Caving in is not so bad

I finally broke down and bought a Nook Color e-reader. Not because I needed it, but because I was getting tired of feeling left out. I wanted to know what everybody has been talking about. Plus, when Kalmbach Publishing made The Writer available on the Nook, that sealed the deal: I knew a visit to Barnes & Noble was inevitable.

So I purchased my Nook and downloaded a few books, magazines and apps to try it out. At first, it seemed a strange way to read a book, but I quickly adapted. I’m now reading e-books, printed books and listening to audiobooks—I’ve usually got one of each going at any given time. I guess I just can’t get enough of books, whatever form they come in.

The Nook is not just for reading books and magazines, though: I can also play games (finally, I know what Angry Birds is all about!); do crossword puzzles, listen to music, upload photos and surf the Internet. I know it will be great for traveling, too. No more worrying about whether my books will push my suitcase over the 50-lb. limit. No more sitting in the hotel bathroom on the cold, hard tile to read while my husband sleeps in the bed--the Nook's backlit screen will allow me to read in comfort while he snores away.

I’ve already downloaded many more books than I'll have time to read in the next year. Barnes & Noble makes it very easy to download a book instantly (maybe too easy!). I’ve been debating whether to download the B&N package of 81 classic novels for $3.99, but who am I kidding? Even though I can carry around all 81 novels in that small e-reader, I’m not going to have time to read 81 classic novels any time soon. But there would be a certain amount of satisfaction knowing that they’re ready and waiting for me when I retire ...

Yes, the Nook e-reader is going to be a regular part of my life until something new and more sophisticated comes along. Do I think I’ll be trading in all my printed books for e-books? Not likely. There’s still something very satisfying about reading a printed book. Besides, what would I do with all those empty bookshelves?

Comments

pattykay51 wrote re: Caving in is not so bad on Tue, Jul 5 2011 1:27 PM I,too, am still deciding whether to Nook or Kindle. The empty bookshelf aspect is something I'd not considered.  We have many, many bookcase-feet-full but I can see doing away with lots of them once we make the leap to an e-reader. Having moved several times, the weight of all those volumes is always a problem and we cull what we can each time. With another relocation looming, donating the majority of our library to the Friends of the Library would help both us and them. Another excuse to make the leap?