to read again and the smell of a new book.....well they haven't added that to the Kindle yet....but who knows maybe they will!

tushnurse,

I had the same problem as well. I conquered that problem by creating folders. I have each book sorted under a specific folder, i.e. mystery, sci-fi, cookbooks, etc, and I have an 'active' folder for the books that I'm currently reading.

My biggest problem is remembering which books I downloaded. I can't just glance at the spines anymore.

Once I figured out my city had an E Library I was done ... I now go online, pick my book, hit the button and I'm reading in 2 minutes. No more library runs unless I have to. In two weeks, the loan automatically ends .. so no running to return.

THAT sold me and I love it. When I travel I don't have to cart around 10 books and come back home with 5 I already read but have to return. WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER